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Twin Peaks
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254 reviews for Twin Peaks
Do not miss this site if you visit San Francisco.
You see the whole city from above and it rocksssss.
Do not forget your camera. There are many great photo opportunities.
The view from Twin Peaks is gorgeous. Pretty sure I've now been 3 or four times in the past 9ish months. Sadly, I had lived here almost four years before even checking it out!
There are 360 degrees views of the entire city. Golden Gate Bridge, Bay Bridge, Palace of the Fine Arts, Coit Tower, etc etc etc. I'm not sure a bus goes there, so a car is ideal for making this trip.
There are no bathrooms up there, it's really friggin' windy and cold, but is now a favorite place to take the out of town guests.
Lived in the Bay Area for ten years and I am still a tourist. My boyfriend and I were driving back from Half Moon Bay and we're driving on 35 and he sees the Sutro Tower. He's like, "we're driving towards that". We drive up there, we take in the breathtaking view of downtown SF and of the Blue Angels flying over, then we look to our right and see tons of people on the hill.
How do we get there? We wonder.
Thus our discovery of Twin Peaks. Again, my boyfriend and I are floored. We always knew this place existed, we just never took the opportunity to take advantage of it. Now I have an excuse, I'm not Bay Area breed, but my boyfriend who has lived in the North Bay has never been.
The views are just amazing! (Did I say that already?) And it does help to enjoy such views with someone to hold on to and to gush to. Next time, when my feet don't hurt, we'll climb up the hill and take in SF even more.
Brought a friend here one time and she started crying because the view was so nice haha. Have not been there during the day but at night its amazing. Great for taking photos of the city too.
Nice spot to take a date.
I have ZERO tolerance for the cold, ergo I never did too well coming up here....but the view is absolutely, breathtakingly gorgeous. I'm sure I'd make another visit as long as I've got 8 layers of crap on. Almost like going to mammoth minus the snowboarding.
P.S. Don't come here alone. Bring a date cause you're going to need someone to cuddle up with or you've done sealed your icy-popsicle-like doom.
Hell to the yes.
Amazing lookout spot at what feels like the top of SF. On a clear day (rare sometimes yes), you can see all of SF from this central vantage point. Bay Bridge, Golden Gate, Downtown, a clear view of market from start to finish...
But - beware it's *f-f-f-f-f-freeeeezzing* up here. Since it's:
SF + Tall Hill = extreeemely windy. Whatever wind you might experience down below increase it exponentially. It feels ~30 degrees colder up here bc of the windchill.
The extraordinary views + the easy drive up here tho make it really worthwhile. I don't know how they did it, but for one of the biggest hills in SF, there's not a single stop light you need to worry about rolling back on :)
I hate the bumpy roads in SF but I LOVE YOU HILLS OF SAN FRANCISCO... that has created such a beautiful view for people to make love and fog up windows , smoke weed with friends, and a spot for tourist to see this beautiful city...
I LOVE YOUR BEAUTIFUL LIGHTS THAT BRIGHT UP THE SKY when its NOT FOG CITY...
WHEN YOU FIND A GOOD DAY IN SF ,,,,, PLEASE COME CHECK OUT THE VIEW HERE.. it it is very very B -E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L
IF YOU LIKE SCENERY AND ENJOY BIG WINDS AND BIG LIGHTS AND DARK PEOPLE WALKING AROUND( AT NIGHT OF COURSE) NOT RACE RELATED!! HERE IS THIS PLACE TO BE! YAY ... ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL HILL THAT SAN FRANISCO HAS CREATED...
cause not every city is so beautiful =)
p.s. I miss you CITY SAN FRANCISCO =( can i come home?
If it's a cold chilly night in the streets of SF... then it's BELOW ZERO at the top of Twin Peaks! Bring a blanket or a good jacket and snuggle up to your one and only ;)
I've taken many people here as it's a great place to take out-of-towners to impress them with the grandeur of all the city lights at night! It's beautiful during the day and night.. but I prefer the night because it's romantic and breathtaking.
