Explore Andy Goldsworthy’s “Tree Line” in San Francisco’s Presidio

Scottish artist Andy Goldsworthy has always been proud of the fact that he uses salvaged natural materials to create artwork that will ultimately decay and become one with the earth from which it was salvaged. In 2010, Goldsworthy gathered fallen trees in a gorgeous park known as the Presidio of San Francisco to create a whimsical earthwork sculpture known as “Tree Line” that looks like a petrified ribbon.

Goldsworthy—who has long been interested in cycles of decomposition in nature—was inspired to create “Tree Line” when he learned that there was a gap in a eucalyptus grove because certain compounds in the eucalyptus trees were inhospitable to other types of trees. “Tree Line” appears as a secret path that encourages visitors to journey through the forest and take in all of the sights around them.

Andy Goldsworthy also has 3 other earthwork pieces in the Presidio, including “Spire,” which is a large wooden spire composed entirely out of fallen tree branches. From a distance, “Spire” looks as though it’s a misplaced piece of a gothic cathedral that was built for a forest-dwelling wizard.

In addition to visiting Goldsworthy’s other works “Tree Fall” and “Earth Wall,” visitors can have a picnic at Battery Bluff and enjoy a striking view of the Golden Gate bridge, the San Francisco Bay, and the picturesque town of Sausalito. Battery Bluff also allows visitors to delve into the Presidio’s past as an U.S. Army post. You can view a series of recently restored gun batteries that were once used to defend the city of San Francisco.

Travelers who are looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the city and immerse themselves in nature can visit Mountain Lake Beach which is located in the southern portion of the Presidio. Mountain Lake Beach holds the distinction of being one of San Francisco’s few natural freshwater lakes. Visitors can have a serene picnic on the lakeshore and scan the horizon for over 60 different types of birds. Bird enthusiasts consider Mountain Lake Beach to be a bird migration superhighway that attracts birds from the farthest reaches of North and South America,

The Presidio is home to many gorgeous and enchanting sights, but Andy Goldsworthy’s “Tree Line” will leave you feeling like you have stumbled upon something truly magical. No trip to San Francisco is complete without following a petrified ribbon made of fallen trees through a secluded grove of eucalyptus trees.

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