San Francisco · West Side · 94131
Forest Knolls is one of San Francisco's most quietly remarkable neighborhoods — tucked at the foot of Mount Sutro's ancient eucalyptus canopy, where owls call at dusk and fog rolls in like a living thing.
About Forest Knolls
Bordered by Warren Drive and the slopes of Mount Sutro, Forest Knolls offers something genuinely rare: the feeling of the deep woods, within minutes of the city's center.
Its curving streets, detached homes, and proximity to UCSF give it a character unlike anywhere else in SF. Many neighbors have views of the Bay, the Pacific, or simply fog threading through eucalyptus canopy. It has long been described as "Marin-like" — and the description sticks.
About the neighborhood →Nature & Wildlife
Mount Sutro's 61-acre open space reserve sits directly at the neighborhood's edge. On foggy mornings, the trails feel more like a Pacific rainforest than a city park.
61 acres of eucalyptus forest — foggy trails feel more like a rainforest than a city park. Free, year-round.
Explore trails →Three owl species, gray foxes, coyotes, and hawks. A thriving urban wildlife corridor at the city's edge.
Wildlife guide →Public hillside staircases thread through the neighborhood into the forest. Twin Peaks on foot in 20 min.
Find the staircases →From the community — videos
Walking through Mt. Sutro Open Space Reserve
SF fog rolling over Twin Peaks and the west side
Sutro Tower rising above the eucalyptus canopy
Videos from the broader neighborhood area. See the full nature guide →
History
Before Forest Knolls existed, this land was part of Rancho San Miguel — 2,000 cattle, 200 horses, rolling grassland. Then Adolph Sutro planted 11,000 acres of eucalyptus. Then the homes came, in the late 1950s and 60s.
Some of today's residents are the original owners of their homes. Clarendon Avenue was once simply known as Almshouse Road.
Read the full history →Jose Jesus Noe's land grant — 4,400 acres of western SF hills.
11,000 acres of eucalyptus transform bare hillsides into dense forest.
Curving streets, detached homes, views. Some first owners still live here.
FKNO advocates for residents. The forest, the fog, and the owls remain.
Community Advocacy
Forest Knolls sits adjacent to UCSF's Parnassus and Aldea campuses. Understanding the proposals — and the community's position — matters for every resident.
View current plans →From the Blog
Great horned, barn, and western screech-owl — three species confirmed this season in and around the neighborhood.
Read →Find Us
On San Francisco's west side, bounded by Warren Drive, Mount Sutro, and the Midtown Terrace neighborhood. Close to West Portal, Twin Peaks, and UCSF's Parnassus campus.