There’s no shortage of beautiful beaches in San Francisco, with plenty of the city’s shoreline covered in public beaches. It makes it hard for a specific beach to stand out, but one secluded, hidden beach is an SF gem worth the trip.
Marshall’s Beach is located just west of the Golden Gate Bridge and is only accessible by a short hike along the rocky shoreline. As a result, the beach tends to be secluded and quiet. It also offers stunning views of the bridge for hikers to admire along the shore.
Getting to the beach requires a little exercise, as the only way to reach it is by hiking the Batteries to Bluffs trail. Luckily, the trail is only 2 miles and is generally considered an easy route, although be prepared for steep stairs down to the beach.
The trail winds through the seaside cliffs in the Presidio and passes by historic batteries while you take in views of the ocean and Golden Gate Bridge. The U.S. Army built the Batteries along the San Francisco coast in the Presidio in the early 20th century. While they are no longer in use, they still remain in the now popular park, including Battery Bluff Park, which opened in 2022. Plenty of local flowers bloom along the trail, and the bluffs down to the beach have blue-green serpentine. We recommend checking for low tide when you intend to spend time on the beach, as much of the sandy shore disappears during high tide.
You can either start the trail at Baker Beach, which offers beautiful views of the bridge but is significantly more crowded or begin hiking at the Golden Gate Bridge itself. Parking is available at both ends of the trail, and you can also easily take public transit to the trailheads.