Lands End and Sutro Baths

Lands End is a rugged stretch of coastline at the northwest corner of San Francisco, California, with a trailhead at the Lands End Lookout at 680 Point Lobos Ave in the Outer Richmond. The coastal trail winds through cypress and coastal scrub above the cliffs, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands and the Pacific Ocean. The area has been the site of many shipwrecks, and remains of some wrecks can be seen at low tide. Near the trailhead stand the concrete ruins of the Sutro Baths, a huge public bathing complex opened in 1896 by Adolph Sutro that held several saltwater pools under a glass roof. Visitors can explore the foundations, walk beside the surviving pool outlines and peer into a tunnel carved into the rock. A visit takes two to three hours for the main coastal trail and the ruins, and less for the ruins alone. The area is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area, is open daily and charges no admission. The Lands End Lookout visitor center opens roughly 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and has information, maps and a cafe. Trails include steps and uneven sections, with a labyrinth at Eagle's Point that is popular for views. Low-tide afternoons show the most of the ruins and shoreline, while fog can cover the coast in summer mornings. Crowds are largest on sunny weekends. Muni bus 38 or 38R runs to Geary Boulevard and 48th Avenue, followed by a walk, and the Legion of Honor museum is nearby for an easy pairing.