Another thing the December 2025 UCSF newsletter mentioned – landslide risk:
“In May 2024, a large landslide affected a section of the Historic Trail near the Woods Lot entrance, requiring UCSF to close that portion of the trail for safety. Since then, UCSF has brought in geotechnical experts, engineers, and risk-assessment specialists to study the slope and determine the long-term stability of the area.
“After many months of evaluation and planning, we’re excited to share that we are aiming to reopen the Historic Trail in early 2026. Before reopening, UCSF will install monitoring equipment managed by an independent outside firm. These devices will continually track movement and conditions around the slide area to ensure the trail remains safe for everyone.”
The Landslide hazard was entirely predictable – and predicted. When the dense forest that holds the slope together is removed, it’s a matter of time.
Pink areas and wiggly arrows show landslide risk; double line arrows show past landslides.
We wrote a detailed article about it – back in 2014. Our conclusion:
“While it’s possible that a slide could happen within months of the tree-felling, it could also happen 6-8 years later as the root systems rot away. It could happen in any year until the trees grow back and conditions are right for water-logging. On that fateful Washington slope, the average was 5-10 years. No one wants to find out the average for San Francisco slopes. We ask the land managers for these forests to stop removing trees and large shrubs that have successfully stabilized our hillsides for decades.”
Well, they didn’t. Presumably, we can expect more of the same.
Mount Sutro Forest That Was 