Don't think anything too naughty either! This is not make out point in SF! It's usually fairly crowded, with people walking around taking pictures and enjoying the view, plus at least one police car on the lookout.
Otherwise, bring your camera and enjoy a special moment with someone :)
Nice night view!
Keep in mind that you need an extra jacket!
It is really cold up there!
A must visit if you are in SF.
Amazing pictures opportunities if its not cloudy.
crowded and windy at times.
I prefer the north boob.
Mostly, I wish I were a dolphin. But times like these, I wish I were one of those deep sea fish with those bulging eyes that could magically exist above water so my extraordinary peripheral vision could take in the sweeping vistas so wasted on my human faculties.
Windy days require layers and warm head gear for top trekking. People shouldn't be able to call themselves San Franciscans without a visit both day and night.
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12/2/2008
Incredible panoramas of the Bay. At night, the diagonal of Market street glows and all from it… Read more »
Twin Peaks: The Haiku
Like two pointy boobs,
You make motorboating fun
Oh, view is good too.
If you want a panoramic overlook of the great San Francisco city, this is the only place to be. I have yet to experience a sunset ti
Long-story short: Twin Peaks may or may not be the home of the Pirate Overlord of San Fransisco.
Short-story long: So we're driving through the Castro, on our way to Twin Peaks. The sun is out, the windows are down, we're full of truffles and ice cream, Michael Franti's 'Say Hey(I Love You)' is on the radio, hawt gay guys are blowing me kisses at traffic stops (no joke) and needless to say...it's a blissful Sunday afternoon.
Being the wannabe-pseudo-crunchy-neo-hippie that I am, I stuck my head out of the passenger window so I could feel the salty San Fran breeze lick my face (in contrast to the usual hot-as-balls summer subway funk that kicks my ass in NYC). After a few minutes of this, I decided to open my eyes to look towards the heavens above, and that's when I saw it: the distinctive double masts of a large ship...IN THE SKY.
It was a pirate ship HIDDEN IN THE CLOUDS!*
At first, I thought I was hallucinating, so I closed my eyes, brought my head back in the Volvo (C is old-school gansta) and decide to look out through the front windshield. Guess what - IT'S STILL THERE.
Now I'm getting concerned, because we seemed to driving closer to this cloud-bound nautical beast (seriously - with masts that big, this ship had to be HUGE), so, trying to keep my cool, I said to my companions, "Um, so like...does that look like a pirate ship to anyone else, or am I trippin'?"
C took a glance and said "Hey, look, that's pretty cool", before making a turn that inevitably brought us closer to the summit. K just nodded and nonchalantly replied "Yes, Oriana - we're taking you to our Pirate Overlord."
At this point, I started *FREAKING* out, because...well...I've seen the Wizard of Oz too many times as a kid, and if our journey to the Pirate Overlord's ship in the sky was gonna be anything like that, there was no way I coulda survived an encounter with the flock of flying monkeys.
So now we're slowly meandering up a secluded winding mountain road, listening to acid jazz in silence. And I'm trying really hard to maintain my composure and not ruin the collective chill vibe in the Volvo, but OMFG - WE'RE GOING TO MEET THE PIRATE OVERLORD!!!
Finally, we reach the top, park, exit the car aaaannnnnnnndddddddddddd...there's no pirate overlord in the sky...womp womp. What I *thought* were the masts of his ship were actually plain ole radio antennas on the highest point of San Fran - the thick fog kept their bases hidden from sight when we were driving through the Castro.
*sadface*
So instead, I enjoyed the breathtaking view of the entire city; with the Golden Gate Bridge to my left, Downtown San Fran straight ahead, and Oakland in the distance (...and may it always stay that far away :::shudders:::). And once the initial vertigo subsided, at that altitude we could actually look *through* the clouds/fog and even map out C's house in the Lower Haight.
Since no one else was wearing a look of disappointment, I couldn't tell if any of the other Twin Peaks visitors were also there to meet the Pirate Overlord. However, most were taking pictures and a few were even picnicking against the cliff wall below, since it was the only area blocked from the fierce misty breezes.
