Sutro Baths is a hidden tourist spot that many actually do not know about. But I have a a funny story for you. I have this awesome guy-friend who told me one of the most embarrassing stories of his life. He said he was on a tourist bus with his family and they stopped at the sutro baths. When parking you have to hike down to the location of where the baths once were located. Currently only the remains are left. So he told me he was goofing around and accidentally fell into the muddy water before a very nice dinner. There were actually many tourists around that started snapping pictures. That story made me laugh so hard that I just had to see the baths again in person to see where he fell. Let me tell you, that fall would have been very scary and cold! Brrr.... When you visit the baths, bundle up as it much be very chilly. Watch your steps and make sure to go through the cave and see the waves crash against the rocks. Its absolutely beautiful. read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just up the road or down the cliff face from the Cliff House lies Sutro Baths. Holding down the last vestiges of coastline is this scenic view and stunning structure which was once grand in stature. Just up the way, you can see an old illustration of Sutro back in 1900 -- a family swimming hole and amusement center. It looked absolutely stunning and the remnants of this historic site are still just as breathtaking, given the lack of structure. You can get great views of this historic site from the Lands End parking lot and you can walk down a few sets of steps or a few trails down to the baths themselves. Plenty of places for great photos. This was one of the most breathtaking sites we had the pleasure of seeing while we walked from Outer Sunset up to the Lands End. I'd highly recommend checking it out if you've heard about it. It's rather remarkable. read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you are in the Land's End area, free to check out this old saltwater pool house that burnt down. There's street parking or you can park by the beach. Dog on leash friendly but beware of your balance as you walk along the old walls. The baths connect nicely to the Coastal Trail which brings you to cool views of the Golden Gate Bridge from the western direction. read more

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The more I visit, the more magical this place becomes. Just to imagine what this place used to be blows my mind. It's fascinating. Google pictures! Do some research before you visit so you understand what you're looking at. When visiting- wear good shoes. It's rocky, sandy, and the ground is uneven. But it's a great place to explore. Don't miss the cave, the lookout, walking the cement outline of what used to be a huge bath house. This place has come a long way from when we used to visit. The trails are updated, there is better signage, parking has improved a ton, and the gift shop is amazing. Some seriously great finds in there. read more

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Awesome place! Lots of birds and greenery, with a little cave on the side. The ruins are really cool looking, but stinky. Come with sneakers or boots. The downside for me is that it is so cloudy in this area--really hard to catch a sunset. read more

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Walked down from Cliff House for the very first time. In disbelief I have never walked through the tunnel, or around the remaining structures of the bath house. The wonderful pools of water, the swirly waves and heady ocean... The scenic rock outcropping just a few hundred feet away.... Fun and warm, historic, and gorgeous. Sutro himself was a German engineer who hailed from Aachen. He blasted and built his way to the modern equivalent of $120 million dollars in assets! Crazy gorgeous views everywhere. Lovely tie-in to lands End area. The lookout building has clean restrooms and if one parks downhill along Ocean beach, the hill walk is perfectly primed for the glutes ;)! read more

When the weather is nice, the views are amazing. The trees, cliffs, ocean, etc. There are trails you can walk and there's even a pretty big parking area. read more

This place is historic. A little sad to see what this place used to look like. Close to the Cliff House, and next to Ocean Beach this place is beautiful nonetheless and a must see if you're in SF and haven't been here before. Pair this with a hike through Land's End and you have an awesome weekend afternoon. These are ruins right on the oceans edge and there are signs warning of people getting swept off and out to sea. Go visit this beautiful place at sunset or a clear sunny day not good to go when it is foggy because you can't really get a good view. It's a truly spectacular place to take photos and enjoy the view of both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Endless Pacific ocean. Sutro Baths are a must see if you like urban exploring. It's part of San Francisco's history and you could see the ruins. Surrounding area is great for Easy hiking, running , jogging and just walking. If you keep walking you will eventually find yourself walking through a cave. Hear the ocean waves crash and you might even get a little wet. read more

Sutro baths is an old salt water swimming pool from the 1800s. There is plenty of places to park in the area and you can either enjoy the view from the top or hike down to the old architecture. There's a small tunnel at the bottom of the cave. Be careful if you walk in, it's dark and muddy. It doesn't take you to a great view of anything. If you choose to walk around the cliff, you can see a better view of the ocean. It's really windy and it makes communication kind of difficult. Bring extra shoes or clean them off before you hop back into your ride. read more

