Picture a 3.5-mile stretch of white beach with few tourists and no highrises. It's just you and the waves and the seabirds at Ocean Beach, on the westernmost border of San Francisco, adjacent to Golden Gate Park. Great for strolling and flying kites, but the water is frigid and the currents hazardous for all but the most experienced surfers.
Tips and Highlights
- The sunniest months for a beach walk are September and October.
- The beach is almost always covered in fog throughout late spring and summer, with average temperatures in the 50s.
- Beach Wheelchairs are available upon request
- Please do not trample fragile plants on the dunes.
- Pack in and pack out your trash: "Leave No Trace"
Nature
Snowy Plover
Look for the small, shy Western Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) - a threatened species that rests here in the winter. In California, there has been a significant decline in breeding locations as a result of various forms of human disturbance. The species is being strictly monitored and protected by the National Park Service. For more details see the Superintendent's Compendium and Exhibits (maps) on the Laws & Policies webpage and the 2008 Special Regulation codified at 36 CFR 7.97(d).