Lands End

Lands End is where San Francisco meets the Pacific in dramatic fashion: cypress groves, cliffside switchbacks, shipwreck views, and the ruins of the Sutro Baths. Its network of side trails and tree cover has also given it a long-running gay cruising tradition, concentrated in the wooded stretches off the main coastal path. This is a spectacular hike in its own right, so come for the scenery and treat cruising as a discreet, daylight-into-dusk affair — the area is remote, the cliffs are genuinely dangerous, and it gets cold and foggy fast. Stay on stable ground and well back from crumbling edges, wear layers and proper footwear, and don't rely on cell signal in the dips. As anywhere, be respectful of the many hikers, birders, and families on the trail, keep encounters off the main path, and always take no for an answer.