Question 1

What's different about Urban Hiker?

Accepted Answer

We are the only urban hiking tour company in San Francisco. We show you some major sights (Twin Peaks, Presidio National Cemetery, etc.), but mix these up with 7-10 hidden gems in your 2-3 hour tour. You’ll explore stairway walks, hilltop parks, and hidden hiking trails that even the locals don’t know about.

We offer hiking tours. This means that during our time together, you should expect to be walking or hiking 80% of the time and learning history 20% of the time. Our tours are for people who want to get a great workout while they learn about San Francisco.

While we’re a tour company and like to have fun, we’re also a business. Our founder has an MBA from the Wharton School and worked at Google for 4.5 years before starting this business. We ensure that you’ll be treated professionally before, during, and after your tour.

Question 2

How easy or difficult are your hikes?​

Accepted Answer

Our hikes are all around 5 miles long, so in order to enjoy our hikes, you should be able to do a hike of that length that includes hills and stairways. We’ve taken hikers of all age groups on our tour, so it’s more about your level of physical comfort than about your age. If you are unsure of your fitness level, feel free to contact us to see if our tours will be a good fit for you.

Question 3

What’s the minimum number of people that you will take on a tour?​​​​

Accepted Answer

We require a minimum of 2 people on a tour. If you are a single person looking to book, we can accommodate you if a tour is already scheduled for a given date. We can also accommodate you if you are willing to pay for two spots on a tour.

Question 4

Where do your hikes start?

Accepted Answer

All of our hike starting points are within the boundaries of San Francisco, and you can walk, bike, Muni, or BART to any of these tours. Our tours start in different points throughout the city. To see specific start points for each tour, please refer to the Tours >> General page. All of our tours are loops, so they start and end in the same location.

Question 5

What is your cancellation policy?

Accepted Answer

We provide a full refund to all guests who cancel with at least 48 hours notice. We do not give refunds if you cancel within 48 hours. For private tours, we provide full refunds if you cancel with a week's notice.

Question 6

Do you hike rain or shine?  Can I get a refund if it's raining?

Accepted Answer

We will hike in the rain if you want to hike in the rain. If it’s raining the day of your tour, and you don’t want to hike in the rain, we’ll happily give you a full refund.

Question 7

Do I tip my guide?

Accepted Answer

Tipping is customary in the U.S. service industry and is an important component of guides’ compensation. The tip amount is at your discretion, but as a rough guide, consider giving 10-15%.​

Question 8

What should I wear?

Accepted Answer

Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes on our tour – we’ll be on our feet for 2-3 hours. Please wear clothes that you can get a little bit dirty as we may encounter dirt, dust, or mud on the trails. If you have hiking boots, great! If not, sneakers also work. We don’t recommend wearing your new sneakers on our tours unless you don’t mind them getting dirty.​

Question 9

Should I bring water?

Accepted Answer

Yes, hikers are responsible for their own water.​

Question 10

Are there bathrooms on the tour?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there are public bathrooms available on all of our tours.

Question 11

Can I bring my kids? Can I bring my dog?

Accepted Answer

Our tours are geared for people age 13 and up. If you have younger children, please make sure they can hike 3-5 miles if you are signing them up for a tour. If you are the first person to book a tour, you are more than welcome to bring your dog. If other people have booked before you, we will ask our other hikers if they are ok with your bringing your dog before we give you the “ok” to bring your furry friend. Your dog should get along well with people and other dogs if you want to bring them on the tour.

FAQ