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Presidio of San Francisco

Fort Winfield Scott area

Event #1 in the BAOC 2026 Summer Series

Date: (Sun.) May. 31, 2026
Location: San Francisco, CA
Event Directors: ,
Course Setter: Greg Callas
Type: C; 2026 Summer Series event #1: beginner course and two Summer Series courses; beginners and non-members are welcome; free beginner instruction available; participation in other Summer Series events is not required (DATE CHANGED FROM JUNE 7!) (pending park approval)

Related Event Information

Last Year’s Event

Please note that fees and time limits apply. Events are typically not canceled due to bad weather.


Note that the event date was changed from June 7.


We are returning to the Fort Scott Parade Grounds in the Presidio of San Francisco for the first event in the BAOC 2026 Summer Series.

Greg Callas is designing three wonderful courses for us this year. As is typical for Summer Series events, a reduced number of courses will be offered. Course lengths will be approximately 3 km and 5 km for the Short and Long courses, respectively (still subject to change!). There will also be a Beginner course. Beginners (and other non-members) are very welcome — brief "Beginner Clinics" will be available as mentioned below.

Note: While this is the first of six events in the 2026 Summer Series, we want to emphasize that everyone is welcome to come out and do one (or more) of the courses, regardless of whether or not you plan to attend the following Summer Series events. Beginners new to orienteering are welcome, and the navigational difficulty is significantly eased at this event by the semi-urban setting, so anyone should be able to complete the Beginner course.

You can read about the Presidio of San Francisco (https://presidio.gov), which is a National Park site and a National Historic Landmark.

Request for Volunteers

As usual, we need volunteers to make this event run smoothly. Please sign up on this form (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1bG606O-PHlkjtn8aS6jDdzAZky3s-j9GQh1gGVd6fLI/edit?gid=1958664053#gid=1958664053) to indicate your preference for volunteer duties. Thank you very much for being willing to help!

What is Orienteering?

An adventure! Discover the outdoors and discover yourself! Teams of 1 to 5 find checkpoints in wilderness venues or urban areas using specially-produced maps.

Beginners

Beginner Clinics will be available to introduce orienteering. They are short, repeating sessions that explain orienteering maps and the process for completing a course. Of course, it's up to the participants to be able to read their map and navigate to the controls on their course. That should not be too difficult at this feature-rich venue.

Out-of-Bounds Areas

Please respect all the out-of-bounds areas indicated on the map. Our permit requires that we not enter these areas.

Two map symbols are used to designate out-of-bounds areas:

You may run on public sidewalks, but don't step on people's lawns. The rule of thumb is that if something looks like it could be a private residence, avoid stepping on the property. This is an important condition of our permit.

Schedule

The following standard BAOC event schedule will be followed:

  9:00 AM – 11:59 AM: Registration is open
  9:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Beginner instruction is available (free)
10:00 AM – 12:30 PM: Starts are open for all the courses
                  2:00 PM: Everyone must have returned to the Finish
Note: Participants under age 18 who register at the event must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, or bring with them a waiver signed by their parent or legal guardian. (The Summer Series event registration form is available here (14KB PDF).

Note that you can register and start on the courses anytime during the open times above. Thus, for example, you do not need to be "punctual" at 9:00. (You can if you want, but please don't show up earlier and expect to be served.)

Beginner instruction is 15–20 minute, repeating sessions ("clinics") that introduce the sport of orienteering, and provide enough instruction to be able to complete the Beginner course.

Note: Beginners doing the White or Yellow course are given their course maps at registration. You should get your map before joining a beginner clinic.

Everyone must return to the Finish by 2:00 PM, and then promptly go to the download tent, even if they have not completed their course. Please do not leave without checking in! If there are unaccounted people after 2:00, we must initiate a search for them.

Costs & Registration

Optional online registration (and payment) will be available before the event as described below.

The following fees apply at this event:

  $3 for each junior on the Beginner course
  $8 for each adult on the Beginner course
  $5 for each junior on the Short and Long courses  
$15 for each adult member on the Short and Long courses
$20 for each adult non-member on the Short and Long courses
  $1 for a compass rental (optional)  
  $5 for an electronic fingerstick rental (if you don't own one; you'll need one to complete the course)
$15 for the lowest-cost individual one-year BAOC membership (optional)  
Notes:
  • In addition to the fees described above, there is a parking fee.
  • Juniors are age 8 through 20 (under age 8 is free).
  • At the event, we can accept payment by cash, check, or credit/debit card (but no electronic payments — e.g., PayPal or Venmo).
  • Individual entrants can register at the event or online before the event (see below).
  • Groups going on a course together must register at the event. (The online registration system can't deal with groups. 🙁)
  • There is no charge for a second course (but you must end up paying for the more-expensive course​—​i.e., Intermediate or Advanced after Beginner).
  • Members of other orienteering clubs can pay the "member" fee. (We hope your club would do the same for our members. 🙂)

More information about event pricing is available in the club FAQ. All the prices are also shown on the Summer Series entry form (14KB PDF), which you can print and fill out in advance to save some time at the event. (You will need one entry form for each group of people going on a course together.)

Optional Online Registration

Optional online registration will be available closer to the event date. Registering in advance saves you time at the event, and makes life easier for the Registration crew. 😊

Notes:
  • Online registration is not required​—​you can register at the event. Individuals might want to register in advance to simplify check-in at the event (and to help the Registration crew).
  • Online registration is available only to individuals, not to groups (i.e., sharing a single E-stick). Groups must register at the event.
  • If you register online, and later change your mind about the course you'll do, you can easily make the change at the event.
  • Compass rental cannot be arranged during online registration, but you can register online and rent a compass at the event.
  • E-punch fingerstick rental can be arranged during online registration.

