Key facts
| Country | United States (Presidio, San Francisco, California) |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | San Francisco International (SFO), roughly 30 minutes by road |
| Best time | September and October, San Francisco's warmest and least foggy months |
| Type | Public beach in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area |
| Adults only | No — a public beach |
| Clothing | Clothing-optional at the north end only; the rest of the beach is textile |
| Best months | September–October |
Baker Beach is a public beach of roughly half a mile on the western shore of the San Francisco peninsula, in the Presidio, and part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area managed by the National Park Service. It is famous for one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, framed by serpentine cliffs. The north end, closest to the bridge, has for decades been used by clothing-optional sunbathers and is widely listed as San Francisco's main nude beach, while the southern and central parts are family beaches where swimwear is the norm.
Baker Beach also has a place in counter-culture history: from 1986 to 1990 its north end was the original site of the Burning Man festival before the event moved to Nevada's Black Rock Desert.
Who it suits
- Naturists and nude sunbathers who want a city beach with spectacular scenery.
- Visitors to San Francisco who want to experience a clothing-optional beach without leaving the city.
- Photographers of landscapes, as long as they keep people out of their frames.
It is a public national park beach, not a lifestyle venue.
Finding the clothing-optional area
From the main parking areas, walk north along the sand towards the bridge. The clothing-optional section starts roughly where the beach narrows below the bluffs, about a quarter of a mile from the parking lots. You will see from the people around you where it begins. The far northern corner, past some rocks, is the most secluded part, but it can be cut off by rising tides, so check the tide table.
Best time to go
San Francisco's summer is often foggy and cool on the coast, especially in the afternoon. The warmest, clearest beach days usually come in September and October. Spring can bring sunny but windy days. Whatever the season, bring layers: the wind off the Pacific can be cold even when the sun is out.
Getting there
Baker Beach is off Lincoln Boulevard and Bowley Street in the Presidio. There are parking lots near the beach, which fill up on sunny weekends. Muni buses serve the surrounding neighbourhoods, and the free Presidio shuttle runs within the park. San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is roughly 30 minutes away by car.
Swimming is dangerous
Baker Beach is considered unsafe for swimming because of cold water, strong currents and rip currents near the mouth of the Golden Gate. Do not swim here, and keep a close eye on anyone who wades in. Sneaker waves can surge far up the beach without warning, so never turn your back on the ocean or sit close to the waterline.
Etiquette and rules
- Stay at the north end if you want to be nude, and cover up when walking back through the family section.
- No photos of people. Bridge photos are fine; nude people in the frame are not.
- No sexual behaviour. It is illegal and rangers patrol the park.
- Respect the cliffs. Climbing the bluffs is dangerous and damages fragile habitat.
- Pack out your rubbish.
Legal notes
The beach is on federal parkland rather than city streets, and the north end has long been accepted as clothing-optional. Rules can change, so follow any posted signs and instructions from National Park Service rangers. Lewd conduct is illegal everywhere.
Nearby
The Presidio has trails, viewpoints and the Battery Chamberlin historic gun emplacement just above the beach. For other clothing-optional beaches on the West Coast, compare Black's Beach in San Diego, Collins Beach near Portland and Wreck Beach in Vancouver. Browse members in the United States.