On June 12, 1912, a group of five Austrians and Germans living in the San Francisco Bay Area formed a local chapter of The Nature Friends (Die Naturfreunde), an organization for lovers of nature and outdoor activities that was founded in Vienna, Austria in 1895.

Most of the first San Francisco Nature Friends were also members of Deutscher Arbeiter Bildungsverein, ABV (German Workmen's Educational Association). Their first meetings were held at the ABV Clubhouse off Valencia Street, called “Quality Hall,” at 141 Albion Street in San Francisco.

In those days before the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1938, the Nature Friends had to travel for hours from San Francisco to reach their favorite hiking and camping sites in Marin county, first by ferry across the bay, then by train from Sausalito to the little hamlet of Mill Valley (population 2,500), then by foot or rail from Mill Valley up the mountain to hike and stay in various campsites then popular on the mountain.

Most of the first San Francisco Nature Friends were also members of Deutscher Arbeiter Bildungsverein, ABV (German Workmen's Educational Association). Their first meetings were held at the ABV Clubhouse off Valencia Street, called “Quality Hall,” at 141 Albion Street in San Francisco.

In those days before the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in 1938, the Nature Friends had to travel for hours from San Francisco to reach their favorite hiking and camping sites in Marin county, first by ferry across the bay, then by train from Sausalito to the little hamlet of Mill Valley (population 2,500), then by foot or rail from Mill Valley up the mountain to hike and stay in various campsites then popular on the mountain.

On a hike on November 3rd, 1912, the club members stood on a steep, unterraced hillside hidden under Laurel trees. A small neglected cabin with a fantastic view of the peak of Mt. Tamalpais and the tree tops of Muir Woods stood nestled above what was then still known as Redwood Canyon, the name of the area before it received its new name in 1908, Muir Woods National Monument. The cabin faced westward towards the sunset. A spring with cool, clear water flowed nearby. On that autumn evening, the Nature Friends fell in love with the location. They were in agreement that “Dieser Berg ist für uns!”—“This mountain is for us!”