Christmas Tree Point (Twin Peaks Viewing Point + Photos)
Situated at the northeast end of the Twin Peaks, a viewing point right by a parking lot known as Christmas Tree Point has been offering a stunning view of the city’s skyline for Bay Area locals and tourists alike for over a century.
As the second highest point in San Francisco, at over 900 feet above sea level, it provides an excellent, unobstructed 360° view of the city.
From there, you’ll be able to spot downtown San Francisco, views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Angel Island, and many more landmarks.
Twin Peaks Vista Point | Unsplash
Christmas Tree Point is the third summit at Twin Peaks. While it isn’t at as high an altitude as the main two peaks, you’ll still be able to spot many of the aforementioned landmarks. You’ll also be able to conveniently access it from your car should you choose to drive there, given that the main parking lot of the attraction is situated at Christmas Tree Point.
The views provided at Twin Peaks have been widely praised as a breath of fresh air for first-time tourists and a sight even locals seem to never get tired of. It’s definitely an attraction not to be missed if you’re in the Bay Area. Let’s dive deeper into what you can expect from your trip to Christmas Tree Point, shall we?
How to Get to Twin Peaks San Francisco (Directions, Map, Parking)
If you’re driving to Twin Peaks, the address to key into your GPS will be "100 Christmas Tree Point Rd." This will take you directly to the main parking lot on the North side of the attraction we were talking about.
You can also key in “Christmas Tree Point Road” into Google Maps to navigate your way there. We’d recommend that you do so instead of using the official address stated for Twin Peaks, as this will only bring you to the park’s entrance.
The other two commonly suggested addresses, “Twin Peaks” and “501 Twin Peaks Blvd", will both take you to the small parking lot between the two peaks.
The actual Christmas Tree Point is situated a little below North Peak and offers vistas of mainly San Francisco and San Francisco Bay. At the north end of the view point, you’ll be able to spot Cobb Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Mayacamas Mountains of California.
Towards the same direction is where you’ll see one of the city’s numerous reservoirs. Established after the 1906 earthquake and fire, the San Francisco Fire Department’s HPFS water system nearby draws its water source from this very reservoir.
Southeast from the viewpoint, you’ll also be able catch a glimpse of the Santa Clara Valley on a clear day, as well as the Santa Ana Mountain.
But why?
It’s not a particularly large beach, though it sure does feel like a place where time stretches out and slows down. The soothing waves and calming ambiance alone were enough to keep us mesmerized for hours on end.
Alas, that’s not the actual reason for its nickname. It was coined “Eternity Beach” after being featured as a filming site in the 1953 Hollywood film, “From Here to Eternity,” which won eight Academy Awards, including best picture.
Why Is It Called Christmas Tree Point?
A brief look into Twin Peaks’ history gives us some insight as to how this point in the iconic Bay Area landmark came to be named after the festive holiday plant.
It was originally part of a promotional campaign launched in 1927 by the newspaper San Francisco Examiner, that called to erect a giant “Forest Monarch” Christmas tree in joint collaboration with the government at that point as a yearly affair. This year marks 95 years since the promontory was named after the evergreen tree.
The Examiner Christmas Tree, Twin Peaks | OpenSFHistory.org
Every year, the company would partner with other organizations and businesses to cut, transport, and decorate a tree that sits on the Twin Peaks point, along with organizing other Christmas festivities.
Moving the 120-foot-tall fir, however, proved to be no easy feat. The tree had to be cut down by a local lumber company and transported it by bit in a fleet of trucks up Twin Peaks, where it was then reconstructed with intensive labor and set up. Over the years, numerous Bay Area employees have worked on what was known as “The Examiner Tree.” The endpoint of the tree also marked the start of this area being labeled as the Christmas Tree Point.
Tips For the Best Experience at Christmas Tree Point
Climb to the Peak: Can you really say you’ve gone to twin peaks without making it to the peak? If you’ve got the stamina (and the desire to get the best possible view of San Francisco), we’d recommend you climb the few extra steps up about 70 ft (20m) to the North Peak closest to Christmas Tree Point. We promise it’ll be worth it!
Check The Weather: Make sure you check the weather forecast before you go, and consider your trip down to Twin Peaks to another day if it’s foggy! We can’t promise you’ll see much on a gloomy day, given that the hill tends to be situated right in the middle of a fog when it happens.
Dress Warmly: The Twin Peaks and Christmas Tree Point is known for being particularly windy, being at a relatively high altitude. Bring an outerwear with you, just in case.
Bring A Camera: Well, duh. As you can tell from our constant praises, the views on Christmas Tree Point are just too good to miss. To ensure you’ll have a memory of your visit to Twin Peaks, make sure you come with a camera or at least your phone charged up. Snap away!
Safeguard Your Belongings: Theft crimes are unfortunately not uncommon for bay area, and the parking lots at Twin Peaks are particularly notorious for organised car break-ins. Even the locals from Twin Peaks will warn you about this. Hence, if you decide to travel there by car, don’t leave any valuables lying in plain sight.
Consider Heading There At Night: Is Twin Peaks open at night? Yes! This Twin Peaks vista point is open till midnight all year round, and we’ll let you in on a little secret. The best time to go to Christmas tree point may just be during the nighttime, after sundown, where there are fewer tourists and locals around. I mean, the views speak for themselves right?
Christmas Tree Point Night Time View | Unsplash
It's hard not to stare as you take in the breathtaking panoramic view of San Francisco’s dazzling city lights and nightscape laying out before you. See if you can spot the Golden Gate Bridge shining brightly from a distance when you’re there!
Activities in Town
Whether you've been in San Francisco for 10 minutes or 10 years, you're guaranteed to see something new if you go on an urban hiking tour of twin Twin Peaks. Through the guided tour, you’ll explore the secret stairways, hilltops, and hiking trails of the city and discover hidden forests of eucalyptus and more.
Make sure you hit up the must-see spots in the Bay Area, like Alcatraz, the Golden Gate Park, and more.
