Lincoln Park Golf Greens and Bay Overlook: The Continental Farewell

Why is it significant?

Conclude your journey at the breathtaking eastern clifftop overlook of the Lincoln Park Golf Course, where manicured greens meet the edge of coastal cypress groves.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Conclude your journey at the breathtaking eastern clifftop overlook of the Lincoln Park Golf Course, where manicured greens meet the edge of coastal cypress groves. Opened in 1902 as a humble three-hole municipal course and expanded by 1914 to a full championship eighteen-hole layout, this historic links course is renowned as one of the most scenic municipal public golf courses in the world. Looking northeast through a natural cathedral of twisted Monterey cypress branches, you are treated to an unforgettable, postcard-perfect view of the Golden Gate Bridge spanning the shimmering blue water toward Marin County.

Famous for its dramatic elevation changes and wind-buffeted fairways, the seventeenth hole just below this overlook is legendary among golfers worldwide, requiring players to drive their golf balls across a deep ocean gorge with the bridge and passing container ships directly in the line of sight. On foggy mornings, the orange suspension towers float above drifting clouds of white marine fog like monuments in the sky, creating a scene of cinematic beauty.

Look toward the base of the hill near 32nd Avenue to spot the Lincoln Park Steps, a colorful mosaic community staircase completed in 2015 by neighborhood artists, covered in thousands of hand-glazed ceramic tiles depicting blooming California flora and ocean waves. Taking time to absorb this physical setting connects you directly with the generations of pioneer builders, maritime navigators, and civic leaders whose perseverance shaped San Francisco into a global capital of natural beauty and architectural daring. Taking time to absorb this physical setting connects you directly with the generations of pioneer builders, maritime navigators, and civic leaders whose perseverance shaped San Francisco into a global capital of natural beauty and architectural daring.

As the afternoon fog rolls in from the Pacific, listen to the distant chorus of foghorns and the wind whistling through cypress needles as your coastal walk comes to a peaceful close.

You have completed your exploration of Lands End, Sutro Baths, and Lincoln Park. Descend the historic walking path down to Clement Street to enjoy warm dim sum or artisanal coffee in the Richmond District.