The Batteries to Bluffs Trail follows the Presidio’s western bluffs from just south of the Golden Gate Bridge to Battery Crosby. The Presidio Trust lists it as 0.7 miles, rated moderate, pedestrian only, on compacted soil and wooden steps, and says it has 470 stairs. The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy says the 2007 project installed more than 500 box steps, with pre-cut materials delivered by helicopter to protect the habitat.
Where to start
The Presidio Trust says you can start at the California Coastal Trail trailhead north of the Sand Ladder at Baker Beach on Lincoln Boulevard, where parking is free. You can also start farther north near Golden Gate Overlook, using the Langdon Court lot. The Conservancy suggests parking at Fort Scott and walking down. The trail opens with a view of the bridge, and the Presidio Trust says dolphins and gray whales are sometimes seen from it.
Marshall’s Beach
The Conservancy says Marshall’s Beach can only be reached on foot from this trail and that it is a favorite of photographers because it is so close to the Golden Gate Bridge. It is a rugged stretch of sand and rocks, and the Conservancy notes that clothing-optional sunbathers are known to visit on warm days. The cliffs between Fort Point and Baker Beach include outcrops of gray-green serpentine, a rock whose soils support rare plants.
Know before you go
Dogs are not allowed. There are no restrooms on the trail. The Presidio Trust says the closest are at Fort Scott Ballfield near Lincoln Boulevard and Storey Avenue, with more at the Golden Gate Bridge and Baker Beach. The Conservancy says the trail won a 2008 Beautification Award from San Francisco Beautiful.
For the beach at the south end, see our Baker Beach guide.