Marshall’s Beach

*Chill spot, cooler area, dogs allowed*
Nun said. Plenty of parking.
Recommend.

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.

Came here after seeing all the beautiful pictures posted on Unilocal!I google mapped how to get there and apparently google maps takes you to an area with minimal parking. We pulled up on the curb of the road and ran across the street to get a better glimpse of the Golden Gate Bridge. I would have liked to go down to the beach, but I couldn’t exactly find a trail to get down to the beach. I would like to visit again if I am ever in the area because it does look like a gorgeous area to hike/​walk

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.

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.

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.

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. :)

This place really feels like a hidden secret. I’m always zooming by on my bike, never come by on foot so never knew about this place until a friend recommended a hike around the Presidio last week. After climbing out of Baker Beach I descended back down to Marshall’s Beach. A long descent down to a practically empty beach filled with a local couple and a few sightseers. Great view of the bridge and an isolated beach surrounded by the craggy cliffs. Long ascent back out to the main road then along to the bunkers and the GG bridge.

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

I took my boyfriend here (and a string of other trails and parks) for our two year anniversary since he is more of an outdoorsy and active type of guy and grew up in the city. We drove with our bikes jammed into our CRV and biked around and left our bikes up at a trail and walked our way down to this beach. First and foremost, if you are not at all active like I am (I’ve been on my bum for a good 6 months doing little to no exercise) then be warned! Biking around the trail was really difficult for me but a breeze for my man. The beach was pretty secluded and got very rocky the closer you walk towards the bridge. We got some really nice pictures. I believe locals here have built some little forts along the beach so you can sit there and just relax
We came here a second time with my siblings and dad and boy… I did not know people can sunbathe or go on jogs in the nude. Needless to say, my dad was appalled and I got to see some uh… very gifted people… I didn’t see anyone nude the first time we went, I swear, Dad! D;

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!

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»

Beautiful location to get shots of the GG Bridge. I went late on a weekday so missed the nude dudes but they don’t bother me regardless since I live in Europe where nudity doesn’t have the stigma it has in the US. The evening light on the beach and bridge were really nice. The stairs down and up are well maintained — and a tough work out on the way up. But the pain in the legs is worth the effort!

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!

Can’t a person take some nice HD pictures of the golden gate bridge without 2 dude polishing each other’s knob near the rocks? Get a damn motel room already! This is an inappropriate place to bring your family! The guys here are disgusting animals! Why couldn’t they just keep their lewd behaviors at home? They should just rename this beach to Lewd Beach and post a sign «Warning, this beach may contain sexual behavior that isn’t suitable for general audience.» Also, the hike back up is a real pain in the ass (pun intended).

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.

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.

Amazing sunsets in the Fall!

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.

I’ve always heard this beach called Bad Boy Beach. It is the closest beach to the GGB. It used to be a hair-​raising trek along an unmarked trail on the edge of the cliffs. I’ve heard more than a few fell to their deaths on that trail. It was always well-​worth the dangerous walk when you got to the beach. The view of the Gate and bridge are unparalleled.
A few years ago, the GGNRA made the path walking friendly. They added steps on the steepest parts. A scenic viewing place is a great place for a picture. I’d share mine but I am naked there. The path has made the beach more accessible. So the beach is not the quiet locals. hidden treasure it once was.
Tourists abound. With their kids in tow and grandma bringing up the back, they arrive at the beach. Boom boxes, picnic baskets, sun tan lotion, and their tourist things like cameras, maps, and Muni Passports make it obvious they are not in Kansas right now. Aren’t they surprised when they meander around the jetty and it’s rocky pass to get a closer view of the bridge?
Most beach nudists now go to that side of the beach to free themselves of the binds we call clothing. Rather than viewing the bridge, they don’t even notice it even though it is closer than ever, they are fixated on the clothing free people. Many turn around quickly and tell their tag-​a-​longs that it’s too rocky or some other lame excuse which helps them avoid their desire to be naturally clothing free as well.
I always strip off right at the top of the path. Since the creation of the steps and introduction of tourists, weekends are best for me to avoid this beach. That’s when inevitably someone will tell me it’s illegal to be without clothing on the path, it’s not. I want to tell them about the benefits of 12 Steps and being free of their clothing addiction, but that would be fruitless. So I visit this beach on weekdays when it’s less crowded.