Lands End Coastal Trail

The Lands End Coastal Trail runs along the rugged northwest tip of San Francisco, California, within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The usual starting point is the Lands End Lookout visitor center at 680 Point Lobos Avenue in the Richmond District, which has a free parking lot that fills quickly on sunny weekends. Transit riders can take the Muni 38 Geary bus to 48th Avenue and Point Lobos Avenue and walk about five minutes to the Lookout. No permit is required, and entry is free. The standard out-and-back hike from the Lookout to Eagle's Point is about 3.4 miles (5.5 km) round trip and takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. Cumulative ascent is about 400 feet (120 m), mostly from several staircases, so the route rates as easy to moderate for first-time hikers. The surface is mainly packed dirt and gravel under cypress and eucalyptus, with wooden and concrete steps in the steeper sections. Exposure is moderate: some stretches run close to unfenced cliff edges above the Pacific, and shade is patchy, so the wind and fog can make the air feel much colder than inland neighborhoods. Landmarks along the way include the ruins of the Sutro Baths, the Camera Obscura area near the Cliff House, the Mile Rock Beach overlook, and the Golden Gate Bridge framed from Eagle's Point, which makes a natural turn-around point. A steep spur descends to Mile Rock Beach and is best left for sure-footed hikers; the beach is tide dependent. The Lookout has restrooms and a small cafe with drinking water, and no other water sources or shelters sit on the trail itself. Visitors should stay well back from cliff edges, because the bluffs are unstable and the surf is dangerous. Dogs are generally allowed on leash on the main trail. The area is popular, and early mornings on weekdays offer the quietest conditions. Fog is common in summer, while clear fall and spring days give the best views of the Golden Gate and the Marin Headlands.