Fort Funston Coastal Bluffs

A Launch Point Above the Pacific

Fort Funston sits on a stretch of eroding coastal bluffs in southwestern San Francisco, overlooking the wide, wild expanse of Ocean Beach. Steady onshore winds deflecting off the cliff face create reliable updrafts, making this one of the most active hang gliding and paragliding launch sites on the West Coast.

Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area

The bluffs and dunes fall within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, one of the largest urban national parks in the world. Native dune scrub and sandy paths link the site to miles of coastal trail stretching toward the San Francisco Zoo and Lake Merced.

Trails, Dogs, and Wildlife

Fort Funston is equally beloved as an off-leash dog beach and a haven for coastal wildlife, from cliff-nesting bank swallows to shorebirds working the tideline. Hikers descend a network of sandy switchback trails to reach the beach below the bluffs.