Mile Rock Beach at Lands End

In San Francisco, you and your dog can have your pick of the beaches, but Mile Rock Beach at Lands End has something unique to offer. This secluded cove will truly make you feel like you've reached the ends of the earth. Best of all, at the beach and along the trail you'll take to get to it, dogs can run off leash!

From the Lands End Lookout Visitor Center and parking area on Point Lobos Avenue, the trail to get to the beach begins. Here, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Marin Headlands, the entrance to San Francisco Bay, and the Golden Gate Bridge. At the visitor's center, you can find maps, a cafe for food and snacks, and a bathroom which you won't find anywhere on the trail. You'll also see the Sutro Baths, the ruins of a turn of the century recreational bath area that burned down in the 1960s. While at the Baths or parking area, dogs need to stay leashed, your dog can ditch the leash once you hit the trail as long as they are good under voice command.

To get to the beach, begin the 1.5 mile Lands End Coastal Trail from the parking area. While enjoying the sounds of the water and views of the bay between the towering cypress trees, keep an eye out for the benches. After the third bench along the trail, you'll see a path going down the cliff which heads to Mile Rock. On your way down to the beach, you'll encounter a 243 step stair descent. Your dog is allowed to be off leash on this beach, but the descent is dangerous, so its a good idea to put it back on for that part. Known for the stacked rocks left by visitors, as well as the stone labyrinth located above the shore on a cliff off a windy path, the beach itself is rugged, small, and littered with boulders and driftwood. At high tide, the shore is quite narrow, but when it’s out, your pal will love scampering around the boulder-covered beach. 

If you'd like to keep the adventure going, you can continue down the Coastal Trail, where you might spot shipwrecks off the shore during low tide, or can check out the Lands End Point, a cliff with furbulous bay views and a pawfect spot for a picnic. Bring all needed essentials, including water to share, and clean-up bags, and always pick up whatever your pup leaves behind.

Mile Rock Beach in Lands End is a wild and glorious refuge on the Pacific Ocean, and a great place to explore with your canine companion.