Our family has visited San Francisco multiple times a year, nearly every year, for as long as I can remember. We’ve done pretty much all the typical things to do in San Francisco, and most of the activities off the beaten path. We’ve also visited the famous San Francisco viewpoints and most of the city’s lesser-known sights.
So now, we dig deep to find new San Francisco experiences.
One of those experiences was visiting Lands End and hiking — well, walking — the Lands End Trail. I can’t believe in all these years, we had never been out to this area of the city… it’s stunning. It’s also far away from the crowds and noise!
The Lands End Trail
San Francisco’s Lands End Trail, part of the California Coastal Trail, is a blend of nature, history, and breathtaking panoramic ocean views. This 1.4 mile trail follows the old rail bed of the historic Cliff House Railway and winds along the rugged cliffs of the city’s northwestern edge.
The Lands End trail immerses you in the rugged beauty and rich history of San Francisco’s scenic and storied coastline.
As you walk, hike, or bike the trail, you’ll wind through dense cypress and open grasslands past lookout points and benches that provide stunning vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and Pacific Ocean. And, if you visit in the spring, you’ll see wildflowers along the trail.
Highlights include:
Lands End Lookout Visitor Center
Our round-trip hike started and ended at the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center. It has educational exhibits and interpretive displays about the area’s natural and cultural history, and a fantastic San Francisco themed gift shop. We packed a tailgate picnic lunch and listened to the waves crash against the cliffs and the call of seagulls above.
Sutro Baths Ruins
You’ll also encounter the ruins of the Sutro Baths, a once-grand public bathhouse and entertainment complex. The 25,000-person swimming facility opened to the public in 1896 and were a marvel of engineering and ambition.
The complex featured:
- Six saltwater pools filled by the high tides of the Pacific Ocean, and one freshwater pool. The pools varied in temperature, allowing visitors to choose the most comfortable swimming conditions.
- A massive, 100,000 square foot, glass enclosure that covered the baths and made it the largest indoor swimming pool establishment of its time.
- Recreational facilities like slides, springboards, a high dive, a museum, arcades, an amphitheater, a skating rink, restaurants, and an aquarium.
The Sutro Baths struggled financially and the Great Depression sped up its decline. In 1966, a fire destroyed it and it was never rebuilt. Today, a short path leads down to the shore where you can explore the ruins up close, and a small tunnel leads to thundering waves crashing over the rocks.
Shipwrecks
The Lands End Trail also gives you a peek at San Francisco’s history. Informational plaques along the trail tell tales of shipwrecks and military installations. From various viewpoints, you can see the remains of three historic shipwrecks: the Ohioan (1937), Lyman Stewart (1922), and Frank Buck (1937).
- At low tide, the Ohioan’s stern post and boilers are visible from the northwest vista point.
- The Lyman Stewart’s steam engine and the Frank Buck’s stern post and steam engine can be seen as you walk the Coastal Trail between the vista point and the Palace of the Legion of Honor.
USS San Francisco Memorial
A stop at the USS San Francisco Memorial reminds you of those who fought on the navy cruiser during the Battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. The ship sustained 45 hits in combat and the memorial features the names of 107 men lost in the battle and parts of the actual shell-riddled bridge of the warship.
Seal Rocks
At Seal Rocks, you might get a chance to see sea lions and seals off the Lands End cliffs. These rocky outcroppings just off the western shore of San Francisco are named for the sea lions that once populated them in large numbers.
The area was designated a marine preserve by the U.S. Congress in 1887, largely due to the efforts of Adolph Sutro, a prominent San Francisco businessman and philanthropist, who wanted to protect the sea lion population and the natural beauty of the area.
While the sea lions have mostly relocated to Pier 39, the rocks continue to be a habitat for various marine birds, and remain a significant natural and historical feature of the city’s coastline.
Sutro Heights Garden
Created by Adolph Sutro, Sutro Heights Garden is a tranquil public garden oasis that sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the entrance to San Francisco Bay. It dates back to the 1880s and boasts a variety of peaceful pathways, exotic trees, intricate flowerbeds with rare specifies of flora, expansive lawns, stone statues, and ornate fountains.
From the Sutro Heights Garden, you can see the Pacific Ocean, Seal Rocks, and the Cliff House. On clear days, the view extends to the Golden Gate Bridge and beyond.
Lands End Labyrinth
About halfway along the trail, an optional detour leads to the Lands End Labyrinth — this is what drove us to come out to Lands End and hike this trail! The meditative labyrinth maze is nestled on a flat point with an incredible view of the Golden Gate Bridge. Do yourself a favor and make time to quietly walk the labyrinth and reflect on all that is good in your life.
The Lands End Labyrinth was created by local artist Eduardo Aguilera in 2004. It has been destroyed and rebuilt multiple times — most recently in August 2015. But thanks to the efforts of Eduardo Aguilera and community volunteers, it was rebuilt.
West Fort Miley Batteries
The West Fort Miley batteries are three historic, turn-of-the-century gun emplacements sitting in a large grassy picnic area. It’s a cool spot to explore. If I had done a little more research upfront, we would have packed in our picnic lunch and enjoyed it here!
Know Before You Go
- Parking: There are multiple access points for the Lands End Trail. The wheelchair accessible western trailhead is accessible at the parking lot just off of Point Lobos Avenue, on Merrie Way. The trailhead is just a little to the north. The USS San Francisco memorial parking lot is on El Camino del Mar.
- Pets: Dogs are permitted on designated trails at Lands End and beach areas.
- Trail Access: Wheelchair-accessible trails—made possible by recent improvements—begin from the trailhead at Merrie Way parking lot. Additional parking, with stair access to the trails, is located in the lot at the end of El Camino Del Mar.
- Biking: Bicycles are permitted on most Lands End trails; just not open terrain of the Coastal Trail between the Pointed Rock access road and Eagles’ point. To Bypass that section of the Coastal Trail, bikers can use El Camino del Mar.
Park on the street and walk down the stairs to reach the trail.
