San Francisco Beaches
Best Beaches in San Francisco
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From expansive beaches that seem to stretch on forever to tiny pocket beaches nestled into coastal bluffs, the scenic and sandy shores of the GGNRA have something for every beach lover and national park explorer. Some of our coastal national parks are along the Pacific Ocean, others are situated along the San Franisco Bay. All will offer you jaw-dropping views (especially when the fog clears).
So grab your sandals and a spare jacket (this is SF, after all), here is our list of the GGNRA's beaches in San Francisco County:
Parks
San Francisco
Gaze in wonder towards the Bridge and Marin Headlands from outside the Golden Gate at mile-long Baker Beach. It's nestled at the foot of rugged cliffs on the Presidio's western shore. An easy stroll from the parking lot, you'll find a picnic area with tables, grills, and restrooms.
Parks
San Francisco
Locals consider China Beach a civic secret, tucked between Lands End and Baker Beach in the Sea Cliff neighborhood west of the Golden Gate.
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Beach
East Beach provides a safe space for all to play in the bay waters and for people-watching. Bring food from home for a picnic or something to throw on the grill and enjoy a meal outdoors overlooking the Bay.
Parks
San Francisco
Hold on to your hat. Fort Funston features 200 foot high sandy bluffs on San Francisco's southwest coast where the winds blow reliably wildly. No surprise it is one of the premier hang-gliding spots in the country. Dog owners will be happy to know they can take leashes off here.
Parks
San Francisco
While visiting the biodiverse shorelines of the Presidio, you can’t get much closer to the Golden Gate Bridge than at Marshall’s Beach. This rugged stretch of sand and rocks is a favorite destination for photographers. Even clothing-optional sunbathers are known to frequent on warm days.
Parks
Beach
On the Mile Rock Trail, you'll pass by this short path while hiking the Coastal Trail at Lands End. In just a short distance, you'll have a spectacular overlook of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, and even Point Reyes on a clear day.
Parks
San Francisco
Picture a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no highrises. It's just you and the waves and the seabirds at Ocean Beach, on the westernmost border of San Francisco, adjacent to Golden Gate Park.
Parks
San Francisco
The fine ruins here excite visitors' imaginations. Adolf Sutro, a visionary 19th-century San Francisco mayor, built a home and gardens on a bluff overlooking the Pacific. Today all that is left are dreamily romantic gardens. Below it, on a rocky shore, are the vast remains of Sutro Baths.
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