One of my favorite spots in SF....possibly one of my favorite spots ever. Love the way the ruins look with the ocean as a background. For a minute, you forget you're in a big city. Must see. read more

Sutro Baths - Sunset at the Sutro Baths. Pull up a chair and enjoy. - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

There's really no other place like Sutro Baths in the city or anywhere else in the Bay Area. Yes, it is touristy but you can count on finding locals around Ocean Beach and Lands End enjoying a nice day out too. It's a very popular destination especially on the weekends. Can you imagine what the swimming pool complex used to be like circa 1890's? Wouldn't it have been amazing? Well, the ruins of the infinity pool/baths are still amazing but in a historical way. It's definitely an SF landmark to be admired. Great place to just hang out and chill at the beach. Take a walk with friends or a date. Bring the family and the kids will have a fun time exploring the ruins and the cave nearby. If you're feeling adventurous, walk along the edges of the ruins. Be careful though, falling into the dirty water would not be ideal. Also, a great place for photo ops. There's always people there shooting the sunset on their tripods or others doing photo shoots. I guarantee it's a hot spot for couples to take their engagement pics. It's a unique backdrop and something that everyone can appreciate when it comes to photography. If you can tell, I have had my share of people watching at Sutros. There's free parking lot by the visitors center but you can also park down by Ocean Beach or Cliff House and walk over. Always bring a jacket because it gets windy! read more

Another view to see and place to explore. My roomie told me to check this place out when the man of my dreams comes to visit. And so I saved the date for that fateful day. It was super windy when we went, so this place would be nice to go to over the summer. Although, the wind blowing through my hair produced an added effect to the dramatic pictures we took together. There's a little cave you can go through, tons of rocks and mini islands to walk around and explore, etc. There's plenty of warning signs to be careful since people have drowned and died here, so keep it chill. I wore my mini heeled sexy boots while venturing and was okay (plus it helped keep the water out), but it's better to wear some sneakers. Keep it comfy! On the other side there's multiple trails to follow or not follow. Take in the forest and capture some sunset pictures. Yes, this is definitely the place to be sappy and take pictures at sunset. Nature being your backdrop, the wind rustling through your hair, holding hands with your honey, mmmm. Could it get any better than this? I suppose other yelp reviews would let me know if so ;) read more

You'll see the Sutro Baths right as you start the Land End's trail. You can walk down and walk into some caves (as long as the tide is low) and peek out to see the waves hitting the rocks. When the tide is lower, there's more beach but if not, you're restricted to a smaller portion of the area! The Sutro Baths are apparently ruins from an 1800s bathhouse that eventually burned down in the 60's. You can still see the outline of the building and parts of the building that stick out. Overall, with the right amount of fog and cloud, you can get a pretty amazing photo. read more

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"Dad. Dad. DAD! you're not watching!!" When i was a kid my dad would take me to the beach with our dogs and we would make our way up to the Cliff House (when it was still cool with all the old amusement park games) and the Baths. I was a total tomboy who liked to play in the sand, get dirty, climb trees, skin my knees and get back up, run around, and do daredevil cartwheels along the baths, getting as close to edge as possible without falling in. This caused my dad to yell at me saying that if i fell in he was going to leave me there and that sharks would eat me. Because apparently the baths have sharks in them. Riiiiiight. *raises eyebrow* When i come back here now as an adult, as much as i would love to, i dont do my daredevil cartwheels for fear of falling into the green goop abyss. Im accident prone, not stupid. Im also not looking to grow a third eye any time soon. Instead i like to walk and sit along the edge and stare out at the ocean while my hair gets all sexy messy from the salt water in the air. I hope i get to take my offspring here one day. Ahhhhhh, SF landmarks, pure nostalgia. Home is definitely where the heart is. read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

As a native I take a lot for granted including this wonderful landmark. Yesterday hubby and I came over in our quest to spot a river otter who has been named Sutro Sam frolicking in the fresh water pond. He was first spotted back in September 2012 by some bird watchers. We parked in the newly improved Lands End parking lot and took the Sutro Baths trail down. We didn't spot Sam, but what a beautiful wintry sunny day it was. Watching the low tide, the waves, and the Pacific Ocean and reflecting on life. You can explore the Sutro Baths ruins and attempt to get a sense of what it was like when it was an enclosed bath house right along the Pacific Ocean. read more

