Lands End

Lands End is where San Francisco runs out of land. The Spanish called the westernmost point Point Lobos for the sea lions on the rocks below. Today a trail winds through cypress and eucalyptus along the cliffs, with sudden views of the open Pacific, the Marin Headlands and the Golden Gate Bridge. Below are the ruins of a vast Victorian bathhouse, the remains of shipwrecks and small coves you can reach by stairs. The whole area is part of Golden Gate National Recreation Area and free to visit.

From Palo Alto it makes an excellent half day, especially if you pair it with Golden Gate Park just to the south. Our Golden Gate Bridge guide covers the bridge you see from the trail. This page covers Lands End itself.

Getting there from Palo Alto

By Caltrain and Muni

Lands End is about as far from 4th and King as you can go in the city, but the trip is simple. Ride Caltrain to 4th and King, 39 minutes on a weekday express and about 50 on a local. The three-zone adult fare is $8.50 through 2026 and $9.00 from January 1, 2027.

Take the T Third two stops to Union Square/Market Street station, then walk up to Geary Street and board the 38 Geary or the faster 38R Geary Rapid heading west to The Richmond. The 38 runs the length of Geary Boulevard and ends at 48th Avenue and Point Lobos Avenue, a short walk from the trailhead and the Lands End Lookout. Some 38 trips turn at the V.A. Hospital at Fort Miley, which is also close to the trail. The 18 46th Avenue bus stops at the Legion of Honor at the east end of the trail and connects south to the N Judah and Golden Gate Park.

SFMTA lists the adult Muni fare at $2.85 with Clipper or contactless, good for 120 minutes. Riders 18 and under ride free. Allow about an hour and 45 minutes from Palo Alto each way. Check the SFMTA fares page.

By car

Take Interstate 280 north and follow Highway 1 through Golden Gate Park onto Park Presidio Boulevard. Turn west on Geary Boulevard, which becomes Point Lobos Avenue near the ocean. The drive is about 35 miles and takes 45 minutes to an hour without traffic. The main parking lot is at Merrie Way, beside the Lookout. A second lot is at the end of El Camino del Mar near the Legion of Honor, with stairs down to the trail. Both fill on sunny weekends. Arriving before 10 a.m. helps.

What to see

Lands End Lookout

The visitor center at 680 Point Lobos Avenue, run with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, has exhibits on the area's history and nature plus maps and gifts. Hours change seasonally, so check the Conservancy's Lands End page or call (415) 426-5240.

Sutro Baths

Below the Lookout lie the concrete ruins of the Sutro Baths, a giant glass-roofed swimming complex opened by Adolph Sutro in 1896. It held several saltwater pools, filled by the tides. The baths declined after World War II and burned in 1966, leaving the walls and pools you see today. Paths lead down to the ruins and a short tunnel through the rock to a viewpoint. The lower edges are slippery and waves surge over them, so keep to the higher paths.

The Coastal Trail

The main trail runs east from the Merrie Way lot along the cliffs. It is wide and mostly gentle, with a few stair sections. Highlights along the way:

• Shipwrecks. At low tide you may see remains of the freighter Ohioan below the northwest viewpoint. Farther along, watch for the engines of the Lyman Stewart and Frank Buck.
• Mile Rock Beach. A long staircase drops to a pebbly cove facing Mile Rock and its old lighthouse base. On the point above, look for a stone labyrinth that volunteers have rebuilt more than once.
• Eagle's Point. The classic view of the Golden Gate Bridge framed by cypress, at the east end near the Sea Cliff neighborhood.
• USS San Francisco Memorial. Part of the bridge of the WWII cruiser, which took 45 hits at the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, stands on a rise with an overlook.
• West Fort Miley. Grassy picnic spots among three old gun batteries.

Legion of Honor

Up the hill from the trail, the Legion of Honor art museum sits in Lincoln Park with views of the bridge. Our art museums guide lists admission at $20. Check the museum's site for current hours.

The Cliff House

The landmark restaurant on the cliff closed at the end of 2020. The National Park Service signed a new lease for the building in September 2023. Local reports in late 2025 pointed to a reopening around late 2026. Confirm before planning a meal there. The views from the sidewalk outside are free either way.

A walking route

About 3.5 miles round trip, with stairs. Allow two and a half to three hours.

1. Lands End Lookout. Start at the visitor center at Merrie Way.
2. Sutro Baths. Walk down to the ruins and the viewpoint over Point Lobos.
3. Coastal Trail east. Climb back to the main trail and follow it through the trees.
4. Mile Rock Beach. Take the stairs down if your knees are willing.
5. Eagle's Point. The bridge view.
6. Legion of Honor. Climb the stairs and roads up through Lincoln Park.
7. Back west. Return along the upper El Camino del Mar trail through Fort Miley to Point Lobos Avenue, or take the 18 bus from the Legion.

The National Park Service Lands End page has a printable map and notes the accessible trails that start from Merrie Way.

Where to eat

There is little food at the trail itself, so bring a snack and water. Nearby options with current hours on their own sites:

• Pizzetta 211 at 211 23rd Avenue, a small pizza spot a block off the 38 Geary route. It lists lunch and dinner hours most days.
• Burma Superstar at 309 Clement Street in the Inner Richmond, known for its tea leaf salad. It lists lunch from 11:30 a.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. daily. Expect a wait at peak times.
• Beach Chalet at 1000 Great Highway, about 1.5 miles south along Ocean Beach at the edge of Golden Gate Park, brews its own beer and serves lunch and dinner.

What it costs

Lands End, the Lookout, the trail and the Sutro Baths ruins are free. Round-trip Caltrain fare for one adult is $17 in late 2026 plus about $6 for Muni. The Legion of Honor is about $20. Lunch nearby runs $20 to $40 a person. Prices change, so treat these as estimates.

Safety and car break-ins

• Lands End lots are a known break-in spot. Thieves watch the Merrie Way and El Camino del Mar lots. Move bags to the trunk before you arrive, take valuables with you and leave nothing visible, not even a jacket.
• Stay on the trail. The National Park Service asks hikers to keep their distance from the cliffs. Social trails to the edges are eroding and falls do happen.
• Watch the waves at Sutro Baths and Mile Rock Beach. Sneaker waves can surge far up the rocks, especially in winter.
• Dress warmly. It is often windy, foggy and 15 to 20 degrees cooler than Palo Alto. See our weather guide.
• Finish by dusk. The trail is unlit and parts run through dark woods.

A sample half day and full day

Half day

1. 9 a.m. Caltrain from Palo Alto, then the T Third and the 38R Geary.
2. 10:45 a.m. Lands End Lookout and Sutro Baths.
3. 11:30 a.m. Coastal Trail to Eagle's Point and back.
4. 1:30 p.m. Lunch on Geary or Clement, then the 38 back downtown.

Full day

Do the trail in the morning, visit the Legion of Honor at midday, then take the 18 bus south to Ocean Beach and walk into Golden Gate Park. If you are driving, end the day with sunset at Lands End and dinner in the Richmond, or continue to the Presidio. For a narrated loop of the western neighborhoods, you can browse San Francisco coastal tours. To stay the night, compare hotels in the Richmond District.

Frequently asked questions