Lake Merced Connection and John Muir Drive TrailheadStop on Fort Funston Historic & Scenic Tour, a free self-guided tour.Fort Funston's eastern boundary connects to Lake Merced, San Francisco's largest lake and another important recreational area. The John Muir Drive trailhead provides an alternative access point to Fort Funston, popular with locals who prefer to avoid the main parking area crowds. This entrance allows runners and hikers to link Lake Merced's 4.5-mile loop trail with Fort Funston's coastal paths, creating extended route options. The connection between these two parks showcases the diversity of San Francisco's western landscape, from freshwater lake to windswept coastal bluffs within a short distance. John Muir, the famous naturalist for whom the drive is named, was an advocate for wilderness preservation and his legacy of conservation continues through parks like Fort Funston. The trailhead area offers roadside parking and immediate access to trails heading toward the coast. For those interested in longer adventures, combining Lake Merced and Fort Funston creates a comprehensive tour of San Francisco's southwestern natural areas, encompassing forests, lakes, dunes, and ocean in a single outing that reveals the remarkable diversity packed into this corner of the city.Stops on this tourMain Parking Area and Hang Gliding Viewing DeckBattery Davis - The 16-Inch Gun EmplacementsNike Missile Site SF-59 Launch AreaSunset Trail - Coastal Bluff WalkBank Swallow Nesting CliffsSand Ladder Beach AccessHorse Trail and Equestrian AreaHistoric Battery Howe SiteSand Dune Ecosystem PreserveChip Trail and Northern ViewpointsFort Funston Native Plant NurseryCoastal Trail Connection - California Coastal TrailOff-Leash Dog Recreation AreaGeological Formations and White Ash LayerLake Merced Connection and John Muir Drive Trailhead