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Baker Beach Sand Ladder

Sand Ladder, California

4.4/5
based on 5 reviews

Details

Distance

0.25 miles

Elevation Gain

138 ft

Route Type

Out-and-Back

Description

Added by The Outbound Collective

200 sand stairs straight up. Beautiful coastal views during the workout. Easy to integrate into a longer run.

The Baker Beach Sand Ladder is a section of the Pacific Coast Trail that is comprised of 200 ten foot poles tied together to form stairs down to North Baker Beach from Lincoln Blvd.

If you’re looking for a lung and butt-busting workout, and you’d like a break from your standard routine, you need to check this place out. These “stairs” are a real challenge and can be tackled as a stand-alone workout (repeats) or incorporated into a longer run.

One inside tip, this section of Baker Beach attracts the occasional nudist. Divert your eyes, soak it all in, whatever…it shouldn’t dissuade you from giving this a go. With a beautiful setting, a unique setup, and easy access, you should definitely add this one to your list of must-do workouts.

Park at the lower Baker Beach parking lot in the Presidio for the easiest access.

Pro tip: Another location you'll not want to miss and that's just south of Baker Beach Sand Ladder is Lands End trail, a 3.3 mile hike with amazing views. And it's only 6 minutes away by car!

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Features

Fitness
Running
Beach
Easy Parking
Scenic

Baker Beach Sand Ladder Reviews

Be prepared to have your heart pumping! I thought I could do the sand ladder in one go without resting, but I was so wrong. I needed a couple breaks to catch my breath and my heart was pumping hard. But totally worth it. The Sand Ladder can be linked up with other trails in The Presidio and can be done on it's own. Park at Baker Beach and walk along the beach to the ladder, then up you go. Short distance but tiring. Extend it and walk to the bridge!

The loose sand on the ladder definitely makes this quite the workout! As a bonus, the views are pretty incredible when you're catching your breath downhill.

The sand stairs are a riot!! Running up and down the stairs are a great workout.

The stairs are cool and the view is great, but the footing can be tricky, especially if you're going down since the steps are sometimes submerged in sand. Might not be great for people with bad ankles for that reason.

At the top of the stairs, continue left along Lincoln to the Battery to Bluffs trail. This great running path adds more views, history, and miles to your workout. Run back down via Washington Blvd and "the stairs" for an amazing loop.

Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!

Nearby

Camp at the Rob Hill Campground

Baker Beach

Take in a Sunset on Marshall's Beach

Batteries to Bluffs Trail

Crab Fishing at China Beach

Picnic Beneath the Golden Gate