I still would like to meet the Pirate Overlord who lives in the skies of San Francisco, though...I'm just sayin'. Or maybe I just have an overactive imagination. (But admit it...you believe in him, too.)
*Full disclosure: I was a bit done because of the Truffle Man in Delores Park.
In general, living in San Francisco without a car is pretty easy, but there are just a few places that are difficult to get to without automotive assistance. A few crazy people run to the top of twin peaks, but for the rest of us lazy fat asses, a car is needed. Having no such car, I lived in San Francisco for three full years before experiencing Twin Peaks!
The views are amazing from all angles. It is super windy and pretty freezing up there, but worth it for the view. I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 because it's not the type of place you'd spend a long period of time. Not really good for picnics or hanging out like other parks/landmarks. You get there, you see it, you go. It's also not as accessible as many other places with stunning views.
Come to think of it....I have actually been to Twin Peaks before. When I was deciding between colleges many many years ago, my aunt took my on the 49 mile scenic drive to sell me on the bay area. It worked, and I moved up north. If you have a car, a friend, and a sunny day, I highly recommend the 49 mile scenic drive.
Oh, and the best part of Twin Peaks? The Euro teenage tourist wearing the cork wedges and super short red skirt. The wind kept blowing her skirt up and everyone in the vicinity got multiple views of her bum. Good times!
Fantastic place to feel like you're on top of the Bay Area without having to board aircraft. Obviously it's better if you come on a sunny day but expect to share the view with a lot more people than usual because of it. But that's ok because people are pretty good about not getting in your pictures and staying out of each other's way - this is not a place where you want to tumble.
A fun game my family and I did was to try and distinguish the different neighborhoods from each other.
I would recommend shifting your car into a lower gear, on your way up and down for a few reasons: one, there's a chance you're part of a procession and it wouldn't be smart to speed demon your way through the two-lane road; two, mainly for on your way down, you don't want to burn your brakes; and three, driving slower allows you to take in the view before/after reaching the top.
Just a suggestion.
People that have lived in the SF area all their life might take this for granted but when you come from the flatlands this is why you ran away from home.
I'm an ex Military and have see a lot but sorry I never was stationed in the Alps. I think that ended circa 1940-something.
This is the beautiful thing that becomes even more special with cold and fog.
Now I'm back in my homeland - Duluth, MN - cold and fog. And snow.
I always got the weird look walking around SF in shorts and a t-shirt in December but I digress.
Many friends suggested we visit Twin Peaks on our trip, but stressed that we should not go if it were foggy out--they say that driving up to Twin Peaks can be dangerous in the fog. Luckily for us, it was not foggy, only gray when we went. It is really a beautiful place... I only wish we had sunshine so we could capture the city better.
Would absolutely come back again, especially if it's sunny.
INCREDIBLE. Seriously, this was the best thing I've seen in awhile. I came up here after a wedding ceremony at a nearby church on one of the nicest days in San Fran ever. It was warm, clear, and sunny. Fucking amazing. Unfortunately because I was wearing a dress for the wedding I think I ended up flashing a bunch of random strangers because of the wind factor. But, it was totally, totally worth it.
The day I went was Pride and we could see the Pink Triangle and balloons from the top down. I had noticed the Pink Triangle up on the peaks during the drive up to the wedding and it was really cool to be able to see it at the top.
You can see the Golden Gate Bridge, and, well, basically everything in the Bay Area from up here. Fabulous view and I'd imagine it would be a really great place to have a nice romantic picnic. Just don't wear a flimsy dress.
I absolutely LOVE the view here at Twin Peaks! It's the best! I live in LA, but I try to go up north at least once a year to get away and discover new things in and around the city.
Every single time I come up to SF though I must stop by Twin Peaks. It's always breathtaking. I unfortunately haven't had the oppurtunity to come up at night yet, but this coming trip I think I will have to make the effort to do so.
