NPS Photo / Dave Rauenbuehler
Golden Gate National Recreation Area has many beaches with a wide range of activities, vistas, and wildlife to explore. Beaches provide opportunities for recreational activities like hiking, biking, swimming, boating, and surfing. Beaches and the surrounding waters are also home to a variety of important plants and animals: shorebirds, fish, seals, whales, kelp, grasses, and wildflowers. You can learn more about them on our Nature and Ecosystems Page.
Beaches at Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Hikeable Beaches
These hikeable beaches can only be accessed by hiking in. For your safety, please be prepared with supplies and check tide information in advance.AccessibilityWe offer a variety of ways to make our beaches more accessible with features such as Beach Wheelchairs, Seasonal Beach Mats. You can learn more about each location on our Physical Mobility and Beach Wheelchair pages. Beach SafetyNot all beaches are suitable for swimming or wading, especially for young children. Stinson Beach is GGNRA’s only swimming beach and has a staffed lifeguard program part of the year. The park’s other beaches are not for swimming. The ocean water may be as low as 10°C (50°F), so those without wetsuits rarely stay in the water for long. Hypothermia, sneaker waves, and rip currents are just a few of the hazards of which visitors should be aware. Please visit our Beach Safety Practices page for more information about water hazards like riptides and state and county water quality testing. You can Check out the National Ocean Service's tide predictions. Please visit the National Weather Service for San Francisco Bay Area page and Fog Today to be advised of any special weather statements. No glass on all beaches and no alcohol allowed on Ocean Beach. Fire SafetyPlease use good fire safety practices and follow all Park Fire Regulations when barbecuing, or building fires. Beach fires are allowed only within fire rings at Ocean Beach and Muir Beach. Fires are not permitted on Spare the Air days.
Keep Your Beaches Clean and BeautifulRecreate responsibly! Pack it in, pack it out. Please remember that we share these beaches with other people as well as sensitive wildlife. Volunteer for a beach cleanup or other service event with the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy. Peak SeasonOur beaches are very popular. They get busy and crowded during hot months (generally May-September). Make sure to check traffic and travel times before heading to the beach during peak season. |
Last updated: August 29, 2024