Adolph Sutro opened the world's largest indoor natatorium in 1896 on edge of the Pacific ocean in San Francisco. I marvel what it would have been like to visit during its heyday with its seven separate pools of fresh and salt waters. A glazed roof with thousands of panes of glass allowed sunlight to filter in and patrons could dive into the waters in a myriad of ways including slides, diving boards, and trampolines! In the mid-60s, the baths burned and what remains are the ruins of one man's vision. I have visited multiple times since I was a kid and each time, love the views and the feel of the environs. As an adult, a long constitutional after a meal is absolutely the best way to spend an hour or two. But take care, some of the paths can get slippery and there are signs warning of high tide knocking visitors into the water. read more

Sutro Baths - Baths. - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

I read about the history of the Sutro Baths before visiting and learned that less than a century ago, it was a bustling busy bath house that had great views of the ocean and was powered by the waves - with freshwater pools and saltwater pools. Sadly, it was burned down and left as ruins. Today, those pools are still filled with water, obviously not filtered or water for bathing, but during sunset, the reflection of the pools make this place perfect for photos. There's actually a small cave on the beach where the generator used to be - you can walk into it. There is a trail that wraps along the coast for a while and has spectacular views of the Pacific ocean! read more

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This is a beautiful place to visit. Park at the top and enjoy the views from there or walk down the stairs. From there you can either take a very, very steep trail down to the ruins or walk around the trails at the top. If you're planning on visiting the ruins where proper hiking shoes! read more

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Great place to visit! Breathtaking views and lots to do here. We parked at the Lands End Lookout parking lot, hiked a few trails, and ended here at Sutro Baths. After a long hike, the kids and I continued to explore the ruins. It was fun to walk around and to imagine what the swimming facility looked like in the 1890s. My kids were also able to explore the ruins, beach, and the cave. Just be careful around the baths and hold on to your toddlers! Mine was super excited and wanted to explore on his own! lol Our favorite part was the cave. It was super dark and eerie, but the kids enjoyed the adventure. *I don't recommend strollers, lots of stairs! Read more about the history of Sutro Baths here http://www.nps.gov/goga/learn/historyculture/sutro-baths.htm read more

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This place is practically blocks from my parent's old home in SF. Never ever stepped foot at this magical place, but better 22 years late than never? Beautiful! The cool trees and the ocean waves plus the gnarly ruins makes this place perfect for photos and just to listen to waves splash. Parking can get packed, but be patient. The actual view is a hike down and the ruins are fun to walk along, but also if you are not careful, you could fall. There is a really awesome spot where the big rock formation has a hole in the shape of a heart. kinda cute. read more

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I would totally swim here if it was clean haha (it was a swimming center back then) Around 1896, Sutro was considered to be the world's largest indoor swimming pool. This was on our list when we visited SF. We parked along Ocean Beach, passed by the Cliff House restaurant and basically hiked down to get to the sutro baths. Besides the smell, it was fun exploring the ruins and its caves. You don't have to hike to check this place out; although there is a hiking trail near it. Perfect of all ages, and great for pic opportunities! read more

Sutro Baths - The remains of the structure of the baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of my favorite spots in all of San Francisco. There are challenging climbs and hikes to be had (granted - the climbs are not "official" or monitored, so go at your own risk.) It is steeped with history, mystery and romance. The views are spectacular and there is nothing more amazing than standing on the overlook at sunset and watching that big ball of orange sink into the Pacific Ocean. I make it a point to take everybody who visits me in SF there at least for a few moments - it is the best of the best of San Francisco. Beautiful, rich with history and completely inspirational. Check it out. read more

