Landmark + Neighborhood + Park

Lands End

A Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Lands End is a park along the Pacific Ocean in San Francisco. There are many hiking trails to follow including the popular California Coastal Trail. A forested shoreline of 200-foot cliffs near the strait of the Golden Gate.

Notable landmarks in the area include the USS San Francisco Memorial, the Holocaust Memorial, and the Legion of Honor. The ruins of the Sutro Baths and historic shipwreck sites, visible at low-tide, are also in the Lands End area.

Lands End Highlights

Legion of Honor: As lovely inside as out, the museum overlooks the Pacific Ocean, Golden Gate Bridge and a significant portion of San Francisco. Collections include Rodin’s Thinker, European decorative arts and paintings, Ancient art, and one of the largest collections of prints and drawings in the country.

Cliff House Restaurant: where you can not only enjoy a meal or a drink overlooking the Pacific, but you can also see vestiges of the Sutro Baths among the building’s memorabilia.

Lands End Labyrinth: a small maze of rocks off the Lands End Trail overlooking the Pacific Ocean with a glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Ocean Beach:

A 3.5-mile stretch of white sand Pacific Ocean beach with few tourists and no highrises. Enjoy the waves and the seabirds at Ocean Beach, located on the westernmost border of San Francisco, adjacent to Golden Gate Park.

Great for strolling and flying kites. The water is frigid and the currents hazardous for all but the most experienced surfers.

Good to know: The sunniest months for a beach walk are September and October. The beach is almost always covered in fog throughout late spring and summer, with average temperatures in the 50s.

At one time, a vast sand-dune wilderness (now the Sunset and Richmond districts) separated Ocean Beach from the rest of San Francisco. Development came in the late 19th century when a steam railroad was put in place to bring people to a fashionable resort on the outskirts of town. Later the Cliff House, and the now-gone Sutro Baths and Playland at the Beach amusement park was put in place. Today, Ocean Beach is still as popular for seaside drives, brisk jogs, and sunset walks as it was in the early 1900s.

Shipwrecks in the Sand At the foot of Ortega Street during very low tides, you can see the worn ribs of the hull of the ship King Philip sticking out of the sand. Between 1850 and 1926, 20 ships came to grief on Ocean Beach.

Nearby Points of Interest

Golden Gate Bridge: arguably one of the world’s most beautiful bridges, the Golden Gate Bridge is an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco. Over 45 million vehicles cross the bridge annually!

Golden Gate Park: Where else can you see carnivorous plants, a herd of bison, centuries-old artwork, and year-round concerts? Golden Gate Park has something to offer everyone. Rent a paddleboat on Stow Lake, bike on a surrey around the park, or take a Segway tour and learn the park’s history. Whatever activity you choose, you are sure to have a blast!

The Presidio: is located at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge and contains Fort Point, Crissy Field, and the Walt Disney Family Museum.