Run the Baker Beach Sand Ladder
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.
Photo: Andrianni Ribo
Community Photos
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations.
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Reviews
Overall rating:
Get Ready To Sweat
The sand stairs are a riot!! Running up and down the stairs are a great workout.
Nice To Do Once Or Twice
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.
