Lands End
San Francisco, CA
Lands End combines a rugged coastal trail with the historic Cliff House site, where restaurants and shops have overlooked the ocean since the 1800s despite fires and rebuilds along the way. The Lands End Lookout has exhibits on the area's history, and the trail itself offers some of the wildest, least developed coastal scenery inside the city limits.
The combination of real history and genuinely wild coastal trail scenery this close to downtown is rare, though it's a rocky, hiking-focused stop rather than a swim beach.
How we score beachesWalk the full trail out to the Sutro Baths ruins if you have the time, the crumbling foundations right at the water's edge are one of the more unusual sights in the city.
Free parking is available at the lookout.
Blufftop trails connect the lookout to the shoreline; expect uneven, rocky terrain typical of a coastal trail.
Dogs are welcome off leash under voice control on the Lands End trails and beach areas, though leashing is recommended near cliffs and wildlife.
Fog is common most mornings year round, sometimes lingering here even when it clears elsewhere in the city.
More Pacific Coast beaches
Zuma Beach
Malibu, CA 路 Pacific Coast
A wide stretch of sand backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, with reliable swells that draw surfers year-round and plenty of room to spread out even on busy weekends.
Huntington City Beach
Huntington Beach, CA 路 Pacific Coast
Known as Surf City USA, with a mile-long municipal pier, consistent breaks for surfers of every level, and a laid-back boardwalk scene along Pacific Coast Highway.
Main Beach
Laguna Beach, CA 路 Pacific Coast
Tucked between rocky headlands, with tidepools to explore at low tide, calmer coves for swimming, and an arts-town backdrop of galleries and cafes just steps from the sand.