Mile Rock Club

Chill at Mile Rock Beach in San Francisco

Solitude in San Francisco is a just a Mile Rock away. This small and secluded cove tucked beneath wild and beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean, the Marin Headlands, and the Golden Gate Bridge is easy to reach if you don't mind lots of steps. From the Lands End parking lot by the Cliff House, follow the Coastal Trail east. The trail famously parallels dramatic cliffs buffering a moody, shipwreck-strewn section of the Pacific, with rows of Monterey cypress trees framing some of the ocean scenery. At just over half a mile, a sign for Mile Rock Beach Viewpoint will point you down 112 steps.

Follow the path at the bottom to Eduardo Aguilera's enigmatic Eagle Point Labyrinth—a circular cliff-top maze of loose beach rocks whose air of mystery is enhanced by the sound of the Pacific's hypnotic and fiercely crashing waves below—not to mention unmatched Golden Gate vistas. One more staircase descent and you've made it to Mile Rock. Choose a log (there are plenty), break out a picnic, and stay awhile. Whether exploring the expansive boulder-covered beach at low tide or experiencing the rush of high tide's narrow shore, Mile Rock Beach is a San Francisco refuge.

Lands End

TIP: Budget time for extra sightseeing in the area: The Sutro Bath ruins and observation area are just steps away from the parking lot. Keep an eye out for the SS Ohioan, one of three shipwrecks exposed at low tide.

Free parking is available at the new visitor center, called Lands End Lookout, located at 680 Point Lobos Ave. Walk east on the Coastal Trail and take the offshoot trail to Mile Rock Beach. Descend the stairs. When the staircase makes a sharp left, continue on a trail going straight. The labyrinth comes into view and then you’ll see another steep stairway leading to the beach. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Hiker in the forest at Mount Sutro in San Francisco

    San Francisco's Middle Earth

    No need to travel to New Zealand to visit Middle Earth. San Francisco’s Mount Sutro Open Space is practically Hobbiton—a hidden “shire” in the middle of the city. Okay, maybe not quite as magical, but still an incredible place to take a hike in city limits.

    View
  3. Hike top Angel Island Mount Livermore San Francisco Bay

    Good Heavens

    The 4-mile hike to the top of Angel Island offers Bay-mazing scenery. Some people claim you get a five-bridge view: Richmond-San Rafael, Bay, Golden Gate, San Mateo-Hayward, and Dumbarton bridges.

    View
  4. Lake Nacimiento
    Sponsored

    Savor Summer in Paso Robles

    Ready for the “Great California Road Trip”? Keep it real and rolling in bucolic and beautiful Paso Robles. This down- to-earth destination has everything you need to enjoy the coolest experiences.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Locals' Feature: Jim Litchfield, Owner of Reno Fly Shop

    If there's a river, you're likely to find Jim Litchfield there. As the owner of Reno Fly Shop, Nevada's premier fly fishing outfitter and shop, Jim's passion for rivers knows no bounds: he's fished in places near and far, including Alaska, Bolivia and Christmas Island. But home is beautiful Reno, where he has been running Reno Fly Shop and leading tailored river float and fly fishing adventures (including beginner-friendly options) for over a decade.

    View
  2. Easiest Best Hike in the World

    Choose the easiest and most view-rewarding hike in Yosemite. Okay, we’ll go first: the combination of hiking to Sentinel Dome and Taft Point. Both of these lookouts are within a couple miles of each other on Glacier Point Road

    View
  3. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View
  4. A group of people clamored around the summit marker at Mission Peak in the Bay Area

    Your Mission Is Less Crowded

    Mission Peak is one of the Bay Area’s most popular mountains, with many hikers climbing every weekend. Skip the crowds with this 6-mile loop up the less-traveled southern route.

    View