Sand Ladder to Baker Beach
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: The Sand Ladder starts from Lincoln Boulevard in the Presidio, just south of Kobbe Ave., and just north of Pershing Drive
Starting Point: There is limited roadside parking on Lincoln where the Sand Ladder starts. Another option is to park by Immigrant Point Overlook on Washington Boulevard (take Kobbe from Lincoln and turn onto Washington). Another option is parking on Kobbe near Greenough Ave., which adds an enjoyable short walk in a forested area of the Presidio, then taking the stairs from Immigrant Point Overlook down to the Sand Ladder.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Baker Beach information link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/baker-beach
Immigrant Point Overlook information link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/immigrant-point-overlook
Map links:
Presidio trail map (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-trails.pdf
Presidio general map and PresidiGo free shuttle map (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-route-map.pdf
Distance:
It is 0.1 miles from the top of the Sand Ladder to Baker Beach. It is 0.2 miles from Immigrant Point Overlook down the stairs and trail to the Sand Ladder, adding up to 0.3 miles for those starting from Immigrant Point. Our recent visit started from parking at Kobbe near Greenough, which added another 0.3 miles. The point to remember here is that it is an easy short distance downhill, but it is a steep climb back uphill.
Considerations:
• Roadside parking on Lincoln at the Sand Ladder is limited, more crowded on weekends.
• Parking rules vary, with some Presidio roads temporarily closed to through traffic. Follow parking rule signs for street parking or parking on roads within the park.
• Nearest toilet facilities are the Baker Beach public restroom (Lincoln to Bowley to Gibson to Battery Chamberlin Road to the main Baker Beach parking lot)
• Poison oak shows up on many Bay Area trails, even at the edges of sandy beach trails. Having a medicinal scrub like Tecnu handy is a good idea.
• Pay attention to health and safety signs, including wildlife information signs.
• Street smarts: Never leave items in sight inside your car, even just a jacket, and be sure to lock vehicle.
The trail:
For those who park on Lincoln at the top of the Sand Ladder, you have a 0.1 mile descent down a sandy set of wood log stairs. That 0.1 miles packs a powerful array of scenery in a short distance. Look up the hill to the trees where Immigrant Point Overlook looms above. Looking downhill, the Golden Gate Bridge towers emerge into view to the right as you go down. Battery Crosby, one of many batteries along the coast, also hovers in view, with the Marin Headlands across the water.
Look south to see Baker Beach and the outcropping of Lands End. Giant container ships, sailboats, and various other vessels cut across the water looking out to the Pacific. Hawks fly above land, and flocks of brown pelicans and other seabirds fly in formation over the water. Lucky visitors with good eyes or binoculars may spot marine mammals, including seals, sea lions and whales.
At the bottom of the stairs, turning left takes walkers to a longer stretch of Baker Beach, with bathrooms in the parking lot up above the beach. Turning right passes through the clothing optional section of Baker Beach, and leads to rocks pockmarked with interesting hole patterns, an occasional fisherman, people taking photos with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, and crabs hiding in the rocks.
The dramatic view coming down is worth the steep climb back up for those who can manage steep sandy stairs.
We made our recent visit a longer walk by parking and walking through part of the Presidio to Immigrant Point Overlook, which also has glorious views, and a 0.2 mile scenic stair descent to the Sand Ladder through forest views.
For another Presidio stair walk from this same area, also check out Marshall’s Beach from Immigrant Point.
(Sand Ladder to Baker Beach Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Summer Brothers” 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)
Location: The Sand Ladder starts from Lincoln Boulevard in the Presidio, just south of Kobbe Ave., and just north of Pershing Drive
Starting Point: There is limited roadside parking on Lincoln where the Sand Ladder starts. Another option is to park by Immigrant Point Overlook on Washington Boulevard (take Kobbe from Lincoln and turn onto Washington). Another option is parking on Kobbe near Greenough Ave., which adds an enjoyable short walk in a forested area of the Presidio, then taking the stairs from Immigrant Point Overlook down to the Sand Ladder.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Baker Beach information link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/baker-beach
Immigrant Point Overlook information link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/immigrant-point-overlook
Map links:
Presidio trail map (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-trails.pdf
Presidio general map and PresidiGo free shuttle map (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-route-map.pdf
Distance:
It is 0.1 miles from the top of the Sand Ladder to Baker Beach. It is 0.2 miles from Immigrant Point Overlook down the stairs and trail to the Sand Ladder, adding up to 0.3 miles for those starting from Immigrant Point. Our recent visit started from parking at Kobbe near Greenough, which added another 0.3 miles. The point to remember here is that it is an easy short distance downhill, but it is a steep climb back uphill.
Considerations:
• Roadside parking on Lincoln at the Sand Ladder is limited, more crowded on weekends.
• Parking rules vary, with some Presidio roads temporarily closed to through traffic. Follow parking rule signs for street parking or parking on roads within the park.
• Nearest toilet facilities are the Baker Beach public restroom (Lincoln to Bowley to Gibson to Battery Chamberlin Road to the main Baker Beach parking lot)
• Poison oak shows up on many Bay Area trails, even at the edges of sandy beach trails. Having a medicinal scrub like Tecnu handy is a good idea.
• Pay attention to health and safety signs, including wildlife information signs.
• Street smarts: Never leave items in sight inside your car, even just a jacket, and be sure to lock vehicle.
The trail:
For those who park on Lincoln at the top of the Sand Ladder, you have a 0.1 mile descent down a sandy set of wood log stairs. That 0.1 miles packs a powerful array of scenery in a short distance. Look up the hill to the trees where Immigrant Point Overlook looms above. Looking downhill, the Golden Gate Bridge towers emerge into view to the right as you go down. Battery Crosby, one of many batteries along the coast, also hovers in view, with the Marin Headlands across the water.
Look south to see Baker Beach and the outcropping of Lands End. Giant container ships, sailboats, and various other vessels cut across the water looking out to the Pacific. Hawks fly above land, and flocks of brown pelicans and other seabirds fly in formation over the water. Lucky visitors with good eyes or binoculars may spot marine mammals, including seals, sea lions and whales.
At the bottom of the stairs, turning left takes walkers to a longer stretch of Baker Beach, with bathrooms in the parking lot up above the beach. Turning right passes through the clothing optional section of Baker Beach, and leads to rocks pockmarked with interesting hole patterns, an occasional fisherman, people taking photos with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background, and crabs hiding in the rocks.
The dramatic view coming down is worth the steep climb back up for those who can manage steep sandy stairs.
We made our recent visit a longer walk by parking and walking through part of the Presidio to Immigrant Point Overlook, which also has glorious views, and a 0.2 mile scenic stair descent to the Sand Ladder through forest views.
For another Presidio stair walk from this same area, also check out Marshall’s Beach from Immigrant Point.
(Sand Ladder to Baker Beach Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Summer Brothers” 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
