Mile Rock Beach — Attraction in San Francisco

We decided to include this beach on our jam-packed list of things to do as tourists on a two-day expedition in San Francisco. Even as long-time residents of a town almost completely surrounded by beautiful beaches, we loved visiting this beach. We accessed the trail next to the Legion of Honor. There was no one else walking on that part of the trail, so I get the feeling that most people walk the entire trail from the main trailhead much farther east. But as we didn't have a lot of time, it worked out better for our schedule to cut through via the paved trails on the golf course. The trail leads you down to a cove where you can either take trails up to the rock labyrinth on your right or traverse the rocks that lead farther down the beach on your left. We enjoyed traversing the rocks on the left to distance ourselves from others on the beach and simply sat on a couple of huge rocks to listen to the waves and watch the ocean as the fog rolled in. We were really energized by it. The walk back up the trail was strenuous at times but still quite lovely with the...

Mile Rock Beach is a hidden gem along the San Francisco coastline. The views are stunning, with rugged cliffs, crashing waves, and the iconic Golden Gate visible in the distance on clear days. The beach is peaceful and less crowded than other nearby spots, making it perfect for a relaxing walk or photography.

The trail down to the beach can be a bit steep, so wear comfortable shoes, but it’s definitely worth the effort. I loved exploring the tide pools and watching seabirds along the shore. It’s a wonderful place to connect with nature and enjoy the fresh ocean air.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a scenic and quiet beach experience in...

This place is ridiculously cool. Spots like these always leave me asking "do I actually live here!?" Mile Rock is close enough that you can get there on a morning run or an evening dog walk, but just far enough to reduce the crowd factor. That said, it is busy on weekends! Tides are also a huge factor, like the difference between almost no beach and tons of beach, so it's worth figuring out how to read tide tables! As a session photographer I often suggest that families with dogs consider Mile Rock on weekday mornings, when there are rarely more than a few other people on the beach. And dogs are...