Kathleen from San Francisco

About me Born on an American Army base in Germany, I came to the states when I was six months old and my parents were stationed back home at Fort Lewis in Tacoma, Washington, where I spent my entire childhood. Little did I know that the military lifestyle was going to become what inspired me to become an artist. I have been a photographer for most of my life. Whether I knew it o...

Jun 5, 2025

Sand Ladder at Baker Beach San Francisco

Great walk!

"The "Sand Ladder at Baker Beach" in San Francisco is difficult, but it'll take you to a spot where the vistas are phenomenal, with amazing sunsets..."

I had forgotten what a trek the Sand Ladder at Backer Beach is. The going down is not bad at all, but the return trip… well, let’s just say, I hope you’re in shape. First off, walking in the sand is arduous at best, but walking in sand as you’re ascending a long, steep hill is grueling. Don’t get me wrong, I love this hike. It’s just that carrying a bunch of camera gear while I’m doing it is less than appealing.

In both directions, you have to be hyper-aware of where you’re stepping because not only are there logs between steps (some covered with sand, some not), but there are also cables that hold the logs in place to form the steps so you need to be careful not to trip.

The vistas on the way down are phenomenal. You can actually see the curvature of the earth on the horizon. That in itself blew my mind. In all my years, I’ve never experienced that. The sunsets are some of the most gorgeous and pollution-free that I’ve ever witnessed.

Once you’re down to the beach, you are gifted with more stunning vistas, not to mention the Golden Gate Bridge at the far north of the beach. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see the fog rolling through the Golden Gate.

Dress warm because as Mark Twain said, “the coldest winter I ever spent, was a summer in San Francisco”. Especially at the beach!

Amsterdam

Antwerp

Art & culture

About this spot

Gibson Road

US$

free

Website

4155613000

Find your way with 156 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters

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Swensen's Ice Cream

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"Swensen's Ice Cream" in San Francisco hasn't changed since 1948. It's the chain's first store and I sill buy bulk ice cream here when I'm in the area...

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SF Symphony

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Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

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