You can find lovely ocean views just about anywhere in SF thanks to the city’s endless steep hills. But any time a San Franciscan discovers a new viewpoint that truly stands out, it’s cause for celebration. Despite its long storied history and absolutely magnificent views over Ocean Beach, Sutro Heights Park still flies under the radar for many. Here’s what to know before you visit this historic hidden gem.
Views from Sutro Heights Park
Many visitors come here first and foremost for the views; in fact, the park’s original design was meant to showcase them above all else. The south-facing lookout point offers some of the best unobstructed views of Ocean Beach, the Great Highway, and the western edge of San Francisco below. You can get to the Ocean Beach overlook on a short ten-minute loop trail above the Cliff House.
History of Sutro Heights Park
Sutro Heights Park first took shape in 1881 when Comstock Lode millionaire and future SF mayor Adolph Sutro began developing the land for his personal mansion. German-born Sutro had a vision to bring European aesthetics into the city, purchasing over 200 high-quality replicas of European statues to display on the park grounds. Beginning in 1885, members of the public could pay a small fee to visit the park and view the art against a scenic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. Sutro also developed the more well-known Cliff House and (supposedly haunted?) Sutro Baths on the same land.
After Sutro’s death in 1898, his daughter moved into the estate, but it fell into disrepair within a few decades. People vandalized and stole the statues, and the WPA eventually tore down the rest of the estate in the 1930s. The few statues that remained were picked off in the following years, and now only two original pieces remain: one depicting Diana the Huntress, and one deer with its antlers missing. The pair of lion statues flanking the entrances are replicas.
Although many of the statues are no more, a great deal of remnants have been recovered from the grounds. Dozens of the statues were buried in the park, and gardeners still stumble across them to this day. The NPS catalogs the recovered pieces and keeps them in a storage facility.
How to get to Sutro Heights Park
đźš— By car: You can park in the Lands End parking lots on Point Lobos Drive or along 48th Avenue.
🚌 By public transportation: Take the 38 Geary bus line, which runs from the Financial District all the way through the Richmond. The 48th Ave and Point Lobos stop is less than a block from the main park entrance.
đź“Ť Location: Main entrance is at 48th Ave and Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA
đź•ť Hours: Open 24 hours