About This Beach
Baker Beach stretches along the western shore of the Presidio, offering one of San Francisco’s most iconic views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Marin Headlands. This mile-long beach features coarse, golden sand backed by rugged serpentine cliffs, creating a dramatic setting particularly popular with photographers. The northern section is traditionally clothing-optional, while the southern area tends to be more family-oriented. Though the beach looks inviting, strong currents, rip tides, and frigid water make swimming dangerous, and there’s no lifeguard service. Battery Chamberlin, housing a historic 6-inch disappearing gun, offers weekend demonstrations of the last remaining gun of its type on the West Coast.