Twin Peaks (San Francisco)

{{Short description|Two prominent hills in San Francisco, California}}

{{About|the hills in San Francisco|other uses|Twin Peaks (disambiguation)}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox park

| name = Twin Peaks

| photo = Twin Peaks 2022 Aerial.png

| photo_width = 200

| photo_caption = The Twin Peaks

| type = Municipal (San Francisco)

| location = San Francisco

| area = {{convert|34|acre|ha}}

| created =

| visitation_num =

| operator = San Francisco Recreation & Parks

| status = Open all year

| embedded = {{Infobox mountain

| name = Twin Peaks

| photo =

| photo_caption =

| elevation_ft = 925

| elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}{{cite peakbagger |id=1189 |name=Twin Peaks, California |access-date=2009-02-27}}

| map = San Francisco County

| map_caption = Location of Twin Peaks in San Francisco

| map_size = 200

| listing = San Francisco Hill

| location = San Francisco, California, U.S.

| coordinates = {{coord|37.751586275|N|122.447721511|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA_scale:100000_source:NGS|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| range_coordinates =

|child =yes

| coordinates_ref = {{cite ngs |pid=HT3042 |name=South Twin 2}}

| topo = USGS San Francisco North

| easiest_route = Paved road, hike

}}

}}

The Twin Peaks are two prominent hills with an elevation of about {{convert|925|ft|m|0}} located near the geographic center of San Francisco, California. The Twin Peaks are the second and third highest natural points in San Francisco; only {{convert|928|foot|m|0}} Mount Davidson is higher within city limits.San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department (2006). [http://www.parks.sfgov.org/wcm_recpark/SNRAMP_Final_Draft/6_Site-Specific/68TwinPeaks.pdf "Twin Peaks"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930030752/http://www.parks.sfgov.org/wcm_recpark/SNRAMP_Final_Draft/6_Site-Specific/68TwinPeaks.pdf |date=2007-09-30 }}, section 6.8 of [http://www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_index.asp?id=32662 Significant Natural Resources Areas Management Plan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080314113428/http://www.parks.sfgov.org/site/recpark_index.asp?id=32662 |date=2008-03-14 }}. Retrieved April 21, 2007.

Location and climate

Twin Peaks, along with Mount Davidson and Mount Sutro, create a rugged landscape in the center of San Francisco which influences unique microclimates found in the city. Summer fog is ofter prevented from swallowing up the city's eastern neighborhoods due to the mountain acting as a natural barrier.

The North and South Twin Peaks, also known as "Eureka" and "Noe" respectively, are about {{convert|200|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} apart. The peaks form a divide for the summer coastal fog pushed in from the Pacific Ocean. Their west-facing slopes often get fog and strong winds, while the east-facing slopes receive more sun and warmth. Elevation at each summit is just over {{convert|900|ft|m}}. Thin, sandy soil is commonplace on Twin Peaks, making them susceptible to erosion.

On rare occasions, Twin Peaks has had a dusting of snow. On February 5, 1976, it received several inches of snow.

History

= Early history =

Before the arrival of the Europeans, the native Ohlone people may have used Twin Peaks as a lookout or hunting ground.http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/recpark/volunteer/Community_Catalyst_Newsletters/brochure_web%281%29.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614094418/http://www.sfgov.org/site/uploadedfiles/recpark/volunteer/Community_Catalyst_Newsletters/brochure_web%281%29.pdf |date=2011-06-14 }} sfgov.org

= 18th and 19th centuries =

When the Spanish conquistadors and settlers arrived at the beginning of the 18th century, they called the area "Los Pechos de la Chola" or "Breasts of the Indian Maiden" and devoted the area to ranching. When San Francisco passed under American control during the 19th century, it was renamed "Twin Peaks".

= 21st century =

In 2016 the SFMTA introduced a traffic calming pilot[https://www.sfmta.com/projects/twin-peaks-figure-8-redesign-project traffic calming pilot] to reduce the amount of space allocated to cars and make the summit area more inviting to a wider range of travel modes. The "figure 8" roadway around the two peaks was reduced to a two-way road on the western side of the peaks, with the east side designated for pedestrians and bikes only. In 2025 construction will begin to rebuild the east side as a wide promenade, following improvements to the Noe Peak trail and the trail down to Crestline Drive.{{Cite news |last=Whiting |first=Sam |date=December 28, 2024 |title=Parking lot transformation, new Twin Peaks trails: The biggest S.F. park changes planned for 2025 |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/san-francisco-parks-openings-2025-19919842.php |access-date=December 28, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

File:Twin Peaks Blvd closure pedestrian road.jpg

Attractions

Christmas Tree Point lies some {{convert|70|ft|abbr=on|-1}} below the North Peak and offers vistas of San Francisco and San Francisco Bay.Kelly, Colleen.[http://www.sftravel.com/twinpeakssanfrancisco.html Twin Peaks: San Francisco's Best View], sftravel.com. The view to the north extends no farther than Cobb Mountain ({{coord|38.807|-122.741|display=inline}}) {{convert|120|km|mi|abbr=on}} away, but looking southeast down the Santa Clara Valley on a clear day, Santa Ana Mountain {{coord|36.8782|-121.2637}} is just visible {{convert|143|km|mi|abbr=on}} away.

To the north is one of the city's many reservoirs. It is owned by the San Francisco Fire Department, and supplies water to the Fire Department's independent HPFS water system for fighting fires, established after the 1906 earthquake and fire.{{cite web |last1=Fisher |first1=Leslie |title=A Look Back at History: Twin Peaks Reservoir and the City’s Emergency Water System |url=https://sfpucnewsroom.com/water/a-look-back-at-history-twin-peaks-reservoir-and-the-citys-emergency-water-system/ |website=San Francisco Water Power Sewer |publisher=San Francisco Public Utilities Commission |access-date=19 March 2022}}

The top of Twin Peaks is undeveloped. It is part of the {{convert|31|acre|ha}} Twin Peaks Natural Area,[http://sfnap.org/n_area/locator/se.html Southeastern Natural Areas], Natural Area Program, San Francisco Recreation & Park. managed and owned by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. These preserved areas are home to many natural resources and wildlife. As part of the Mission blue butterfly habitat conservation, Twin Peaks is one of the few remaining habitats for this endangered species. Many bird species, insects and vegetation thrive in these areas.

The Muni Metro Twin Peaks Tunnel runs beneath Twin Peaks, linking downtown San Francisco with West Portal and the southwestern part of the city.{{cite web |last1=Menzies |first1=Jeremy |title=Twin Peaks Tunnel: A Portal to the West |url=https://www.sfmta.com/blog/twin-peaks-tunnel-portal-west |website=SFMTA.com |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=19 March 2022}} There is no public transportation all the way to the top of the Peaks, but the 37 Corbett Muni line stops on Crestline Drive near a path up the hill.{{cite web |title=37 Corbett |url=https://www.sfmta.com/routes/37-corbett |website=SFMTA.com |publisher=San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency |access-date=19 March 2022}}

The name "Twin Peaks" is also applied to the surrounding neighborhood.

{{wide image|Twinpeaks.jpg|900px|View to the northeast towards downtown San Francisco}}

Education

{{expand section|date=April 2018}}

The San Francisco Unified School District operates the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts in the Twin Peaks neighborhood."{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160910211205/http://www.sfsota.org/location Location]}}." Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. Retrieved on April 19, 2018. "We are located in the city's Twin Peaks neighborhood." The closest SFUSD school to the top of Twin Peaks is Rooftop.http://rooftopk8.org/

See also

References

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