Sutro Baths - Sutro at Sunset - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is so, so spectacular. My boyfriend took me here unexpectedly and it was a wonderfully surprise. The ruins of the bath were fun to explore (and a bit heart racing!) the sunsets here are picturesque; they look the way sunsets do in paintings... But 10x better. It's very peaceful and memorable. With lots and lots of stairs and uneven walking, this place is not friendly to those with physical disabilities, which is unfortunate. Everyone should be able to experience this special place and I hope that will eventually be possible, but it is something to be aware of when visiting. Also, the ruins of the baths are not somewhere you want kids or anyone with poor balance exploring. Take your kids straight to the beach and away from the ruins, because that whole thing screams "did you remember to get your tetanus shot?" My boyfriend fell into a hole here in the dark once and almost broke his leg... But that's a story for another day. All in all, beautiful place with an interesting history. I look forward to visiting again and encourage anyone who can to go. read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Awesome historic landmark in San Francisco that everyone has to check out! My friends and I parked at Land Ends Lookout parking lot and made our way down to Sutro Baths. Parking can be a little difficult to find but cars are always coming and leaving so I would advise that you wait in an aisle and wait for someone to leave instead of constantly driving around. After we parked, we trekked down the steps to the ruins and explored the cave first. The sand inside the cave was very soft and black. I was wearing sandals so I could feel it because there was one area where my feet sunk into the soft sand. At the end of the cave, you can sort of see the sea and crashing waves. It is a bit dangerous so explore with caution. From the entrance of the cave, if you look out to the rock in the water, apparently the hole of that rock forms a heart. I found out about this after so I did not get a chance to see it with my own eyes but I saw a picture of it. Lots of exploring around the baths and cool photo ops if you don't mind getting a little wet and dirty. I saw people making their way out to the far rock and climbing that thing. For our way back to the car, we took the adventurous route and it was a bit steep and turned into a teamwork hike. The guys in our group had to pull up the girls because some of the steps were a bit high. That was a little unexpected workout. Definitely wear comfortable shoes around here, no high heels or heeled boots or you will be struggling. read more

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This place was on our top 10 things to see while visiting San Francisco. It's free, first and foremost but better than that, at the time it was built it was the worlds largest privately owned indoor pool. The history behind it was so intriguing. You hike down some steps, then a pretty steep hill and are able to walk out on the ruins of what used to be the biggest indoor pool. They had a salt water one at the edge of the ocean before "infinity" pool ideas were even thought of which cycled in fresh salt water right there front he ocean. While there, we discovered a cave and also climbed up to what seemed to be an outdoor patio and actually saw whales in the distance. Just swing the ruins in person and discovering the history of the place was really cool. Definitely recommend this place. Will be visiting again. read more

I don't understand how it has taken me so long to actually come here. I've seen it on my friends' instagrams, I've seen it on a few lists, and some very creative photographers have made it look amazing ... and yet it's taken me probably 3-4 years since I found out about this place to come. It was definitely 3-4 years too long. This place is amazing. I have to say it's better to come during sunrise or sunset because the colors of the sky and the sun really reflect well in the calm standing waters of the sutro baths, and the changing of the tides is always more interesting than during the day ... but anyway you can make it here is a good time. There is a lot more to this place than just the ruins of the baths, but the cave was ... mediocre. It really is an amazing photography spot if you're into taking some epic views in SF. Highly, HIGHLY recommended. read more

I didn't think I would like this place as much as I did! I'm giving it five stars because it's such a unique site and you can get really interesting photos with what's left of the foundation and the Pacific Ocean in the background. I was taking pictures left and right! There's also this neat little cave tunnel where you can go in and watch the waves crash against the rocks below you. At the end of the tunnel, you can get a neat view of the cliff and the ocean. read more

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Def go here, all! Amazing view. Fun rocks/ruins/caves to climb, play hide and seek, and capture in your camera. Super windy and bright. The weather was nice when I came, but usually it is cloudy in the morning and possibly clears in the afternoon. Don't wear heels. Some graduating students in nice clothes had the misfortune of discovering that Sutro Baths is an unforgiving place for heels. Make sure to watch your step when scaling the ruins. Uneven terrain with pits filled with water.. and some with rocks. Thrilling hike! There is a museum by the bathrooms showing the history of this place. read more

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Really cool hidden gem that was introduced to me about two years ago. So cool that I came back again two years later. This place just brings so serenity when you are there. The bathhouse touches the ocean and if you are careful you could go up close to the edge. Water does splash very high here so I would not recommend that, but getting kind of close would be cool. Beautiful place for pictures whether it is sunny or cloudy. This is a must see place. read more

If you're visiting San Francisco, you definitely should check out this place. Don't limit yourself to just the golden gate bridge and alcatraz. My boo brought me here after recommendation from her roomie. Make sure you wear comfortable shoes because you'll walk all over the place and some surfaces you walk on are gonna be rough and full of gravel. This is kinda off the beaten path, but it is a cool place to explore. There is some amazing scenery here. It can be really romantic here, so come here when it's close to sunset. You can walk down the road and have a cliche'd long walk on the beach too. This place is amazing, but it's even more amazing when you're here with the one you love. read more