What to Bring

For the Beginner course, comfortable outdoors attire and shoes are fine.

For the advanced courses, long pants are strongly recommended. They might give you comfort when running on narrow, overgrown trails, and occasionally off-trail. You might also want shoes with some extra grip on the soles (but be aware that you will probably be running on roads and sidewalks a lot).

Please be aware that dogs are not allowed on the courses, because this is the middle of coyote-pupping season. (Yes, coyotes have been seen by the course setter.)

A compass is not necessary, but can be helpful. We have compasses available for a $1 rental fee.

We time the courses with the SPORTident system, so each entry/team needs to have a SPORTident E-punch fingerstick. If you don't have your own, you can rent one at registration for $5. (Use of the "E-punch" system is easy. You can learn how at the event, or read how the E-punch system works.)

We might, or might not, offer snacks for after your course(s) — check back here closer to the date. If we don't, you might want to bring snacks/lunch to eat while you enjoy the views and comradery.

Restrooms

There are restrooms near the Assembly Area.

Location Within the Park

The event will be at the Fort Winfield Scott area of the Presidio, which is in the northwest portion of the park. See the Driving Directions for details.

Courses

As usual for the Summer Series events, we will have three courses.

The course details will be available here closer to the event date.

Beginners should be aware that the course lengths shown are the cumulative straight-line distances between controls. The climb number represents the amount of ascending that would be done on the "optimum route" (in the Course Setter's opinion), without regard for any descending. Because you won't travel in straight lines, and might not follow the optimum routes, your actual distance and climb will be somewhat more than what is shown above, and will depend on your route choices (and any errors you make).

Keep in mind that you can earn Summer Series points from only the first course you run at the event, and only if it's the Short or Long course. That is, you will not earn points if you run the Beginner course first and then one of the other courses.

The Beginner course is for beginners and young children. This is a great warmup if you're trying orienteering for the first time. You get to see the map before the start, and experience how everything works. If you want, you can do the Short or Long course as a second course.

Participants can choose either the Short or Long course to earn points for the Summer Series. (Of course, you can ignore the Summer Series competition, and do this and other Summer Series events "for fun".)

The Start and Finish will be close to the Assembly Area.

Map

The map scale is TBD. The contour interval is 20 feet.

Please pay attention to out-of-bounds areas, and be especially respectful not to intrude on residential property within the park.

Hazards

Always be aware of other Park users? — ?there are many. (They are not hazards, but you might be a hazard to them if you don't pay attention.)

Car and bicycle traffic might get quite heavy in the afternoon. So, please pay attention when crossing streets and parking lots. You will have to do it several times. To avoid accidents, the park has asked all participants to wear bright clothes.

There is poison oak in the park.

2026 Summer Series

Points for the Summer Series will be awarded to all the individuals (not groups or teams) who complete either the Short or Long course as their first course of the day (i.e., not after the Beginner course). The results for the two courses will begin the standings in the two Summer Series competitions: Short and Long.

Details of the Summer Series scoring will be available soon

Driving Directions

Note: Read the directions carefully, as no signs will be provided because of park rules.

All the action will start from the west part of Fort Winfield Scott (near Building 1205). This is the location we've used in past years. The approximate coordinates are 37.8021,-122.4752.

Coming from the South or East: Head to the Golden Gate Bridge. Take the last SF exit (#439; "VIEW AREA/San Francisco Presidio/Golden Gate NRA/Fort Point") just before the toll plaza. After a short distance, bear right, and then turn right onto Lincoln Blvd. Continue under the overpass to a STOP sign at Merchant Rd/Storey Ave. The parking lot is shortly after that intersection, on the left. Be sure to purchase a parking permit at a kiosk in that lot (see below). Walk east, between the large buildings to the Assembly Area.

Coming from Marin: After crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, exit immediately after the toll plaza onto Merchant Road. Turn right onto Lincoln Blvd; the parking lot will be on your left shortly after that turn. Be sure to purchase a parking permit at a kiosk in that lot (see below). Walk east, between the large buildings to the Assembly Area.

Parking

Note: Please do not park near the Log Cabin! Those spaces are reserved for events at the Log Cabin.

No matter where you park at the Presidio, you must purchase a parking permit on Sunday, even if there is no sign saying so near the place that you park. There are many kiosks with automated machines where you can purchase a permit (with coins or credit/debit card [but not with a phone]) — you will need to enter your license plate number and your desired duration. Rates are $2.50–$3.00 per hour or $12.50–$15.00 all day (prices differ by location and day of the week; more information is here (https://presidio.gov/visit/getting-to-and-around-the-park/how-to-pay-for-parking)). Be sure to place the permit on the dash with the date and time visible through the windshield.

Alternatively, you can pay on the PaybyPhone website (https://m2.paybyphone.com/parking) or with the PaybyPhone app. (You do not need an account. You will need the location number, which is posted on parking signage and at nearby pay stations.) You can add time to your parking session using the PaybyPhone website or app.

The recommended parking lot is next to Lincoln Blvd (between Lincoln and Ralston), about 150 m south of the intersection of Lincoln Blvd and Merchant Rd/Storey Ave (approximate coordinates 37.8025,-122.4760). (There is also a small parking lot at the intersection of Lincoln Blvd and Storey Ave, and another lot on the other side of Lincoln Blvd.)