Balboa Natural Area

You are approaching the Balboa Natural Area, a modest but ecologically vital one point eight acre site tucked into the southern corner of the historic Sutro Heights. Unlike the grand, manicured gardens that once defined this promontory, this spot represents a deliberate effort to preserve a piece of San Francisco's original landscape. It stands as the only foredune community within the city's entire natural areas system. Because the ground is composed entirely of shifting sand, a specialized elevated boardwalk allows you to pass through the site without disturbing the fragile, specialized vegetation that thrives in this coastal environment. This tiny parcel serves as a rare refuge for dune-dependent wildlife, maintaining a sliver of the wild coastal character that existed long before the city expanded around it.