The Sutro Baths are the remnants of a lost age. I imagine that in a post-Apocalyptic world many cities will look like this. The Sutro Baths were large baths destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and were never rebuilt. All that's left is the foundation with pools of water on a cliff overlooking the Pacific. You can stand on top of the cliffs and look down upon the ruins and the great view or you can take stairs down to the ruins themselves. You can walk on the concrete foundation. The baths are part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. There are adjacent parks with trees and trails to explore. Just south of the baths is the Cliff House, then the sandy shore of Ocean Beach stretching down the coast. As to be expected, the crowds are much larger on weekends especially when there is nice weather. read more

Sutro Baths is one of my favorite place to visit in San Francisco. By walking there and thinking of its glorious history makes me feel great. It is definitely a nice place to take a short walk and explore the ocean view during weekends or evenings. read more

I only found out about this place after seeing a picture on Instagram and I knew immediately I had to see it for myself. This beautiful ruin used to be a bath house/ indoor swimming pool before it got destroyed. Just try to quietly take it all in, and imagine this place in its glory. This was one of my favorite places in San Francisco. The views, the sunset, the ambiance - amazing. A must for those who like history and/or photography. read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Definitely a must-see sight lost in time and full of history! The solid remnants of a once thriving bath house is now a prime location for visitors of all kinds willing to do the steep hike down and explore through all the interesting ruins. There is plenty to see in this area, from the climbable walls and rocks to the dark yet inviting cave, people have fun scaling the baths to fill their sense of adventure and get superb photos! The location is very accessible and is not a long walk at all from the Cliff House, Land's End, or the base of Ocean Beach! You will spend a while hiking and discovering everything once monumental here! The location itself is clean and usually not overly crowded. Definitely check out the cave, climb up on the big rock for a view, and walk through the ruins, just be careful of where you step! :) read more

Sutro Baths - Very cool cave in the Sutro Baths area. Can't miss it, go all the way to the end for an awesome view! :) - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

It's kind of amazing that this use to be some kind of community pool. Now all there is left is the ruins. To be honest, there is not much left except for a couple of walls that people walk on and around, but it's in a beautiful location right next to the beach and the view from the top of the stairs is really nice. Overall, it's a cool landmark to see, and it's right near the beach and Land's End where there is plenty to explore. read more

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The VIEW is breathtaking !! One of the prettiest views I have ever seen in person and I feel so spoiled to live so close to such a scene . I always feel so calm .. Just sitting at the edge of a cliff and just look out into the sunset. All stress is gone while I'm there . Nothing but calmness and a lovely breeze . This place is Very romantic . Great place to go with a special someone or just to come and enjoy the view and take things off your mind . read more

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Good memories ... Relaxing, with the sun in your face, cool ocean breeze, and a million dollar view .. Great place to take friends from out of town and show them a quick glimpse of SF beauty.. Also a killer spot to medicate, then go right up Geary and your in food heaven. :) read more

Sutro Baths - Ahh - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing view, unique sightseeing trip. The bf surprised me one day and took me here. (I kept expressing to the bf about how badly I wanted to visit!) When we got there, we took pictures right away because the view is just breathtaking. Parking is plentiful, by the way, so you don't have to worry about that! We went down the sandy steps and got to the bath ruins. There's this ledge that everyone was walking on (maybe a little over 2 feet wide) but I was way too scared. On one side, there's this huuuuge marsh pit filled with algae and God-knows-what. And on the other side of the ledge, there are jagged rocks with the waves fiercely crashing into it. One little misstep and you can fall over and DIE, so be careful! They also have a cave you can check out. It has an opening at the end and has another view of the waters. Overall, I give this place an A+! I am a sucker for great views :) read more

Sutro Baths - Bf took me on surprise date here. View is spectacular. I was too scared to walk along ruins :( - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

A great day trip destination and a good starting point to hike and discover SF! Apparently San Francisco has ruins. Sutro baths (or what's left of it) used to be a large enclosed bath house that was built in the late 1800s. It sits right on the beach and is tucked in between small cliffs. It's also a great place see Point Lobos or start a hike along the Lands End Trail. The Land's end trail is great because you're surrounded by nature and it follows along the bay and beach areas. The trail also leads to the Legion of Honor, which is a totally amazing museum. If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of SF, this is a great place to get a way- Nature. Views. Serenity! read more

Sutro Baths - Beaches Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Awesome free stop if you are around the lands end area. You can walk down and go into the cave and there are a few vantage points to take pics. You usually run into people doing photoshoots out here. Free parking which is always a plus. The coastal hiking trail connects here so you can park and continue your walk along the lighthouse. Cool informative history lessons on the signs. read more

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