Where to find the Heart Rock in San Francisco’s Sutro Baths

Last updated on February 9th, 2024 at 08:58 pm

Wondering where to find this natural heart shaped rock formation? Keep reading to learn more about why Sutro Baths should be at the top of your list for your next visit to San Francisco!

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A wildly popular sunset spot among locals, Sutro Baths is located at the very western tip of the Outer Richmond District in San Francisco. Formerly an outdoor saltwater pool that was open to the general public, the concrete structure you see today are all that remains after a large fire destroyed the original buildings in 1966. Today, the structures and surrounding areas belong to the US National Park Service.

How to get to Sutro Baths

Driving: You can easily type in Sutro Baths or Land’s End Trail to get to the recreation area. There is a small parking lot at the visitor’s center and plenty of street parking along any of the side streets off Geary Blvd. As always, San Francisco ranks especially high in petty crime such as pickpocketing and car break-ins. Don’t leave anything valuable and/or in plain sight in your vehicle.

The Bus: Even though I own a car in the city, I sometimes prefer to take muni (our bus system) to avoid dealing with traffic. The 38R will take you directly to this area, making minimal stops along the way.

Cycling: The best part about cycling to Sutro Baths is that the journey is 99% flat. It’s even more enjoyable if you rent an electric bike, but a normal city bike will be just fine. On a nice day, I prefer to grab my bike and head towards to this area and then continue onto Ocean Beach. On the way back, you can take the route through Golden Gate Park for more spectacular views.

Hiking

If you have additional time to spend, there is fantastic hiking around this area. The hike to the heart rock is a short one (~1 mi roundtrip) but the iconic Land’s End Trail is right around the corner.

This is a must see for any visitor to San Francisco! The ~3.4mi roundtrip trail will reward you with sweeping views of the Golden Gate Bridge, beautiful sunsets from the California coast, and even enlighten you with a bit of history about sea lions.

Heart Shaped Rock

Once you reach the bottom of the trail, the “pools” will be on your left and a dark cave will be on your right. Head towards the right but don’t wander into the cave. There will be a concrete ledge in front of you. Standing in front of the ledge, look immediately to your left and you’ll be able to see the heart on the furthest rock away.

All photos taken with the Sony A6000 – my favoritetravel-sized mirrorless camera:

Looking for other activities to do in San Francisco? Check out my other San Francisco Guides here.