Nestled in the southwest corner of the Presidio, this 1.6 kilometre stretch of San Francisco coastline offers some of the best views in the city.
In the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge, the promenade’s views out to the Pacific Ocean attract a diverse crowd of tourists and locals alike.
Residents flock to Baker Beach to sunbathe, play sports, relax or go fishing. During the summer months, the beach can get very crowded. There’s a sheltered picnic spot which has tables and barbecue pits for use by everyone, but these get snapped up pretty quickly during high season and at weekends, so you’ll need to get to the beach early if you want to secure a spot. At the north end of Baker Beach is a famous (and popular!) nudist beach.
At the northern end of the beach you’ll find Battery Chamberlin, home to a 44,000 kilo, 15 centimetre “disappearing gun”. There are demonstrations of this huge gun on the first weekend of every month, a reminder of the gun demonstrations that were originally set up here at the turn of the 20th Century.
The area attracts a variety of wildlife thanks to its setting among the coastal bluffs. You may get to spot dolphins and harbour seals as they break through the surface of the water, as well as watch the flocks of brown pelicans and migrating shorebirds on the hunt for food.
If you’re coming by car, there is free parking near the beach, but this fills up quickly so arrive early for a spot. There is a regular bus service that goes all the way to the upper parking area. If you want to explore the area a little more, you can walk around the rocks to the northern end of the beach at low tide, but take care and keep an eye on the tide! Baker Beach is also the starting point for the remainder of the Presidio trails.
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