In Northern California, natural beauty can be found just about anywhere. Even our most populous cities like San Francisco are filled with pockets of wild beauty. Fort Funston Beach is a great example of the incredible scenery that’s hiding right along the southern edge of San Francisco. The area is popular for hiking, beachgoing, and even hang-gliding. The path to the beach is steep and rugged, though, so prepare for a windy afternoon workout!
Fort Funston is a beautiful destination on the southwest coast of San Francisco. Home to 200-foot-high cliffs and a network of trails, the area is known for its spectacular ocean vistas!
Fort Funston can be found within Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It's popular for hiking, horseback riding, dog walking, and even hang gliding. This section of coastline is particularly windy, so you can almost always view hang gliders taking off from the cliffs.
There's a beautiful beach at the bottom of the cliffs but getting there requires traversing a steep, rugged path partially made of sand ladders. Getting down to the beach is one thing, but hiking up is even more strenuous. You're in for quite a workout if you take this way - but it's worth it!
If you don't feel like the steep climb to the beach, you can instead opt for the main Sunset trail. This is a paved and wheelchair accessible trail that winds along the clifftops, boasting excellent views along the way.
And if you don't have much time, you can always enjoy a quick look at the ocean from the viewing platform by the parking lot. The spot is perfect for soaking up views of the coast and watching the hang gliders flying past.
Fort Funston is a breathtaking hiking destination, but do use caution when visiting. This is not a swimming beach and the ocean current can be incredibly strong. Additionally, the park asks that you keep yourself away from the cliff edges (and your pets, too), as they can crumble if you get too close to them.
