Baker Beach Beach / Outdoor Activity

Presidio, San Francisco –

Incredible views of the Golden Gate Bridge are undoubtedly the main draw for tourists, but postcard vistas aren’t the only reason to go to Baker Beach. A nude section, hiking trails, dense coastal forest, and a varied history all help visitors feel like they’ve escaped the bustle of the urban landscape, while the beach’s northern position on the peninsula largely protects it from high winds and crashing surf.

Tucked along the edge of the Presidio – San Francisco’s historic military compound-turned-park – the hills above Baker were army lookout posts dating back before the Civil War, and massive decommissioned artillery guns still attract history buffs.

Sunny days during the week see the area loosely populated with beach bums and families relaxing on the sand, while hikers and hardcore joggers charge up the myriad trails that run along the jagged cliffs above.

A quick walk from the main parking lot leads to the north end of the beach – the original site of the famous Burning Man festival – where Baker’s visitors are known to be a little free-spirited and a whole lot of naked.

Warm weekends always draw a big crowd, when the mile-long expanse becomes a colorful mass of long-haired hippies, hearty swimmers, sunburned college students, and parents treating their kids to a day away from asphalt.

No matter who they are – locals, tourists, vagabonds, or freaks – everyone at Baker Beach enjoys that rare San Francisco treat: a sunny day on the sand.