This beach is popular among San Franciscans and offers stunning views of the Golden Gate Bridge, the Marin Headlands, and the Pacific Ocean. Baker Beach is a 1 mile or 1.6 km saltwater beach just south of the Golden Gate Point which is where the Golden Gate Bridge connects with the peninsula. This historic site is part of Presidio which was a military base formed due to the founding of San Francisco by the Spanish in 1812. Although this beach was acquired by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1977, the Battery Chamberlin (disappearing gun installations built in 1904) are still intact. Baker Beach is suggested to be unsafe for swimming due to large waves, undertow and rip currents of the Pacific Ocean, but does offer wonderful views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the Serpentine cliffs. Serpentine produces low-calcium and high-magnesium soil thus allowing for rare species of plants to develop in the area. Visitors are allowed to fish and there is a picnic area with tables, grills and restroom facilities. The northernmost end of Baker Beach is frequented by those sunbathers who would like the clothing-optional choice. Just a 10 minute drive across the Golden Gate Bridge is Fort Baker, a wonderful historic district which was an army post until the mid- 1990s. Fort Baker is a great place to spend the day viewing historic structures and landscapes.

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Baker Beach West and 8,000 other beaches.