(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
The Lands End Trail, on a clear day, has a super gorgeous view of the Pacific Ocean, the Golden Gate and the Golden Gate Bridge. I believe you have to be reasonably fit to be able to hike the trail because of the up and down terrain. You will have to be more fit if you go to Mile Rock Beach because you will have to go down a pretty steep slope and then go back up that same hill. However, the Lands End Trail is still worth doing even if you are not able to go down to Mile Rock Beach.
I recommend starting from the Lands End Lookout and walk towards the Golden Gate Bridge because the view is better that way (heading to the Golden Gate Bridge) instead of going the other direction (away from the Golden Gate Bridge). If you hike from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Lands End Lookout, just make sure you look back every now and then for the view.
IMPORTANT: Fog can play an important role (a bad one) in your enjoyment of hiking the Lands End Trail because you will not see much if it is foggy. I recommend checking before you head out to see whether or not it is foggy. However, fog can come and go just like that so the morning can start as foggy but the fog can burn by noon. Summer has more fog than fall and winter. What I recommend is to check the webcam at Crissy Field (here), and you can point the webcam to the Golden Gate Bridge. If there is fog at the Golden Gate Bridge then most likely there will be fog at the Lands End Trail. Refer to photo below with some instructions on how to use the Crissy Field webcam:
(Note: You can change the preset view only when "Controls available" is showing in the box at the lower left of the screen.)
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Note: If it looks like the Crissy Field webcam noted above is temporarily out of service, click here for the webcam at the Golden Gate Bridge itself
What to wear: The temperature between downtown San Francisco and the Lands End Trail area can be 5 to 10 degrees F colder because of the wind and water. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you dress for (or are prepared for) colder temperature (i.e. dress in layers so you can add or remove as needed).
Directions for exploring the Lands End Trail:
The Muni #38 and #38R buses all go close to the Lands End Lookout. The bus stop closest to Union Square in the one at Geary Blvd (corner Powell) where the Westin St. Francisco Hotel is located. Take one of those buses to the very last stop at 48th Avenue & Point Lobos. (Note: There are #38 buses that go to the VA Hospital or Balboa & 33rd Avenue. These routes will NOT go to 48th Avenue. Therefore, make sure you ask the driver if the bus goes to 48th Avenue. If you happen to take the bus that does not go to 48th Avenue, just get off the bus at Geary and 33rd Avenue and then wait for the #38R or #38 that goes all the way to 48th Avenue & Point Lobos.)
Possible Detour:
- When you get off the bus at 48th Avenue & Point Lobos, you will be near the entrance to Sutro Heights Park. You can wander around the park where you will have a nice view of Ocean Beach if it is not foggy.
- If you want something to eat before hiking the Lands End Trail, check out Louis’ at 902 Point Lobos Avenue, just a bit down the hill form the Lands End Lookout. The food is good and some booths have a great view of the Pacific Ocean.
(Video of what you can see at Sutro Heights Park)
After you get off the bus, walk towards Point Lobos Avenue and cross to the other side of the street. Make sure you use the marked crosswalk and be cautious when crossing. You will see the Lands End Lookout after you cross Point Lobos Avenue. You can check out the exhibits, which will give you some historical information about the area, if it is open. You can also grab something to eat at the café and/or use the public toilets if they are open. If it is closed, you will not be able to use the public toilets and there will be no other place to use a toilet nearby so keep this in mind.
As of May 14, 2023, these are the operating hours for Lands End Lookout:
(Click on the photo to enlarge)
You can double check the hours of operation here in case there has been a change.
This is what you will see from the Lands End Lookout:
Possible Detour:
- You can walk down the hill to the Sutro Bath ruins if you like before starting your hike of the Lands End Trail. Just note that you will have to walk back up the hill if you walk down.
Follow the trail signs. Note that the Lands End Trail is part of the Coastal Trail so don’t be confused if the sign shows “Coastal Trail.”
(Click on photo to enlarge)
As you go further along the Lands End Trail, this is what you will see:
Possible detour:
- When you get to the Eastern Coastal Trail Overlook you will see stairs leading up to the USS SF Memorial. This is how the stairs look from above:
(Click on photo to enlarge)
- If you go up the stairs to the USS SF Memorial, this is the best view from the top by the parking area:
(Click on video to enlarge)As you walk past the Eastern Coastal Trail Overlook, this is what you will see:
(Click on video to enlarge)Possible Detour:
- When you see this sign, you can go down the steps to Mile Rock Beach:
- When you see this sign, you can go down the steps to Mile Rock Beach:
(Click on photo to enlarge)
- Mile Rock Beach is worth seeing but you will have to walk down the hill and
then walk back up the hill. Make sure you look for the sign showing the stairs that will lead to Mile Rock Beach. This is what you can see at Mile Rock Beach:
then walk back up the hill. Make sure you look for the sign showing the stairs that will lead to Mile Rock Beach. This is what you can see at Mile Rock Beach:
(Click on video to enlarge)
Additional information with regard to the labyrinth that used to be at Mile Rock Beach:
Read: This article from August 14, 2021 is about the destruction of the Lands End labyrinth. I am sad and very infuriated that people would do such a thing. Hopefully, it will be resurrected in the future.
