Love, love, love this beach. Note that there can be a significant difference between high and low tides, particularly outside the summer months. At high tide, the beach can be almost impassable, while at low tide there are acres of sand. It's a good idea to check the tide charts before you go. While it's great and all (*grumble*) that eight years ago the National Park Service built a real trail down to the first beach so that it's accessible to everyone and their 80-year old parents using walkers, just remember, you're still in San Francisco (technically, the Presidio), and it's historically a gay nude beach. So, if you're a bridge-and-tunnel type who isn't comfortable with nudity and/or gay people, please stay away. You have all the other beaches in the country to enjoy/spoil. And please, people, about the cameras... Be considerate. Those of us minding our business don't want our rear ends and worse posted to your Instagram account. Lastly, there are no restrooms, no concession stands, and no escalator back up to the top of the hill (at least not yet). So, plan accordingly. read more

Gorgeous beach with an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge. In all my years visiting San Francisco I've never been here until today.

Lands End has a beautiful trail that leads to this beach.... I love nature and water... If you go when the tide is just right you will be blessed to see many awesome kinds of sea life as we did. It's one of my special place... that feeds my soul. I love life... trees... water.... read more

See all

It's about a 30 minute walk from the parking to bottom of the Golden Gate Bridge if you follow the trail. It is totally worth the walk down.

Once upon a time, long ago at the base of the golden gate bridge was a beach that was little know to any but the few brave men who made it down the steep rocky slopes to a little bit of gay paradise. Sunning, flirting, hooking up were norm as gay men seemed to be the only ones who knew of this place. Fast forward 30 years to a still stunningly beautiful beach, now with signed trail access and National Park Status. While the beach has "straightened up" so to speak, it has a long history of being a gay beach with gay men doing what they do in the wild. Please keep this in mind if/when you choose to visit, and think twice before bringing the kids.... I think the sign should read... "Caution, bears in this habitat may be engaged in natural activities" read more

I'm going to give this beach a 4 I would give it a 5 but I saw two naked guys and wasn't expecting that. I think it would be nice if someone or a signed had mentioned it. I seen so many kids here and it was very shocking read more

Marshall Beach is where you can capture the iconic Golden Gate Bridge up close with expansive views of the distant hills. This vantage point is unique in that you don't have a city skyline or other structures obscuring the bridge. This location is ideal during both Sunset and Sunrise, however in my experience Sunrise wins as the Sunset light setting to the west can be a bit harsh on the bridge and has a tendency to wash out the colors. Beautiful and colorful rocks of all kinds act as foreground anchors for your composition. With the water stopped down to 10 seconds or longer it becomes fog-like. The Golden Gate Bridge towers above. With a clear morning and without fog or low-level clouds, the color gradient of the sky can be exactly what you need. But often times inclement weather proves best during Sunset and Sunrise here at Marshall Beach. There's a 30 spot car lot very close to when you pull off 101. It's well marked and the parking spaces are indicated. Because the conditions here are mostly wind and saltwater. For these reasons I recommend hiking boots and a waterproof shell. Best times to shoot: Sunrise and Sunset, but in my experience it's better during sunrise. read more

Marshall's beach is not exactly a hike. More of a short 10 minute up & down wooden stairs mini hike feel. From high to low, from low to high, the view is so breath taking and perfect scenery for photographers out there or anyone who enjoys a good view. I say it's the most beautiful when it is a nice warm day outside. Such a rewarding feeling to see a nice view every step of the way but an even astonishing view right when you reach the bottom which is the beach. You can see the ocean and most importantly a good view from bellow of the Golden Gate Bridge. On a good day, you can probably go on a picnic here. It definitely will make you feel like traveling to more places to see such beautiful scenery read more

See all

Beautiful beach!! We walked from the overlook parking lot down to the beach and walked along the whole beach. The views are AMAZING. It's a nice trail and a good exercise too. The winds can pick up at the top so I recommend some warm clothes. I heard that there are people who go nude so keep that in mind if you mind. The walk may seem long but if you can, you definitely should go down at least once when you're here. We were lucky that the day was a little clear so we could see the bridge. read more

As we were heading home from Baker's Beach, we passed by this abandoned looking place along Lincoln Blvd and Langdon Ct, I believe. But it is on the left hand side obviously. There's parking lot along Langdon Ct. There are many trails along the coast and you can even go down to the beach. It gets really breezy here so bring a jacket. The abandoned looking place that scares me was Battery Godfrey (1895) and the other one was Battery Boutelle (1900). We came here during the day and the next day, during foggy day, we decided to come here again. You must cross all the abandoned looking buildings to get to the side trails to see the bridge perfectly. read more

