Hopper's Hands via the San Francisco Bay Trail

Hundreds of people touch Hopper's Hands every day as a turn-around point on their runs in and around Crissy Field and The San Francisco Bay Trail. Running west through Crissy Field, passing the Warming Hut and pier, you follow Marine Drive until you dead end at Fort Point. If you continue through the parking lot towards the Golden Gate Bridge, you'll find a chain link fence with an infamous plaque of Hopper’s Hands. While reaching the hands is a goal for many, not too many people know the history behind the plaque. Who is Hopper?

The Hopper’s Hands plaque is named after Ken Hopper, one of the Golden Gate Bridge’s iron workers. In addition to his day job, Ken also volunteered his services as an on-call suicide prevention worker. Although suicide rescue duty is voluntary, all iron workers took turns convincing hopeless souls that their lives were valuable. It is estimated that Hopper came in contact with 30 jumpers. He was able to persuade most of them off the bridge, but did lose two.

Hopper had an honorable job. He protected and preserved one of the world’s most beautiful bridges and saved lives in the process. It’s hard to say which job is more challenging - risking your own life every day working on the bridge, or trying to make sure a complete stranger doesn’t take his.

So, get out there and show Hopper some love (and slap him a high five on your next run)!