2 min
Overview
Lands End, the westernmost point in San Francisco, hosts one of the most scenic coastal hikes in San Francisco complete with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, wildflowers, wildlife, a rocky beach, labyrinth, and a surprisingly woodsy forest. On this hike, we will explore the Coastal Trail along the historic waterfront and descend wooden staircases to Sutro Baths, Mile Rock Beach, and Lands End Labyrinth. Begin at Lands End Lookout, a recently built visitor center that opened on April 28, 2012, part of a major restoration of the Lands End Coastal Trail. Inside you will find free trail maps, cultural and natural history exhibits, and San Francisco mementos. The lion you see in front of the building is a replica of Adolph Sutro’s garden statues that once populated these grounds—his effort to bring European art to San Franciscans. Head north from Lands End Lookout on the wide concrete walkway lined with benches. The Lands End Coastal Trail begins in 0.1 miles, at the break in the cypress trees to the north. Wind carries the salt spray in the brisk air, foghorns bellow, waves crash into the cliffs below, and across the Golden Gate Strait the west, middle, and east peaks stand prominently on Mount Tamalpais. Take a left at a wooden staircase at the edge of the concrete walk to explore Sutro Baths. The Baths, visible below the cliffs from Lands End Lookout, are the concrete remains of an indoor swimming pool. Opened in 1894, the gargantuan structure covered over three acres and housed six saltwater swimming pools—each heated by steam to different temperatures! It was an engineering marvel in its time and Sutro poured himself into the project, building a three-tiered spectator viewing area, private dressing rooms, restaurants, and even a turbine pump that could funnel in more ocean water if the tide was too low to fill the pools. Adolph Sutro was an engineer from Prussia who came to the United States in 1850 at the age of 20. He made his fortune creating a special ventilation tunnel in Nevada silver mines. After purchas
Trail Stats
6.3 km
205 m
97 m
9 m
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