Coastal Trail: Lands End

From the large parking area and helpful visitors center, follow the trail into the woods as it wraps around the very northwest tip of the city. Several viewpoints open up and it's worth stopping at each to enjoy the views. You might have cold fog or crisp sun, but either way, this moody trail delivers.The trail is built on the bed of an old rail line, so it's mostly dead-level. One short section has been re-routed around an eroded part of the cliff and has a long, steep section of stairs. You could optionally turn around at the stairs to avoid that difficulty and still have a wonderful hike. Also, be sure to take the little detour on Mile Rock Trail!

This trail is built on the remains of an old rail line. In the 1880's the Cliff House and Sutro Baths were being built on the west end of the city, which was miles from downtown at the time.A private train was built to connect the tourist attractions, and at 5 cents a ride, was quite a bargain for the amazing views it gave riders then, and hikers today.