My husband and I accidentally stumbled upon this beach and needless to say it was beautiful. The trail that leads from ground level down is made well, and once you get to the bottom to the beach, the view of the beach and the bridge are a wonderful! If you have an afternoon and a desire to take a lot of stairs this is the place! (According t my health app it totaled about 50 flights of stairs!) but you can't feel it because you're constantly looking at the view the whole time. :) read more

I have yet to encounter naked people on this beach. I love it that everytime I hike down here, the beach is all to myself. The beauty is beyond comparison, it just takes your breath away. read more

See all

Marshall's beach is a known nude beach, and there is also an area of baker beach that is a nude area so be aware when bringing children. Marshall's beach offers spectacular views of golden gate bridge while offering a chance to tan your hiney. ;) Many people choose to stack u p rocks and create their own personal nook in which to tan comfortably in. This beach has also been known to be a gay nude beach in the past, however I've seen both men and women, straight and gay alike, just enjoying their day in the buff. read more

Breathtaking views and easy to find. I definitely will visit again. The ocean breeze was a refreshing chill to the regular heat and humidity I experience back home in Dallas, Tx. Watched the sunset and enjoyed the serenity of the area. read more

Marshall's Beach - Amazingly beautiful - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Nice beach for photoshoots of the golden gate bridge. Came on a Sunday, free parking after a certain time, 6pm, hiked down the path (.5 mile - seemed forever), took photos until the tides increased and hiked back up. Bring plenty of light, no bathrooms though. read more

pro - there was only like 1 or 2 people there, and it's got a beautiful view of the bridge. :) I think more people tend to go over to baker beach because . . . 1. it's much bigger 2. they can play with their dogs 3. it's got closer parking 4. it's closer to food & restrooms but this one is absolutely stunning! just pre pack every item that you'll need & go kick it here at this secluded area cons - none, I love this beach read more

Marshall's Beach - @smiley_brookie Marshall's Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I have been to this beach several times, it is always very relaxing and quiet. It's best to get there early so you can get a good spot if you wait too late if you get crowded and when the tide comes and you get wet. Make sure to bring along water, Sunscreen and a snack because there are no services. read more

Marshall's Beach - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the best view of the Golden Gate Bridge in my opinion - it's my favorite place to take out of town visitors while escaping crazy tourist crowds. You can capture the waves rolling onto the beach and Marin in the background, sometimes with fog or boats passing by. Looking south, the view of the rocks and bluffs is amazing, you can see all the way to Baker beach and sea cliffs. Walking all the way down the stairs from the Batteries to Bluffs trail may be intimidating for some, but the view and vantage point is well worth your time! read more

Marshall's Beach - My favorite view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshall beach - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

A hidden gem in San Francisco for an amazing views of the bridge. My friend and I were trying to catch the sunrise and the running a little behind so we did not make it there until about 7:30 am. I recommend driving slow as you get closer to the location because the trailhead it's easy to miss. We used to Google Maps to locate it. Our Uber driver wasn't aware of the location so we had to help navigate. It had rained the night before and so it was a little muddy but the trails are very well kept. If you have physical challenges, this may be a tad bit more challenging due to the number of stairs. There are some slippery patches if the ground is wet so be careful. This is definitely worth coming out for. I read that it was a nude beach however the day we were there, it was cold and we did not see anybody for several hour. To my disappointment, they were wearing clothes. If you want to experience San Francisco and take the path Less Traveled, I would definitely recommend coming down to Marshall Beach to see the bridge from this angle. More details from the trip on my travel blog https://healthylivingjunkie.com. read more

See all

I came here since it's less busy than nearby Baker Beach and stayed for the awesome view of Golden Gate Bridge. The parking lot is on Langdon Ct. and ample amount of spaces. The trailhead to the beach is not far from the lot and the hike is easy although going back up to the parking lot might get you winded if you're not in decent shape. Also be sure to bring a jacket because it's windy here. Plan to wear some shoes with good traction if you plan on climbing over the rocks which you should do to get a really great view of Golden Gate Bridge. At least it's a different view than the usual one that you see in tourist photos. I certainly would've slipped a few times if I wore regular sneakers. I lugged my camera and tripod and took some good landscapes of Golden Gate Bridge. Be aware that this is a known nudist beach so keep that in mind if you bring kids with you. I didn't encounter any today and I LOVE how it's pretty mellow and not crowded over here. I saw people walk past this beach to go to Baker. read more

Marshall's Beach - With special guest, Karl The Fog - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Beautiful beach walk toward the underbelly of the Golden Gate Bridge. Most of the year though it is very chilly with strong on shore winds, fog and cold water. Bring layers of clothes and your camera! read more

Amazing sunsets in the Fall!!