I've been blessed with many memories here at Twin Peaks and I can't wait to go back and make many more!
I think it is definetely a MUST SEE whenever anyone is in town.
Yes, I live here on San Francisco's two boobs. Soon to be vacating at the end of this month, but it's been a pretty interesting year so far living from the best panoramic view of the Bay Area.
The key thing to remember is that you need to climb the peaks, not just park your car and sit at the binoculars along the railing. The peak furthest from the tower, where the road first breaks onto the top, is the best peak.
Why do you ask? On a clear day, you can see all three bridges, Napa, Sausalito, Alameda, down to South Bay and across the ocean. At night, GG Bridge, Bay Bridge and the Alameda Bridge look fantastic. But if you decide to climb the first peak near the tower, then you get nothing but trees instead of a clear, microscopic GG Bridge.
As for the neighborhood...nice, safe and quiet. Plenty of parking and houses with actual backyards. Downside is the fog in the summer and the inconsistent Line 36 making my ass walk up and down the backside of Twin Peaks. Not fun. But I will miss my backyard having the best view.
And for those who noticed on my Yelp discovery to share....no, that is not in reference to my ass.
What a gorgeous view of San Francisco!! It takes my breath away whenever I come here. This is a great place to take a friend/date/relatives when they are visiting. You can see the beach, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Transamerica Pyramid, Bay Bridge, Market Street, etc. here. Just make sure it's a clear day. You'll be hearing funky languages when you come here cuz this is a damn tourist spot. I love it here anyways:-). Highly recommended.
Awesome, totally fierce!
Forget about going to Coit tower for a view! Come here!
After looking for this place for a while, going up and down the hills, and since it was my idea to come here; I was hopping it was worth all the hassle. It totally was! Even before we parked we all said "WOW" soo cool!
It was our first time in San Francisco and my friends and I were looking for a nice place to take a group picture, and this was definitely the place! Awesome view, you can see the Golden Gate from here, well you can see everything from here!
We had so much fun here. We came during the day, it was great, maybe on our next visit we'll come at night.
After being here, and then going to Coit Tower, we were like "why did we pay 5 bucks at Coit tower?" This was so much better and free!! even the parking was free! Loved it!.
Definitely a fan of Twin Peaks!
Twin Peaks yeah!!!! you rock!
Right in the middle of the city of San Francisco are the Twin Peaks. I believe they are 1000 feet high. You drive up a somewhat steep and winding road to get to the top. As painful as the drive can be, the views get better and better as you make it to the top the peaks!
Once you make it to the top, better put on sunscreen, since you're a little closer to the sun! Get your camera and or binoculars ready, get ready for lots of wind (it does get quite windy on the top), and get ready for a unique view of San Francisco and the surrounding area! By this time, you're either glad you put aside a couple of hours to enjoy the views, or thinking up of excuses to be late or absent to somewhere you have to be soon!
Its free to be here, and the views and experiences, priceless!
Twin Peaks gets me sentimental because I've had a lot of memories here. With enchanting views that overlook SF in its entirety, Its definitely one of those views that make you grateful that you live in the Bay Area. It never gets old. This is definitely a tourist spot during the day, but at night you'll get some tourists + locals alike. I frequent this spot during the daytime more so during warm weather, but will come here at night in almost any weather sans fog to see the lights below. Do not come here when its foggy, it would be pointless.
If you want to go up there early in the A.M'S to capture the sunrise over SF, you will never be up there alone. There are always people who come at a certain time till morning-& if you're from the Bay Area, you should do this at least once.
Twin Peaks definitely beats Golden Gate views. Go here if you want to capture the essence of the city.
Anger is a great motivator to go running.
It may not be healthy for my mental well-being, but at least it gets me off the couch and pounding on the pavement.
And the views?
Incredible.
simply irresistible, beautiful, picturesque view of San Francisco!
today was a SUNNY, CLEAR & SUPER-WARM in SF.
