Baker Beach

What to know

Baker Beach is a public beach on the San Francisco peninsula, stretching a mile long beneath rugged serpentine cliffs on the Presidio’s western shoreline. It is most famous for its spectacular, unsurpassed views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands. Beyond the scenery, the beach holds a deep military history. In 1904, the U.S. Army built Battery Chamberlin, an artillery fort designed to protect the harbor's minefields. Visitors can still see a 97,000-pound disappearing gun cannon, originally emplaced here, which can be cranked in and out of its hidden emplacement. The area also served as a site for early urban development and artistic expression. In 1858, John Bensley dammed Lobos Creek near the beach to create a redwood flume, establishing San Francisco’s first permanent water supply. Later, from 1986 to 1990, the beach became the original home of the Burning Man festival, where early burners gathered to create an artistic utopia. While the beach is open 24 hours a day, visitors should be cautious. The northern section is known as a clothing-optional area for sunbathers. Additionally, the shoreline is unsafe for swimming or other water activities due to powerful rip currents, undertow, and large waves.

Visitor tips

• Avoid swimming or water activities as the beach is unsafe due to rip currents and large waves.
• Visit the northern section of the beach if you are looking for the clothing-optional area.
• Use the picnic and restroom facilities located in the cypress grove at the east end of the parking lot.

Nearby context

Located on the western shoreline of the Presidio, Baker Beach is a rugged natural escape that contrasts with the city's urban center, providing a gateway to the Marin Headlands across the bay.