Marshall Beach is a little known place south of the Golden Gate Bridge. It is secluded and accessible only by a set of wooden steps meandering through brush and along a steep cliff. Approximately 400 feet of stairs will take you from the cliff to beach. There really isn't a sign for it, and you can't see it from the road. This hidden quiet beach makes it ideal for lovers and for those wishing to bare all to the wind and sea spray. Wishing for solitude in a city? This may be the place. It is also a wonderful spot to photograph the rugged, rocky shore with the Golden Gate bridge towering above you. There is no finer place to capture the magnitude and beauty of this picturesque landscape. The narrow beach hugs the cliffs and is scattered with rocks. Waves crash nearby. The path down the cliff is long but actually not difficult. The park service has done a fine job of making this walk pleasant. The path is a series of steps and sandy trails through brush. Part way down the trail is a lookout area with benches. This is a great location to watch the sunset, removed from any crowds. Climbing this set of steps back to the road is not difficult either. The steps and paths are arranged in such a way as to make the climb fairly easy but also visually pleasing. I did this with tripods, a backpack full of camera gear and heavy camera and was expecting to be huffing and puffing. Instead it was a nice hike up the cliff with beautiful vegetation, ocean air and solitude to enjoy. I was not aware that this beach has a reputation for naked ones. I almost tripped over a naked man and the vision was too comical. I was walking along with my eyes to the ground over a set of rocks. Suddenly I just about stepped on a set of feet. As I stepped over these, my eyes naturally followed the feet up toward the face. It doesn't take but a second to see that this man has nothing on from the waste down; but is wearing a teeshirt? I guess getting some sunshine on the packaged goods does not require removing everything. Comical and shocking. As I quickly looked back to the rocks, I realized I had my camera...that would have made a comical and quirky photo. Oh well, best I didn't. If you visit Marshall Beach, you will find a beautiful and peaceful place, hidden from most. You may also find some interesting habitats among the rocks. Harmless these creatures; look up and take in the breathtaking views of bridge and sea instead! read more

The beach was beautiful , and the hike was fun. However, things changed quickly. When we got to the beach, we came across a couple nude individuals. Ok, to be expected in Sf. Then a few more and some more. The closer we got to Golden Gate bridge , the more predominantly male it got and the more nude it got. Our trip ended when we came across 2 men openly engaging in oral sex , openly and without regard for anyone. After we returned to our vehicle, we spoke with a park officer; we were informed that 'unfortunately' it's a common occurrence due to the secluded nature of the beach. After looking it up, we have found that this is infact dubbed San Francisco's unofficial nude gay beach and carries several nicknames that hints to the things that occur there. read more

People come here for two reasons, see Golden Gate Bridge from its west wing, enjoy sun bathing with other like-minded gay or straight naturists. Better choose a sunny and warm day as wind can make the trip quite chilly. The view is stunning when you can get as close as a few hundred feet (or 50 meters) away from the foundation of the Bridge. You look up, it's the blue sky and grand and red infrastructure that whole world of people wish come to see. If they do, 90% of them see it from the east side of the bridge. read more

ridiculous amount of stairs so had to turn back cause i was tired, it was really late at night and i had my two small old dogs with me who arent supposed to climb a lot of stairs. i really was surprised by the amount of stairs- dirt path, then stairs. repeat. over and over lol. there's a very good partial view of GG Bridge from the lookout point with bench that is close trailhead. also i dont think they allow dogs but im not sure. lots of stairs but i;m sure its worth it especially cause of the A+ bridge view from beach. this whole piece of coastline is really cool cause of cypress trees, GG Bridge, ocean (of course), more special/surprising/cool cause it's in a big city and being where the b ay meets the ocean has a feeling of epic-ness, especially with the bridge framing it read more

The hike down to Marshalls beach is breathtaking. It's a beautiful hike to and from the bridge. You can walk from Marshalls beach to Bakers beach as well. Overall, it's the worth the drive from San Jose to here. I love it here! read more

Amazing views of the GGB... but beware of the nudists on sunny days! While on the Coastal Trail headed to the GGB, we took a detour to see where this led. We LOVED it. My visiting friends couldn't keep from exclaiming that this was another reason to love this city. Beautiful, just plain picturesque! So this is where all those photographers go for shoots! My only reasons for docking a star were 1. there was one spot on the trail where a couple steps had crumbled so it was a giant step and or a hop down....and 2. the nudists (prob saw 2-3), little awkward =o haha read more

A really picturesque beach that's closest to the Golden Gate bridge. Wait.. is there not a picturesque area of SF?? Don't answer that (the 'loin). Nice short hike from the toll plaza. Do go down all the way to the beach because you will be rewarded with beauty. And the sound of waves breaking is just so peaceful. Sometimes you can have the place to yourself.. sit on a rock and enjoy the serenity of nature. Then take lots of pics! Love it. read more

A wonderful place to meditate, and get a great workout on your way back. Seals playing in the surf, ships coming and going, and I was told there were dolphins but I didn't see them. Fantastic. read more

