Adventures: Hiking the Land’s End Coastal Trail by Ann Marie Brown Golden Gate National Recreation Area What is the wildest place in San Francisco? While some might argue for the South of Market nightclubs or the new wave industries of Media Gulch, I vote for the Land’s End Coastal Trail. It’s hard to believe you can find a city trail that feels this natural and remote, featuring million-dollar views of crashing surf, offshore outcrops, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands. But here it is. The trail begins near Ocean Beach and winds its way north and east along the ocean bluffs to China and Baker beaches. In its entirety, Coastal Trail is 11 miles long, although it’s not contiguous. My favorite stretch is a 3.5-mile round-trip that follows the most “wilderness-like” section from above the Cliff House Restaurant to 32nd Avenue and El Camino del Mar. At least for a while, you’ll forget you’re anywhere near a major metropolitan area. The ocean views from the Merrie Way trailhead are a satisfying first impression. As you lace up your hiking boots, watch for a Golden Gate-bound freighter or the spout of a gray whale, and lend an ear to the chorus of barking sea lions. Then take the trail from the north end of the lot that dips into a canopy of cypress trees. You’ll connect to a wide main path, the remains of an old railroad roadbed. Interspersed with windswept cypress trees, the trail offers postcard views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin Headlands, Pacific Ocean, and San Francisco Bay. If you look closely at the ocean waters below the trail, you might spot the remains of several Golden Gate shipwrecks. The path finishes up at Eagle’s Point, a spectacular overlook near 32nd Avenue and across from Lincoln Park Golf Course. Follow its winding staircase down the bluffs for the best views of the day. The Details Length: 3.5 miles round-trip (can be longer) Difficulty: Easy Best Season: Best in fall, winter, and spring for clearest weather Highlights: Coastal views Map: Golden Gate National Recreation Area map (free at Cliff House Visitor Center) Trail Guide: 101 Great Hikes of the San Francisco Bay Area (Foghorn Outdoors) Park Information: GGNRA/Presidio Visitor Center, (415) 561-4323. Or GGNRA/Cliff House Visitor Center, (415) 556-8642 Website: www.nps.gov/goga Getting There: Take MUNI bus #38 or #38L to Point Lobos and 48th Avenue. Walk west on Point Lobos for a short distance to the Merrie Way parking lot, just above Louis’ Restaurant. The trail leads from the north side of the parking lot.