Additional reading: This article from January 24, 2022 is about two people who attempted to rebuild the labyrinth but found out that they would not do it so installed something else instead, which I think is a good substitute.
Here is a video of what you can expect to see as you walk the rest of the Lands End Trail until Lincoln Park:
After the Lands End Trail:
When you get to the end of the Lands End Trail, you will be at the entrance to Lincoln Park. From that
point, you have the following choices:
A: You can visit the Legion of Honor Museum. To do so, walk up hill along El Camino Del Mar.
B: Go back downtown. To do so, walk south on 32nd Avenue to California Street. There is a bus stop at
the southeast corner of 32nd Avenue & California Street for the Muni #1 bus. Take the #1 bus which
will pass the Outer & Inner Richmond, Laurel Heights, Pacific Heights, Nob Hill, Chinatown and
Financial District neighborhoods. (Possible Detour: You can stop at Pacific Heights. If you get off at Sacramento & Fillmore,
Fillmore Street between Jackson Street and Sutter Street is lined with high-end boutiques,
restaurants & cafes (refer to list provided to you of Urban Trek USA’s favorite restaurants in
Pacific Heights). You can also use the instructions for exploring Pacific Heights if you get off at
Sacramento & Octavia.
C: You can walk all the way to Baker Beach. To do so, walk east along the El Camino Del Mar and then
turn left at Sea Cliff Avenue. Make sure you turn left when you reach the fork on the road when the road
splits between El Camino Del Mar and Sea Cliff Avenue as shown in the photo below:
(Click on photo to enlarge)
Keep walking on Sea Cliff Avenue to 25th Avenue. Turn left on 25th Avenue until the end where you
will see a gate that will lead you to Baker Beach. Refer to photo below showing the gate:
(Click on photo to enlarge)
From Baker Beach:
1) You can take an easier walk directly to the Golden Gate Bridge if you follow the Coastal Trail.
2) You can take the Batteries to Bluffs Trail on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge, which will be a lot harder because you will have to down the hill and then back up again. If you want to do take this route, the link above to Baker Beach blog post will provide you with detailed directions.
3) You can go to Presidio Tunnel Tops and Presidio Transit Center by taking the FREE PresidiGo South Hills shuttle. There are two stops near Baker Beach: one at Lincoln Blvd & Pershing Drive <stop #10> and one at the 25th Avenue stop at Lincoln
Blvd & Lobos Valley <stop #9>. Refer to PresidiGo South Hills shuttle map below:
(Click on photo to enlarge)
(Video of what you can see at Presidio Tunnel Tops)
PLEASE READ: The last part of the directions mention the PresidiGo South Hills shuttle. Click here to the web page showing the South Hills shuttle schedule plus information on the Downtown shuttle. The Downtown shuttle is also free on weekends and certain times on weekdays. Check the website for details. The Downtown shuttle has two stops downtown: Drumm & California Streets and the Transbay Terminal at Howard & Beal Street. Therefore, the Downtown shuttle is an option for you if you want to visit Tunnel Tops and then go back downtown.
Also, for other things to do in the Presidio, click on the label = Urban Trek USA Tips Presidio. And for specifically just the hiking trails in the Presidio, click on the label = Presidio Trails.
#ThingsToDoSanFrancisco #SanFrancisco #WalkingTour #SelfGuidedWalkingTour
Update: After the #TuesdayTips post for Crissy Field, if you combine all #TuesdayTips for upper Fort Mason, lower Fort Mason, Marina Green, Crissy Field, Batteries to Bluffs Trail, Baker Beach, and Lands End Trail, you will be able to walk from Fort Mason all the way to the Lands End Lookout or vice versa.
(Note: I personally would do the Lands End Trail to Baker Beach to Batteries to Bluffs Trail to Golden Gate Bridge to Crissy Field to Marina Green to lower Fort Mason to upper Fort Mason. Or if you want to split into two, then Lands End to the Golden Gate Bridge and then upper Fort Mason to Crissy Field. The directions were done the way they are because most people are coming from the Fisherman's Wharf area and not the Lands End Lookout area.)
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