Very pretty beach with views of the bridge. The parking lot was busy, but we found a spot. It's quite the walk down but it's beautiful. This particular beach is clothing optional, but by going left instead of right at a bend, you can go to a clothed one. Generally friendly people or all ages, and both genders - a fun place to spend a day! Just check the weather ahead of time, and figure it will be 5-15 degrees cooler than the rest of San Francisco. read more

BEEEAUTIFUL! The trail down there was not hard to find & only took about 10 minutes to get to the actual beach. There's a bunch of stairs and a lot of hills to go through so I would bring some water for the walk back up :) I went on a weekday (Monday) and only saw about 3 people, who were leaving, while I was going down to the beach. The beach itself was empty wooohoo!! There's so many angles you can get if you're going to take pictures- it's just beautiful!! There's a tiny overlook before you walk down the stairs to the beach that I stood on to get really nice pics. :) read more

Marshall's Beach - Walking down the trail - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Still my favorite beach in SF. Right beneath the golden bridge with the most breathtaking views of ocean and bridge. The stairs down to the beach are winding and it feels like a secret all your own. Some days you'll be the only one on the beach, and some days a crowd (including nude sunbathers) will dot the sand. Watch out, the waves can get pretty big over here. read more

Great view of the Golden Gate Bridge without the crowds. You can get closer to the bridge if you climb over rocks, but I'm not sure how far you'll get. Lots of dead jellies lining the beach and you may run into a few nudists even on a cold day. Would have been perfect if it wasn't for the fog! read more

Absolutely breathtaking views if you stay up on the cliff. Beware of the cliff! There are no markings, and in deep fog it can be very dangerous. At the same time, when the fog hits the cliff it shoots upwards and you can see it flowing right by your face. The hike down takes about 20 minutes and yes there are naked people there. Overall a lot more private and secluded than Baker Beach. read more

Nice little hike. Great view!!! . Bring a camera or a cell phone with a built in camera. It's an awesome site

As a professional photographer, I have dreamed of shooting at this spot for awhile. I am from So Cal, but the wedding of a friend brought me to the Berkeley area this past weekend. I decided to make the most of my weekend in the bay area and set out to find this location earlier in the day so that I would know where I was going pre-sunset. Having located the trail-head.. I felt comfortable that I could come back later and get to my location on the beach with relative ease. The fog was thick in the early afternoon, but looked to be burning off. I also checked the tide charts and was very fortunate that sunset coincided with low tide. I came back at 5:30 pm (this is summer, so sunset was not until 8:15pm). The traffic at this time of day was very heavy. We were lucky to find a parking spot off the side of the road. We made the hike down, which is a very nicely maintained staircase/trail. It does not take long to get to the bottom (maybe 10-15 minutes). Once at the bottom, we headed right (towards to bridge) to find the best spot for shooting. The tide was not completely out yet, so climbing over a few rocks was necessary.. but not too difficult. Had the tide been much higher, I might feel differently. It was about a 1/4-1/2 mile walk down the beach to reach the location I wanted for shooting. Once we came around the last "bend", we noticed that all of the individuals on the beach were men and were naked. Now.. I have no issues with sexual orientation or nude beaches, to each his own. However, as we got closer, we saw that several of the men were having sexual intercourse and other pretty lewd acts on the beach. It was pretty much an orgy right there in front of us. Not knowing what to do, we huddled by the rocks until sunset got closer, at which time I just got brave and walked over, set-up my camera and tripod and went to shooting. For all of the gay men on here that have asked us photographers to be respectful, please remember .. that goes both ways. Your nakedness does not bother me at all.. but being in the presence of men having oral and anal sex for hours when all I wanted was a shot of the bridge is completely disrespectful (straight or gay). I got my shot and it's a beauty, but this is the last time I will ever visit this location. As I stated before, it was low tide when we left, so getting out was a piece of cake, we were able to walk on the beach the whole way out. The hike out is a bit intense, but probably not as bad as some would lead you to believe. I had to stop and catch my breath a couple times, but was also loaded down with a 20lb camera bag and tripod. Great spot to shoot an iconic bridge... not so great experience. read more

Tried to go to Marshall Beach yesterday (8/20/13) and it is entirely closed off for the restoration project. Per online GGNRA site, this will continue through 2013. :-( The only way to access Marshall Beach is to walk all the way north on Baker Beach and go around the rocks, but you seriously risk getting trapped when the tide comes in. Can't wait until they get this reopened, but also hope it doesn't get overrun (like Baker Beach) when it does. read more

Fabulous view; nude folks mostly stay in their drift-wood/pebble built castles; not a problem as long as you don't bring the whole family. But I do hope there are warning signs on trail leading to the beach. read more

Great beach when the weather is nice. It doesn't get much better. A little difficult to find. This link has directions that includes photos and videos on the best way to get there: http://www.examiner.com/article/directions-to-san-francisco-s-nude-gay-beach read more