Fort Funston is a rugged stretch of coastal headlands, sand, and dunes south of Ocean Beach. In some places, the dunes reach heights of 200 feet or more. At the foot of Fort Funston's cliffs is a wild and windy beach suitable for walking or horseback riding. Trails down to the beach scale the steep dunes with Dutch sand ladders (which help prevent erosion). On the beach, you'll see shells, sand dollars, seaweed, and other signs of marine life.
These great sandy bluffs, combined with the steady ocean breeze, make Fort Funston one of the premier hang-gliding spots in the nation. Between late March and October, when the west winds blow strong, hang-gliders fill the skies over Fort Funston's long beach, coastal trails, and sand-covered gun battery. Fort Funston is a Hang-III (intermediate) site with a launch area and wheelchair-accessible viewing deck. For those interested in learning more about this daring sport, several hang-gliding shops in the Fort Funston area offer instruction, sales, and repairs. A wooden viewing deck hugs the hillside at Fort Funston, right off the parking area, and offers spectacular views of soaring hang-gliders and the coastline.
With the invention of aircraft, open-air gun batteries became giant bull's-eye targets, and the army began building casemates over batteries to protect and camouflage them from enemy aircraft. Completed in 1938, Battery Davis was the first of these casemated batteries. The barrels of its two massive, 16-inch guns weighed 146 tons apiece. Battery Davis served as the prototype for all 16-inch gun emplacements built in America after 1938. Explore Battery Davis from the Sunset Trail.
- Park in lot off Skyline Boulevard, or walk in along the beach from parking available at the southern end of Ocean Beach.
- Keep a close eye on the kids, as the surf and undertow are extremely dangerous. It's a steep, strenuous hike down to the beach and back up, so be ready to haul small ones or take only the surefooted.
- The Fort Funston native plant nursery welcomes volunteers. Call ahead for times and meeting places.
- Check out the 146-ton gun at Battery Davis.
The loop trails at Fort Funston are paved and wheelchair-accessible; the trails down to the beach are not.
Fort Funston is alive with canine activity, and is a place where off-leash pooches of all sizes and dog lovers can socialize. Hydrate your canine companions at the water spigots near the parking lot, or trailside in the middle of the park. Pick up a dog refuse bag at the pooper-scooper boxes, which are stocked by the community; check your pet's coat for foxtails after a visit here.
Native Plant Nursery
Plants with deep roots and a tolerance for harsh conditions are uniquely adapted to growing on sand dunes. The San Francisco peninsula was once covered with sand dunes, and today the peninsula's largest remaining dune field can be found at Fort Funston. Here, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and many volunteers work to restore the dunes and protect their endangered and rare plants and animals. The parks' oldest native plant nursery is located behind the ranger station; join the effort and come to collect seeds, plant, and remove invasive plants with the nursery staff.
Among the plants grown in the nursery for habitat restoration use are beach strawberry, several perennial lupines, and a low-growing, small-leaved form of coyote brush. All of these plants are adapted to the challenge of life in a constantly shifting landscape.
Bank Swallows
Bank swallows (Riparia riparia) once migrated through California in great numbers, but today they are listed as a state threatened species; their only known coastal nesting sites are at Fort Funston and Año Nuevo. Colonies of the swallows dig holes in the sheer sandstone cliffs and raise their young between March and June. Come July and August, the chicks fly from the nests, and their parents follow soon after.
Soldiers to Students
When the first flag went up over Fort Funston's parade ground in the early 1900s, the San Francisco Chronicle remarked that it looked more like a frontier post than one near a heavily populated city. Later, this unassuming place became a base for some heavy weaponry: first, the 16-inch guns of Battery Davis, and later, Nike missiles. Today, the barracks have more friendly occupants—the schoolchildren attending programs at the Fort Funston's environmental education center.
Maps and Information
For a map, driving directions and satellite views of this park from Google™ Maps, click here.
Address: Skyline Blvd., San Francisco, CA 94101
Phone: (415) 561-4323
- Accessibility
- Birds—NPS Pt. Reyes Website
- Brochures
- Directions and Closures
- Dog Management
- Operating Hours and Seasons
- Permits
- Pet Management
- Reservations and Fees
If you enjoy Fort Funston
- Visit Fort Cronkhite to explore another coastal fort
- Explore Mori Point for more beautiful sunsets over the ocean
- Volunteer with the Fort Funston Native Plant Nursery
- Support conservation efforts at Fort Funston
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