Where the park meets the Pacific
Golden Gate Park ends at the Great Highway, and across the road is Ocean Beach, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The beach stretches from the Cliff House area in the north to Fort Funston in the south. Walk out from the Beach Chalet or the Dutch Windmill for a long, flat, windswept beach walk.
Sunset Dunes on the old Great Highway
Voters approved Proposition K in November 2024, closing the Upper Great Highway between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard to cars. The two-mile road became Sunset Dunes park, which opened on April 12, 2025 and logged about 1.7 million visits in its first year. A measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot asks voters whether to let cars back on most weekdays, so check current status before you plan a ride or walk there.
Stay safe on Ocean Beach
Ocean Beach is beautiful but dangerous for swimming: cold water, strong rip currents and powerful waves have caused many drownings, and there are no lifeguards. Stay out of the water, keep children close at the water’s edge, and never turn your back on the waves. Wind and fog can make it much colder than the rest of the city.
Sunsets, fire rings and a warm drink
Sunsets are the main event. On clear evenings, the light over the Pacific is spectacular, and the National Park Service manages fire rings on part of the beach where small fires are allowed under its current rules. Afterward, warm up at the Beach Chalet or the Park Chalet. For getting here, take the 5 Fulton or N Judah to the end of the line, or bike through the park.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim at Ocean Beach?
It is strongly discouraged. The water is cold, rip currents are strong and there are no lifeguards.
What is Sunset Dunes?
A two-mile car-free park on the former Upper Great Highway, between Lincoln Way and Sloat Boulevard, which opened in April 2025.
Is the Great Highway reopening to cars?
San Francisco voters decide on November 3, 2026 whether to allow cars on most weekdays. Check the latest before you go.
