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Baker Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge, with visitors on the sand.

Baker Beach

Baker Beach is one of San Francisco’s best beaches, with sand, surf, and Golden Gate Bridge views.

Region

Golden Gate Region

Type

Beach

Interests

Nature & Sustainability, Recreation

Top Amenities

Accessible Restrooms, Accessible Parking, Wheelchair-accessible Picnic Tables, Free Parking, Bike Parking

Welcome to one of San Francisco’s best beaches — a mile of sandy shoreline and surf with a stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Baker Beach offers picnic tables, grills, and restrooms. It’s the perfect place to play in the sand, enjoy the sunset, or hike the nearby coastal trails. Baker Beach is easy to access by car, bike, bus, or Presidio GO Shuttle, and has parking available.

Getting to Baker Beach

1770 Gibson Road San Francisco

Google Map of the Presidio

By Public Transit

Muni Route: 29 Sunset
Stop: Lincoln Boulevard & Bowley Street

By Presidio GO Shuttle

Route: South Hills Route
Stop: Baker Beach

Baker Beach Parking

There are two Baker Beach parking lots, and parking is free at both. You can access them by taking Lincoln Boulevard to Bowley Street and turning onto Gibson Road. To access the smaller south parking lot, continue on Gibson Road. To access north parking lot, turn right onto Battery Chamberlin Road.

Why We Love Baker Beach

You’ll get beautiful vistas of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean. Baker Beach has plenty of amenities, including restrooms, parking, picnic tables, and BBQ grills.

Accessibility at Baker Beach

There are seven wheelchair-accessible parking spaces at the north Baker Beach parking lot. The beach access point provides entry that is approximately 5% in grade. Baker Beach also has accessible restrooms. The picnic area has an accessible route and tables with companion seating. For more details about Accessibility at Baker Beach, visit the National Park Service website.

Insider Tip

Baker Beach is a popular free family activity on sunny days and weekends, so arriving early will help you get a parking spot, picnic table, or place on the sand.

Teenage girl at Baker Beach with Golden Gate Bridge and a group of teenage friends in the background.

Make the Most of Your Beach Day

With a picnic area, BBQ grills, accessible restrooms, and a big stretch of sand, Baker Beach is a favorite spot for locals and visitors. On warm days and weekends, it’s a good idea to arrive early. The parking lot at Baker Beach and the nearby parking lots on Bowley Street will fill up quickly.

Golden Gate Views

Baker Beach is one of the closest beaches to the Golden Gate Bridge, so it’s the perfect place to take in iconic views. From Baker Beach, you can get a view of waves breaking in front of the bridge — with the Marin Headlands in the distance — all in one snapshot.

Sand Ladder at Baker Beach

Sand Ladder at Baker Beach.
Photo by Jay Graham.

If you’re up for an adventure, go to the north end of Baker Beach and try scrambling up the Sand Ladder, which connects to the California Coastal Trail and the Batteries to Bluffs Trail.

Dog Friendly

Dogs are welcome at Baker Beach. Just make sure your dog is on leash while you are visiting, and bring any supplies you’ll need to clean up after them.

Beach Activities

Baker Beach is one of the best spots in San Francisco for sunbathing, picnicking, and grilling. But be extremely cautious in the waves, as the water is chilly and the currents and riptides can be powerful, even for experienced swimmers.

Trails and Hiking

Baker Beach hikes include a connection to the California Coastal Trail, which you can access from either the Baker Beach parking lot or from the Sand Ladder at the north end of the beach. For a more rugged adventure, turn off the California Coastal Trail onto the more challenging Batteries to Bluffs Trail.

Viewpoints and Landmarks

Close to the Baker Beach parking lot, you can explore Battery Chamberlin, which holds a giant 50-ton ‘disappearing gun.’ Or take a short stair-step hike up the hill to Immigrant Point Overlook, a tranquil resting place with elevated views of the Pacific Ocean and the Marin Headlands.

Baker Beach Sunsets

Baker Beach has one of the best sunset views in San Francisco. Settle in to enjoy as the sun reflects on the Golden Gate Bridge. If you’re planning to watch the sunset, make sure to bring a blanket and extra layers with you to fully enjoy those spectacular Baker Beach Golden Gate Bridge views.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

You can reach the Baker Beach parking lot by taking Lincoln Boulevard through the Presidio and turning onto Bowley Street. It’s also accessible via transit on Muni 29​ or Presidio GO Shuttle South Hills Route.

Baker Beach is popular on warm sunny days and weekends, so arrive early for a better chance at grabbing a parking spot, picnic table, or place on the sand. For a short visit, arrive just before sunset to get a great view of the Golden Gate Bridge.

At Baker Beach, bonfires are prohibited. Fires are only permitted in the fixed grills provided at the picnic area, east of the main parking lot.

More adventurous beachgoers often seek out the northern end of Baker Beach and nearby Marshall’s Beach, which is known to be a place where people dare to go bare.

Dogs are welcome and must be on leash.

Baker Beach is open 24 hours, but the parking lot closes one hour after sundown.

No, overnight parking is not allowed in the Baker Beach parking lot.

There is no food for sale immediately next to Baker Beach, but there are restaurants and Presidio Pop Up food trucks elsewhere in the park.

Nature Notes

It’s our goal to make sure people can enjoy the Presidio’s natural beauty for generations to come. We work to protect native plants and animals while reducing our impact on the environment.

Wildlife at Baker Beach

Baker Beach is a great place to glimpse sea stars at low tide. You may also spot a V-shaped formation of Brown Pelicans, a Red-tailed Hawk, or even dolphins and harbor seals surfacing in the water. And don’t miss sightings of California’s grey-green serpentine state rock.

Restoring the Dunes

We removed invasive European dune grass, replanting with native yellow sand verbena and the rare San Francisco spine flower. Foredunes help prevent beach erosion and flooding.

Learn More
Native Toyon shrub with red berries at Baker Beach with the Golden Gate Bridge.Photo source:

Park Itineraries

Need help planning your day at the Presidio? We’ve put together some ideas for things to see and do in the park. Whether you’re planning to spend a few hours or an entire day, there’s a lot to experience at the Presidio.

Explore What’s Nearby

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