WOW!!!
b/c of the gorgeous weather...i was so happy & content.
this location is a great place to take panoramic pictures of the entire Bay Area. you can literally see and locate everything! (whoa...you can see Market Street so vividly!!!)
also, i'm a true romantic, so this place would be marvelous to be with your significant other at either day or night.
never thought of this place until a friend of mine mentioned it. must visit this location at night. free parking. very cold, so bring a jacket. the view is breathtaking. i cannot see anyone giving this place less than four stars unless they fell off the ridge.
This should be a protected park of some kind.
Come here on a clear day and the views will blow your mind. You can see both bridges and some couples making out, getting trashed, etc.
Just remember to bring your camera.
A Very nice view of the city from Twin Peaks.
A Must go to bring anyone that hasn't ever been to San Francisco.
Please bring a camera!!
I LOVE TWIN PEAKS! The view is gorgeous during the night time and I'm proud to say that I'm a bay gal! It's a local favorite, which I don't think gets a lot of attention, that hardly gets engulfed with too many tourists - which I'm partially glad for. There are a lot of parking spots, not too many. Although if you drive towards the exit there's another entrance to a second parking area that's a bit higher than the main parking area.
I love to drive up there during clear nights and just looks at the view. It's amazing and breathe taking. Sometimes it blows my mind to know that I live so close to a historical city with so many beautiful architecture. You can see the bay bridge, downtown and a bit of emeryville if your eye sit is good.
Trying to get a spot here of the Fourth of July is tricky, if not impossible. Be careful when you drive, the road is quite curvy getting up there.
We went up there on May 16th, 2009 at night. First time going up there when it was dark. I was really surprised by the amount of people there and the lack of parking. Guess it was because of the incredibly warm weather. I noticed that the crowd were mostly people on dates, people getting high in their cars, or people drinking....not that I mind any of them. ...Then the cops showed up and some people left. There's also some people up there that like to start fights...and I think that this really kills the nice scenery.
I usually come up here on a nice sunny day with family or friends just to check out the scenery. I would definitely go again when we're at a heat wave since it felt good to be up there. The view is crazy at night.
The first time I went up to Twin Peaks was in 2003, during my very first visit to the Bay Area and one of my good friends took me on a whirlwind one day tour of SF. That day it was super sunny and beautiful so the view was breathtaking and the wind was not as bonechilling.
Recently, I came back with my family and it was foggy and cooold. Our overall visit was pretty foggy, so we couldn't help it. The view is still breathtaking, although you see a bit less of the city and it's REALLY COLD.
The experience is hit or miss :) But either way, you must visit at least once!
Absolutely gorgeous. if you go up on a clear night, you have a great view of the city, and the Golden Gate Bridge.
Bring your camera.
Bring your date.
Bring a sweater. It gets cold.
Bring a jacket to put on top of your sweater if you're going at night. It gets really cold.
Beautiful view, you realize you're ontop of the world in a sprawling metropolis!
This another one of those places that make you GASP at the beauty of San Francisco.
I have so many memories here. Many times I have been at the look out point.... simply staring in awe at the wonders of SF. I look far and wide... wondering... questioning... enjoying everything around me.
Whether I am brought here by heartache, love, or friendship I always find peace in the views.
Be prepared for chilly winds, drunk teenagers and scarce parking (on weekends).
From Market Street, right onto 17th, left onto Twin Peaks. Drive until you can't go any farther. Exit the car...
Whoah!
Cool beans.
Tip: Its free.
As everyone says, it's a FABULOUS view. It's not just fabulous, it's serene, cool (temp), and just beautiful. It's touristy. You'll find it on every SF Tourist website probably, but it's classic so definitely check it out even though you're not into tourist sites.
One of my favorite things in the entire world is a beautiful view. I can just sit, overlook a city, body of water, look at the stars, or anything like that so this spot was p-e-r-f-e-c-t. :)
AMAZING! It was colder than a polar bear's toenail this night but I got an awesome view! Me and my cousin went here after dinner and all these years I've lived near SF, I've never been her.
I loved the view. I want to see the sunrise/set one day from here.
