Home > Dog Friendly Fort Funston Beach - San Francisco, CA
Dog Friendly Fort Funston Beach - San Francisco, CA
Dog Friendly Fort Funston Beach - San Francisco, CA
On the dunes at
the south end of Ocean beach, towering above the Pacific Ocean, Fort Funston
is one of the premiere dog hangouts on the Peninsula. As its name suggests
this park was once a military outpost and two-gun battery that pointed
seaward to protect mid-20th Century San Francisco from an attack. The
remains of the battery are still intact and add a sense of martial history
to the otherwise natural setting of sand dunes, eucalyptus groves and open
beach. In addition to its draw for dog owners, Fort Funston is the main
jumping off point for hang-gliders who fly up and down the dune cliffs
overlooking the beach.
With its diversity of dune trails, open spaces and beach access, Fort
Funston is the kind of place where you can pack a lunch and make a day of it
with your dog. As you enter the park from the main parking lot and walk north,
you’ll come across the first large open area to your left where there are
usually dog packs forming and roaming. Anchoring this open area is a water
fountain and dog bowls located where the main trail forks and descends north
down the dunes. As you wind your way north, you’ll have various options to cut
left and head down to the southern end of Ocean Beach. Once on the beach, head
south and catch a trail back up the hill to the main parking lot.
Where is For Funston Beach?
Fort Funston is located south of the San Francisco Zoo, across Highway 35 from
Lake Merced. Take Highway 35 South from the city and exit on your right after
John Muir Dr to reach Fort Funston’s main parking lot.
Dog Rules
While most dogs you see will be running free, the leash rule at Fort Funston has
been in dispute for some time. Check the National Park Services’ page for
current information about the leash rules. And as always, bring plenty of
plastic bags to keep the park clean, and keep your dog under control at all
times.
