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Dec 23, 2023 · 1. Baker Beach, San Francisco Baker Beach. Baker Beach boasts a setting that is unlike any other place in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands form a postcard-perfect backdrop for this beach, tucked away behind serpentine-rock cliffs and surrounded by Mediterranean shrubs, native flowers, and a grove of Monterey cypress.
- Baker Beach. Located near the Golden Gate Bridge (and with awesome views of it to boot), Baker Beach is one of the many popular spots in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
- China Beach. China Beach is visually stunning, facing north toward the Marin Headlands with a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge. The rock walls on both sides create a small protected area that was once a camp for Chinese fishermen, which is how it got its name.
- Fort Funston Beach. Unless you’re very familiar with the Northern California coast, you may not have heard of Fort Funston Beach. It’s the southernmost beach on the Pacific Coast side of the city, and it gets windy here… so windy, in fact, that we’d recommend skipping it if the forecast calls for heavy winds.
- Sutro Baths. Once upon a time (in 1896) the Sutro Baths, elaborate privately-owned saltwater and freshwater pools, opened for public use. They eventually shut down after some financial struggles, and in 1966, they burned to the ground.
- Baker Beach. Things to do. Presidio. Just west of the Golden Gate Bridge, this mile-long beach off the Presidio draws locals and visitors alike. Large waves, undertow and rip currents make the beach unsafe for swimming, but it does provide panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands and Lands End, as well as the impressive mansions of the Seacliff neighborhood.
- Rodeo Beach. Rodeo Beach sounds like it belongs in an expensive suburb of Los Angeles, but the reality is far from it. Located two miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge, it's a bizarre, but beautiful little stretch of beach that separates Rodeo Lagoon and the Pacific Ocean.
- Mile Rock Beach. Things to do. Outer Richmond. This rocky strip of sand is the ideal spot for active beach-goers who are quickly bored by sunbathing. Hike there from Lands End along the half-mile Coastal Trail.
- China Beach. Things to do. Seacliff. This small cove between Lands End and Baker Beach provides a welcome, uncrowded, dog-free retreat. (On clear days, you’ll still see the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance.)
- Ocean Beach. A vast stretch of beach spanning the western edge of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset neighborhood, Ocean Beach is a true gem. A visit here is easily combined with exploring the city’s other western destinations like Golden Gate Park and Lands End.
- Crissy Field. Located near the Palace of Fine Arts and where the Presidio meets the Marina district, this bayside beach includes large grassy fields, picnic areas, running and biking trails, a marsh that attracts a gaggle of birds and other wildlife, and a stretch of sand with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island.
- Baker Beach. Below the jagged cliffs of the Presidio’s western boundary, the mile-long Baker Beach is located west of the Golden Gate Bridge and offers unmatched views of the world-famous span and Marin Headlands.
- Fort Funston. South of Ocean Beach and easily accessible with a large parking lot and multiple entry points, Fort Funston is popular with windsurfers, kiteboarders, and hang gliders, who launch from the 200-foot cliffs overlooking the sand.
- Baker Beach
- Crissy Field
- China Beach
- Fort Funston Beach
- Ocean Beach
- Rodeo Beach
- Muir Beach
For sand, surf and sublime views, look no further than mile-long Baker Beach, the pick of San Francisco’s stretches of sand. This long, wave-licked strip has front-row views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands looming across the inlet. It’s a popular spot to sunbathe, splash and play ball games; if you brave the ocean, remember that t...
War is for the birds at Crissy Field, a former military airstrip turned waterfront nature preserve with knockout Golden Gate views from its flanking beach. Where military planes once zoomed in to land, bird-watchers now huddle in the quiet rushes of a reclaimed tidal marsh, watching out for egrets, herons and visiting shorebirds. The beach beyond i...
A tidy little locals’ beach, tucked in at the end of Lands Endpark, China Beach sits in a tiny, rocky cove once used as a secluded fishing spot by Chinese fishermen. Tidal pools emerge at low tide, and locals crowd the sand on warm days, admiring the views towards the Golden Gate Bridge. Come for the views and locals’ vibe rather than a swim; the w...
We have to admit, Fort Funstonis a great name for a fort! This retired defensive battery was named for the 19th-century general, ‘Fighting’ Fred Funston, who played a key role in the Spanish-American and Philippine-American wars – these days, the main reason to visit is to access wild and atmospheric Fort Funston Beach, the most southerly of San Fr...
Looking past the rather unimaginative name, this blustery beach has a prime location fronting the Sunset district, which provides a clue to the best reason for visiting. On clear evenings, the sun melts dramatically into the Pacific at the end of a broad strip of gently shelving sand. There are strong riptides that make swimming risky, but that doe...
It’s all change once you cross the Golden Gate Bridge to Marin Headlands. In place of golden sand, you’ll find colorful pebbles of red and green chert at Rodeo Beach, hemmed in by bookend crags at the mouth of the Rodeo Lagoon. It’s a lovely spot for beachcombing with kids – look out for bright orange, semi-precious, sea-polished carnelians amongst...
It’s worth hauling yourself north of San Francisco to enjoy beautiful Muir Beach(plus it’s an excuse to drive over the Golden Gate Bridge). Follow Hwy 1 and look out for the turn-off next to the coast's longest row of mailboxes at Mile 5.7, just before Pelican Inn. Loved by locals, this small cove sits at the end of a 450-foot boardwalk, and fires ...
Jan 13, 2021 · San Francisco has something for everything, even beachgoers! We've rounded up the best beaches in SF, where to find them, and what makes each one special.
Ocean Beach. A classic California beach experience, Ocean Beach stretches along the entire west side of the city and offers panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Swimming is not advised here due to dangerous rip currents and extremely cold water temperatures.
