Labyrinth at Lands End, San Francisco
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Destination:The Labyrinth, on the ridge above Mile Rock Beach.
Starting Location: 680 Point Lobos Ave., San Francisco, 94121, near El Camino Del Mar/48th Ave., just before the Cliff House, above Ocean Beach
Lands End info: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm
Map with trails: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/LE_Pad_Map508.pdf
Distance:
Approximately 1 mile from Lands End Lookout parking lot to Mile Rock Beach, for approximately a 2 mile round trip.
Considerations:
• There are some steep stairs and rocky trail sections.
• There has been erosion along the narrow cliff edge at the cutover path from midway down the Mile Rock Beach stairs through the trees out to the Labyrinth. USE CAUTION along this cliff-side section of path.
• Watch for trail signs. The turnoff to Mile Rock Beach is easy to miss.
• Pay attention to wildlife information, particularly coyotes.
• Restrooms are available at the Lands End Lookout visitor center.
Parking:
The parking lot entering from Point Lobos above the Cliff House is handy for the Lands End Lookout visitor center, and for exploring the glorious Sutro Bath ruins, but gets crowded on weekends. Parking along El Camino del Mar starts you on the upper trail, with easy access for a short walk up the hill for a view from Fort Miley, and for a visit to the USS San Francisco Memorial, the damaged hull a reminder of the devastating WWII Battle of Guadalcanal, well worth reading about.
The Trail:(overall the same trail notes as the prior Lands End Lookout to Mile Rock Beach Hike Notes)
The El Camino del Mar Trail runs parallel above the lower Coastal Trail/Lands End Coastal Trail. If you start from El Camino del Mar parking, you’ll go down stairs to the Coastal Trail. Facing the water, turn right away from the Lands End Lookout and Sutro Baths, and head toward the Golden Gate Bridge direction. Clear days offer stunning views. Foggy days are enticingly mysterious.
The start of the trail is smooth and wide, with official viewing spots. After a stretch, it becomes a more typical dirt trail, passing through some narrow tree tunnels, dips, rises and turns.
Keep an eye out for the sign marking the top of the steps heading to Mile Rock Beach. It’s easy to pass by if you’re not looking for it.
The steps down to the beach are sandy and involve ducking under a gnarled tree branch that seems to be guarding the trail. Take the sharp left in the stairs for the path to the next set of stairs, sharp right, down to the beach (or go straight through the tree path directly to the labyrinth rather than turning left down the stairs: see below).
At the beach, there are logs and rocks to clamber around, and at low tide, at the right side of the beach as you face the ocean, there is a small cave structure to explore.
From Mile Rock Beach, the trail cutting left up the hill as you face back toward the return trail leads to the Labyrinth, a great cliff top piece of art. There is a path straight back from the Labyrinth that cuts along a steep cliff back to the stairway back up the hill, but due to erosion, use caution if you choose this path, especially with children or those who are not sure on their feet. Take any cliff or trail warning signs seriously. Going back up the same stair path you came down from is a safe bet, but going back up is more of a cardio workout than going down.
Labyrinth specifics: To go to the Labyrinth first, and then down to Mile Rock Beach, cut through the tree path that continues straight at the midway sharp left turn in the stairs down to Mile Rock Beach.
Enjoy the scenery while you stop to catch your breath!
(Labyrinth at Lands End Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Out With the Old, In With the New” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Destination:The Labyrinth, on the ridge above Mile Rock Beach.
Starting Location: 680 Point Lobos Ave., San Francisco, 94121, near El Camino Del Mar/48th Ave., just before the Cliff House, above Ocean Beach
Lands End info: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/landsend.htm
Map with trails: https://www.nps.gov/goga/planyourvisit/upload/LE_Pad_Map508.pdf
Distance:
Approximately 1 mile from Lands End Lookout parking lot to Mile Rock Beach, for approximately a 2 mile round trip.
Considerations:
• There are some steep stairs and rocky trail sections.
• There has been erosion along the narrow cliff edge at the cutover path from midway down the Mile Rock Beach stairs through the trees out to the Labyrinth. USE CAUTION along this cliff-side section of path.
• Watch for trail signs. The turnoff to Mile Rock Beach is easy to miss.
• Pay attention to wildlife information, particularly coyotes.
• Restrooms are available at the Lands End Lookout visitor center.
Parking:
The parking lot entering from Point Lobos above the Cliff House is handy for the Lands End Lookout visitor center, and for exploring the glorious Sutro Bath ruins, but gets crowded on weekends. Parking along El Camino del Mar starts you on the upper trail, with easy access for a short walk up the hill for a view from Fort Miley, and for a visit to the USS San Francisco Memorial, the damaged hull a reminder of the devastating WWII Battle of Guadalcanal, well worth reading about.
The Trail:(overall the same trail notes as the prior Lands End Lookout to Mile Rock Beach Hike Notes)
The El Camino del Mar Trail runs parallel above the lower Coastal Trail/Lands End Coastal Trail. If you start from El Camino del Mar parking, you’ll go down stairs to the Coastal Trail. Facing the water, turn right away from the Lands End Lookout and Sutro Baths, and head toward the Golden Gate Bridge direction. Clear days offer stunning views. Foggy days are enticingly mysterious.
The start of the trail is smooth and wide, with official viewing spots. After a stretch, it becomes a more typical dirt trail, passing through some narrow tree tunnels, dips, rises and turns.
Keep an eye out for the sign marking the top of the steps heading to Mile Rock Beach. It’s easy to pass by if you’re not looking for it.
The steps down to the beach are sandy and involve ducking under a gnarled tree branch that seems to be guarding the trail. Take the sharp left in the stairs for the path to the next set of stairs, sharp right, down to the beach (or go straight through the tree path directly to the labyrinth rather than turning left down the stairs: see below).
At the beach, there are logs and rocks to clamber around, and at low tide, at the right side of the beach as you face the ocean, there is a small cave structure to explore.
From Mile Rock Beach, the trail cutting left up the hill as you face back toward the return trail leads to the Labyrinth, a great cliff top piece of art. There is a path straight back from the Labyrinth that cuts along a steep cliff back to the stairway back up the hill, but due to erosion, use caution if you choose this path, especially with children or those who are not sure on their feet. Take any cliff or trail warning signs seriously. Going back up the same stair path you came down from is a safe bet, but going back up is more of a cardio workout than going down.
Labyrinth specifics: To go to the Labyrinth first, and then down to Mile Rock Beach, cut through the tree path that continues straight at the midway sharp left turn in the stairs down to Mile Rock Beach.
Enjoy the scenery while you stop to catch your breath!
(Labyrinth at Lands End Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Out With the Old, In With the New” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
