Hiking to Kirby Cove in San Francisco (+ The Famous Swing)

Kirby Cove has one of the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge. Here is how you can hike down to the beach and even see the famous swing.

Since we live in the San Francisco Bay Area people always ask me what is the best spot to photograph the Golden Gate Bridge. Everyone wants to see that iconic landmark when they visit of course, and take a lot of pictures with it.

One of the most popular places to photograph the Golden Gate is the Battery Spencer Overlook where you get to stand right in front of the bridge.

Another famous one is the swing with the bridge in the background. People also ask me about that and where it can be found. There are many great spots to photograph the Golden Gate since there are overlooks at both ends of the bridge and also beaches.

But one of our favourite things is the hike down to Kirby Cove. Especially in a beautiful, sunny day! The view is just amazing down there! And it definitely beats crowded Battery Spencer!

We have done this hike several times now with and without kids, and it has always been so much fun. And we have also been lucky to see that famous swing everyone is talking about.

Here is our guide on how to get to Kirby Cove and some of the photos to show what it looks like there. You decide yourself if the view is worth the hike or not.

KIRBY COVE IN SAN FRANCISCO AND THE FAMOUS SWING

Kirby Cove is a small beach at the north end of the Golden Gate Bridge. It almost seems to be a hidden gem for us locals, since many tourists don’t seem to know about it, or just don’t bother to hike down there. It is easier for them just to stop by at the Battery Spencer Overlook and then move on.

There have usually only been few people at Kirby Cove when we have visited, so it completely felt like we were away from busy city life. We always brought a picnic with us, and had no trouble finding a good spot to eat. In fact, they do have some picnic tables there with the best view of the city!

There is also a small camping area close to the beach which is open from spring to fall with some restrooms. Imaging staying the night there and looking at the city lights and the bridge all through the night. The camping area is extremely popular and they only have a few spots, so if you want to try it out, you have to make a reservation early.

I have also seen pictures of people swimming at Kirby Cove. The bay there is usually calm but the water is cold and there is no lifeguard. I’m a little skeptical about the cleanliness of water but everyone can decide for themselves.

Try to visit Kirby Cove at low tide so you get the best view and the beach.

Many people hike to Kirby Cove in hopes of finding the Instagram famous swing. I’m going to disappoint you by telling you that it is usually not there. The park rangers keep cutting them off and they even cut the branch where the swing used to be. I think it wasn’t safe enough and they wanted to minimise the risk of accidents.

But there are some other swings in the city, like the one in Cherry Street which is lid at winters and the one at Bernal Heights Park. Although I think the one at Kirby Cove definitely had the best view.

These swings tend to disappear until someone hangs them up again, so maybe if you are lucky, there is a new one at Kirby Cove when you visit. That happened to us on one of our visits.

HOW TO GET TO KIRBY COVE

Where to Park

Well the very first thing you have to do is drive over and get your car parked of course. In the old days, this used to be a real pain, but now the traffic arrangements have changed. The drive there is a little bit longer now than it used to be, but it is all worth it since you wont be battling about the parking space anymore.

After you cross the Golden Gate Bridge driving northbound, take the Alexander Avenue exit. Now here you would have normally turned to the left right away but instead, you will have to keep going to the second intersection.

Turn left on Bunker Road and drive through a one-lane tunnel. A little after the tunnel there will be another left turn to McCullough Road and up you go to the hills. You will soon arrive at a traffic circle, where you can already see the beautiful views of the ocean. Turn left from the circle and keep going, you are almost there.

The road will soon switch into a one-lane road and there are a couple of overlooks with parking lots on the right side. Unless you want to add some miles on your hike, do not leave your car by the first overlook. Instead drive over to the second overlook or even further.

Unlike in the past, parking along the roadside in allowed now and there are way more spots than there used to be. Visiting Battery Spencer for example, used to be a nightmare! But even though we were there on Saturday, there were still plenty of spots left.

However, don’t forget that you can’t turn back! So the further you drive looking for a parking spot the bigger the risk you take for having to drive around the hill all over again.

Hiking down to Kirby Cove

After you have parked your car, you can start your hike down to Kirby Cove. The trail is about a mile long and it is easy going downhill. But surprise, surprise, your hike back up will be sweaty, because it is uphill all the way!

The trail starts by a gate close to Battery Spencer and goes through beautiful cypress and eucalyptus groves. Even though the trail is technically a nice gravel road, you will have to hike it down, since driving permits are only given to those who are camping.

If needed, you can easily bring your baby stroller down too. The only obstacle will be the steps to get to the actual beach. There you can either leave the stroller or carry it down the steps.

Here are our tips for hiking with little ones.

Battery Wagner

On your way down to Kirby Cove you will pass Battery Wagner. Definitely stop there either on your way down or back up. In my opinion, the view from there was even better than from the beach.

Battery Wagner was used between 1901 and 1917 for defending San Francisco from any threats coming from the sea. You can find many batteries around San Francisco, and even right next to Kirby Cove Beach or Battery Spencer Overlook.

Battery Wagner has definitely seen better days. Grass has grown in and there is a lot of graffiti, but we still enjoyed this short visit. And why not, look at this view!

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If you are visiting Kirby Cove and spot the swing, definitely leave a comment here so others will know. But Kirby Cove is so beautiful, it will be amazing with or without the swing!

I wish I would have an opportunity to visit it more often but there are so many other places that we want to explore in the Bay Area. There is just so much to see here!

For example, if you want a different angle for your photos with Golden Gate, another fun thing to do is to go under the bridge and visit Fort Point. Or you can snap a photo with it from Presidio. And while you are there you should also walk through the Lover’s Lane.

Like I said, there are so many amazing places to see here!

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Have you visited Kirby Cove or planning to go? Did you manage to find the swing?