Lands End is where San Francisco meets the open Pacific. A trail runs along the cliffs from the ruins of the Sutro Baths towards the Golden Gate, through cypress trees and over headlands, with views that feel a long way from any city.
The route
Start at the Lands End Lookout visitor center, by the parking lot above the Sutro Baths. Walk down to the ruins first, then follow the Coastal Trail east. The main trail is wide and well kept, with some stairs; side paths drop steeply to small beaches and lookouts. Turn back when you reach the Eagle's Point overlook, or carry on through the Sea Cliff neighborhood towards Baker Beach.
What to look for
- The Sutro Baths: in 1896 a vast glass-roofed public bathhouse stood here, with pools filled by the tides. It closed, burned in 1966, and now only its concrete foundations remain, half filled with seawater.
- The labyrinth: a stone labyrinth on a point below the trail, with the bridge as its backdrop. It has been destroyed and rebuilt by volunteers more than once.
- Shipwrecks: at low tide, the remains of old wrecks show on the rocks below. The waters off this point are notoriously dangerous.
- The Golden Gate Bridge: seen from its ocean side, often with fog pouring under it.
Practical notes
Stay on the trail: the cliffs are unstable and people are hurt every year scrambling down them. It is cool and breezy even in summer. The walk costs nothing, which makes it one of the best free things in the city; see San Francisco on a budget. Combine it with the western end of Golden Gate Park and Ocean Beach, a short walk south.
A short history
In the 1880s, the businessman and later mayor Adolph Sutro bought much of the land around Point Lobos and opened it to the public. He built gardens, a grand Victorian Cliff House restaurant above the sea, and in 1896 the Sutro Baths: seven swimming pools of different temperatures under a vast glass roof, filled by the tides through a tunnel and by pumps, with galleries, a museum and seating for thousands. A steam railway brought visitors from the city.
The baths were costly to run and lost their crowds over the decades. They became an ice rink, closed in 1966, and burned that year as demolition began. The land later became part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, and the ruins were left as they are.
Wildlife and plants
Watch for pelicans, cormorants and gulls on the rocks, and harbor seals and sea lions offshore. In winter and spring, whales sometimes pass the point. The trail runs through Monterey cypress planted in Sutro's day, and through native coastal scrub being restored by park volunteers, bright with wildflowers in spring.
Nearby
- The Legion of Honor, a fine-art museum in a copy of a Paris palace, on a hilltop just above the trail, with a view of the bridge from its courtyard.
- The Camera Obscura, a small 1940s optical attraction above the Sutro Baths that projects a moving image of the coast onto a dish inside.
- Ocean Beach, stretching south along the city's edge to the end of Golden Gate Park.
Frequently asked questions
How difficult is the trail?
Mostly easy, with some stairs. The side trails down to Mile Rock Beach and the labyrinth are steep.
Can I get there by public transit?
Yes, several buses run to the area near the visitor center. Allow about 45 minutes from downtown.
When is the best time to go?
Late afternoon for the sunset over the ocean, or a clear morning for the best views of the bridge.