Guide to Hiking Lands End Trail

Land’s End Trail is arguably the coolest place in San Francisco. The stunning coastline, cliffs, and proximity to San Francisco is what attracts so many people.

I’ve been lucky enough to hike Land’s End Trail just last month and I can confidently say this is a place you can’t miss when visiting San Francisco. An added bonus is that the Golden Gate Bridge is visible from this trail, making an already unreal trail just that much better.

How long does it take to hike the Lands End?

It took around 3 hours for me to hike the 2 mile-long Land’s End Trail as I spent plenty of time at the Sutro Baths, Point Lobos, and Lands End Trail Eagles Point. Even though this trail can be completed in under 1 hour, I’d budget 3-4 hours to really enjoy Lands End Trail and its views.

With all this time, I’d recommend packing a lunch so that you can stay energized for the entire hike. Plus, a picnic with stunning cliff views and the Golden Gate Bridge is an experience in itself.

Where to Start the Land’s End Trail?

The ideal place to start the Lands End Trail is at the Lands End Lookout Visitors Center directly next to the Lands End Main Parking Lot. This ensures that you cover the entire Lands End Trail without walking any extra.

If you’re like me and don’t mind walking extra, you can start your hike at Ocean Beach. Although it adds an extra mile each way, it might be worth it to experience the cliffs from afar and a San Francisco beach up close. If you’re thinking of taking a swim in the Pacific Ocean, just know that the water will be cold and the currents could be dangerous.

Is Hiking Lands End Trail Free?

Hiking Lands End Trail is completely free. There’s no entrance fee and no cost for parking. Souvenirs are available at the Lands End Lookout visitors center if you are looking to spend money.

What is the Elevation Gain of the Lands End Trail?

Land’s End Trail is quite flat throughout with an elevation gain and descent of between 100-200 feet. There are a good amount of stairs around Deadman’s Point but they’re absolutely doable. If you want to visit Mile Rock Beach, there will be an additional 150-foot descent and 150-foot climb on the way back.

What to See Along Lands End Trail

I’ve been able to narrow down to the 5 best things to do along the Land Ends Trail based on my experience. If you want to see more, click here.

1. Visitor Center

The visitors center is an obvious first stop on your hike along Lands End Trail. For those driving, the visitors center is by far the best place to park. For those taking other forms of transport, skip to this section to see how to get to and from Lands End Trail.

The visitors center is open from 9am to 5pm every day except for some major holidays. There’s a small cafe and gift shop inside if you’re looking to spend money. There’s also a small art gallery if you’re curious to see the history of this beautiful trail.

2. Sutro Baths

The once-swimming pool built in 1894 now serves as a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Lands End Trail wraps around Sutro Baths meaning you can’t miss it. The Lands End Lookout Visitors Center also has great views of Sutro Baths that you can’t miss.

As there are no gates or barriers, you can walk right up to the once-popular pool. Swimming inside Sutro Baths is a horrible idea as theirs a high risk of bacteria and parasites. So even though you won’t be arrested for swimming in this water, you could suffer a painful consequence. If you want to swim, there are plenty of beaches in San Francisco nearby.

3. Point Lobos

Directly next to Sutro Baths is Point Lobos, a phenomenal spot for great views of Sutro Baths, the San Francisco Coast, and Marin Headlands in the distant background. It’s also the first place on the Lands End Trail where you’ll be able to see the Golden Gate Bridge.

Although Point Lobos isn’t at a high elevation, there are a lot of stairs after this stop as you continue along the trail. From here on out, the views continue to get even better and the Pacific Ocean coastline starts to turn into views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands.

4. Mile Rock Beach

If you’re willing to make the 150-foot descent, Mile Rock Beach is a great place to hang out and get great views. Swimming is not recommended as the currents are quite strong. Several ships have wrecked near here and are visible at low tide. Mile Rock Beach is one of the best places to view the Golden Gate Bridge and a fantastic stopping point.

5. Lands End Trail Eagles Point

The Lands End Trail concludes with Lands End Trail Eagles Point, those who drove can turn around here while those taking other forms of transportation can refer to this section for what to do next.

Regardless of if you go on the Golden Gate Bridge or not, some of the best views of the bridge are from here. There’s a bench to sit and relax so this could be a great picnic spot with even better views.

You’ll also notice houses on the Sea Cliff between Lands End and the Presidio of San Francisco. These houses are located on Sea Cliff Avenue and are some of the most expensive houses in the Bay Area. The prices of homes here scale up to $20 million, so make sure to look for them while on Lands End Trail Eagles Point.

Lands End to Golden Gate Bridge

Connecting from Lands End to the Golden Gate Bridge is easy and there are many ways to connect. For those energized and who want to continue exercising, biking to the Golden Gate Bridge is a great option as a Bay Wheels station is nearby. Walking the rest of the way is also possible as the California Coastal Trail links the two places.

If you’re looking for a relaxing commute between the two places, there are many options. Uber and Lyft are the most obvious as they provide an easy mode of transport. The bus is also available and will take around 30 minutes. Lastly, you can take a Waymo. As mentioned in my San Francisco to Stanford post, Waymo is a great and fun way to get around San Francisco.

How to Get to and From Lands End Trail

If you’re looking to hike Lands End Trail as a tourist, chances are that your hotel is nowhere near. I stayed at The LINE San Francisco which was around 6 miles from this trail. I took the autonomous robot taxi service Waymo to and from Lands End Trail. As Waymo is quite rare at this point, I’d recommend taking advantage of it.

A less expensive option would be to take the bus. Several buses run east to west, providing a reliable and direct connection to and from Lands End Trail. Biking is also possible as Bay Wheel rentals are scattered throughout the city.

Final Thoughts

Lands End Trail is an absolutely gorgeous trail, one that you can’t miss when visiting San Francisco. I found it crazy how such a marvel can be so close to the city. Before making the long trip to Half Moon Bay or Monterey, you have to check out Lands End Trail.