Sutro Baths: Ruins, Ocean Views, and 38 Geary Access

Sutro Baths sit at the far western edge of the Outer Richmond, right where Point Lobos Avenue dead-ends at the ocean. Adolph Sutro built them in the 1890s as a massive public bathhouse. It had seven saltwater pools at different temperatures, a museum, a concert hall, and seating for thousands. The whole thing burned down in 1966 during a planned demolition, and nobody rebuilt it.

[!TIP] Wear shoes with grip—the trail gets slippery in fog. Early mornings are quieter and the 38 Geary bus runs here from downtown.

You park in the lot off Point Lobos and walk down a steep, packed-dirt trail to reach the ruins. The descent takes about five minutes. Wear shoes with grip because the path gets slippery when the fog rolls in.

Up close, the ruins are rougher than photos suggest. Concrete walls are covered in layers of spray paint and graffiti. The old pool outlines still hold seawater that rushes in through gaps in the rock. You can walk along the edges and look down into the pools, where algae and kelp move with the tide.

On the north side, there’s a cave tunnel cut into the rock. You can walk through it to a small opening that faces the Pacific. The spray hits you before you see the water. The wind is constant and cold out here.

The Cliff House used to sit just above the baths, but it closed in 2020. The building is still there, empty and fenced off. From the ruins, you can pick up the Lands End Trail heading east along the bluffs. That trail runs about 3.4 miles to the Eagle Point overlook, with views of the Golden Gate Bridge the whole way.

The baths are free to visit and open all day. The 38 Geary bus runs out here from downtown. Early mornings are quieter.