While most people beeline to the Golden Gate Bridge for their Instagram shots of San Francisco, some of the most amazing views of the City by the Bay and its dramatic surroundings can be captured from San Francisco’s northwestern tip—a wild and windswept, ocean-wrapped spit known as Lands End.
Where is Lands End in San Francisco?
Located just five blocks north of the western part of Golden Gate Park and to the west of the Presidio, this less-traveled corner of the city is rich in history and historic sites and ruins (yes, ruins—read on). It’s also a great spot for stretching your legs on a network of uncrowded trails, with plenty of chances to spy seals, sea lions, pelicans, coyotes, and even whales. Check out the National Park Services site for a map of the Lands End trails.
Things to do at Lands End
Start your visit at the Lands End Lookout, an excellent interpretive center with picture windows looking west to the blue Pacific. (December to March, keep your eyes peeled for migrating gray whales; in summer, you might spy humpbacks or even endangered blue whales.) Picnicking, photography, and birdwatching are all popular activities here—peregrine falcons, California towhees, hummingbirds, and red-tailed hawks can be spotted, in addition to the aforementioned brown pelicans. The area is primarily a day-use site; camping is not permitted.
The sights aren’t limited to nature. History—maritime history, in particular—is also ever-present. Located at the western end of Lands End, the USS San Francisco Memorial honors those who fought on the navy cruiser, which was in the battle of Guadalcanal in World War II. The names of 107 men lost in the battle are engraved in the memorial, flanked by the actual shell-riddled bridge of the warship.
Looking down at the rocky shoreline from the heights of Lands End, you can sometimes see the remains of three WWII-era shipwrecks. In the surf near West Fort Miley stand Mile Rock and Point Lobos—the tips of two dangerous rock outcroppings. At low tide, wreckage of the Ohioan, Lyman Stewart, and Frank Buck can be seen.
History of Lands End
Take a walk around Lands End and you can’t help but learn about the park—outdoor displays shed light on both the region’s natural history as well as its fascinating place in San Francisco’s past. In the 1880s, Adolph Sutro, who made millions in silver mining and real estate, bought acreage here, dubbed it Sutro Heights, and set about transforming the land into an elaborate public garden, with forests, flower beds, and wide paths leading to vista points. He also snapped up and grandly refurbished the region’s signature oceanfront restaurant, Cliff House (permanently closed since December 2020), and started building his dream project: an open-to-all waterfront wonderland, including a massive glass structure enclosing six swimming pools, each naturally recharged with seawater at high tide and heated to various temperatures.
Over the decades, the Sutro family struggled to keep it all financed and functioning. After a fire in 1966, though, the baths were permanently shuttered. Development plans for the site fell through, and in 1976, the bathhouse complex—now no more than dramatic ruins—and surrounding acreage were designated as parkland, a federally protected part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
The Sutro Baths could accommodate 10,000 people at one time, with 500 dressing rooms, and 20,000 bathing suits and 40,000 towels for rent.
Lands End trails and beaches
Today, paths wind down into the ruins and link to the Coastal Trail, with breathtaking views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. From here, it’s an easy stroll south to Ocean Beach, a 3.5-mile-long ribbon of white sand that’s remarkably untrammeled and wild—an often-overlooked gem trimming the western side of San Francisco. When visiting, dress in layers; even in summer the weather can be quite cool.
Insider tips: If visiting by car, it’s recommended to approach via the western end of the park. Parking is much easier there than near the Lands End entrance at the east end. Also: Don’t leave without seeking out what remains of the Lands End Labyrinth, an earthbound installation created by artist Eduardo Aguilera in 2004.
More outdoor activities in San Francisco
For additional ideas and inspiration for outdoor fun in the San Francisco Bay Area, check out 5 Best Hikes Out of San Francisco, Ways to Play in San Francisco, 10 San Francisco Beaches, and The Best Camping In and Near San Francisco. To get recommendations from a native of the city, see this list of ideas from a local.
