Baker Beach

It’s the views that make Baker Beach the best in the city. From anywhere on the beach, look to your right and there’s the entire Golden Gate Bridge, one mile away, and the Marin Headlands.

Look to the left and there are the mansions of Seacliff, some clinging to cliffs directly over the beach. Look straight ahead and there are big waves pounding the sand and bigger ships muscling their way in and out of the Gate.

In the egalitarian spirit of San Francisco, Baker is a beach for everyone. Part of Presidio National Park and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, it’s packed on sunny days with families, kids, dogs (who can run loose), fishermen, and on the far northern end, clothing-optional sunbathers. On not-so-sunny days—although Baker is less windy and foggy than Ocean Beach—it’s almost empty, a quiet refuge for contemplation.

Besides the views, several features set Baker apart from the city’s other beaches. There are the steps near the north end: a “stairway to heaven” of sand and logs--hundreds of steps long—that offer a great workout and an even better view. (The steps are part of the California Coastal Trail’s “beach route,” as noted on the trailhead sign.)

There are two picnic areas with barbecue pits in the deep shade of cypress groves, just behind the beach. And there’s Battery Chamberlin, one of the battlements where cannon-like “rifled guns” were positioned to protect against warships from 1904 to 1945.

Yes, there are the nudes, too, but they stick to the north end of the beach and even voyeurs will be disappointed. These are mostly people you would rather not see nude. A more important thing to worry about is the ocean. Signs posted on the beach warn: “People Swimming and Wading Have Drowned Here.” They aren’t kidding, so stick to the sand. Don’t climb on the rocks on the north end or let your kids play in the stream that feeds the ocean on the south end, either.

HelloMetro Tip: A sandy path leads right from the southeast corner of the beach to the Seacliff neighborhood, where you can follow streets and the Coastal Trail for a great 4.6-mile roundtrip hike to and from the Cliff House.

- by Bob Cooper, San Francisco Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Bob Cooper

Bob Cooper is a full-time freelance writer (www.bob-cooper.com) who writes about travel, outdoor sports and health. He is a monthly contributor to Runner's World and has written recent articles for other national magazines such as Continental, Ladies' Home Journal and Inc.