• East view from Crissy Field overlook with old Coast Guard station on left and city on right

    Presidio of San Francisco

    California

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  • CAUTION: Post Storm Damage to Coastal Trail

    The Presidio Coastal Trail segment just north of the Pacific Overlook and adjacent to Lincoln Blvd remains CLOSED indefinitely. We have posted signage to alert bicyclists and hikers and with information for safe trail alternatives. More »

Baker Beach

Baker Beach

Beach goers enjoy Baker Beach.

Mile-long Baker Beach lies at the foot of rugged serpentine cliffs west of the Golden Gate. Large waves, undertow and rip currents make the beach unsafe for swimming, but it provides panoramic views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands and Lands End. You can fish or check out the shorelife along the beach and rocky shoreline. Restrooms and picnic tables are nearby.

Tips and Highlights

  • On sunny weekends, be prepared for crowds and parking congestion.
  • A picnic area with tables, grills, and restroom facilities is tucked in the cypress grove at the east end of the parking lot.
  • Baker Beach can be warm enough for sunbathing and picnicking.
  • Look for the display of historical military photographs inside the Battery Chamberlin magazine.
  • Hikers can pick up the Coastal Trail on the cliffside.
  • The northernmost end of Baker Beach is frequented by clothing-optional sunbathers.

Nature

California State Rock: Serpentine
Outcrops of gray-green serpentine protrude among the cliffs between Fort Point and Baker Beach. Serpentine forms when rocks deep in the earth's crust are altered and forced to the surface. Serpentine yields soils unusually high in magnesium and low in calcium, which spur special adaptations among rare plant species.

The best views of San Francisco's serpentine cliffs are from the overlooks on Lincoln Boulevard, north of Baker Beach.

 
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
Visit Baker Beach

Find out more about visiting Baker Baker and learn what other opportunities are available through the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, partner of the GGNRA. More...

Did You Know?

Seacoast Artillerymen

The U.S. Army maintained a post at the Presidio for nearly 150 years. The Presidio's garrison included troops from all major combat arms: infantry, cavalry, and artillery.