Baker Beach is a stunning 1.6 kilometre stretch of perfect golden sand along the San Francisco coastline, which attracts a diverse crowd. This is the perfect viewpoint to take in the iconic Golden Gate Bridge and the vast Pacific Ocean beyond.
The unpredictable large waves, undercurrents and rip tides make the beach unsafe for swimming so just lay back and soak up some rays, play a fun game of beach cricket, throw a frisbee or try your hand at fishing along the shore. There’s also a popular nudist beach at the north end of the beach. During the summer, the beach is packed with sun worshippers. Get there nice and early if you want to claim your spot on the sand.
There’s a picnic area that has barbecue pits and tables, so bring along a packed lunch and grab yourself a table. But be quick. They’re taken up fast, especially at weekends. The sand dunes shelter this spot from the winds coming off the ocean, which means your sandwiches will remain sand-free!
On the first weekend of every month, it’s worth heading to the north end of the beach to the Battery Chamberlin where you can see a demonstration of the 44,000 kilo, 15-centimetre great rifle known as the “disappearing gun” which is on display there.
Baker Beach is set among the dramatic cliffs that are home to some of California’s fascinating wildlife. You may see flocks of brown pelicans gracing the sky and don’t be surprised to catch a glimpse of dolphins and harbour seals popping their heads up above the water.
If you are planning to travel by car, there is a free car park close to the beach, but this gets full pretty quickly. Buses also stop in the upper parking area. Getting to the beach on foot can be hazardous in poor conditions. You can walk around the rocks to the north of the beach at low tide, but the surf can make this a dangerous pursuit. Also, you’ll need to keep an eye on the tide levels to make sure they don’t catch you out!
Baker Beach also makes a pleasant pit stop when exploring the rest of the region.
