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Summer guide to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area
Discover summertime things to do, places to swim & more
The sprawling, sandy cliffs of Fort Funston and Ocean Beach, with Mt. Tam looming in the distance.
Ryan Curran White / Parks Conservancy
Even if the skies stay a little gray, there’s no shortage of sunshine in your local national parks! From June through August, parks across the city are buzzing with summer activities, art exhibits, community events, and family-friendly fun.
Don’t let the cool breeze fool you—summer in the parks is the perfect time to refresh your body, mind, and soul. Explore what's happening this summer and make the most of the season—fog or shine!
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GGNRA's Only Swimming Beach
Stinson Beach is Golden Gate National Recreation Area’s only designated swimming beach and features a seasonal lifeguard program to help ensure visitor safety during the busiest months. While your coastal parks look inviting for cooling off, ocean conditions can be unpredictable, making it important to swim near a lifeguard and stay informed. Before you visit, check out these important beach safety tips and rip current information from the National Park Service.
Parks
Marin County
Amble along the alabaster sands here, one of the most perfect beaches on the California coast. Find it 35 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge via Highway 1, which unwinds atop heart-stopping cliffs.
Summer Activities in the GGNRA
Parks
The GGNRA's best beaches in San Francisco and Marin
The coastal parklands of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) in San Francisco County and Marin County have a beach escape for everyone. See the list of the GGNRA's best beaches in the San Franisco Bay Area.
Park E-Ventures Article
Flanking San Francisco’s westernmost edge, Ocean Beach’s thunderous surf seems inviting on those rare hot days in San Francisco. But the hidden forces beneath those waves should give you pause before cooling off with an afternoon swim.
Parks
San Francisco
Presidio Tunnel Tops is a stunning and welcoming national park space, completely free and accessible to all!
Our Work
"Black Gold: Stories Untold" invites more than fifteen contemporary artists to reflect on the resilience, struggles, and triumphs of African Americans who lived in California from the Gold Rush to the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
Park E-Ventures Article
August (aka “Fog-ust”) is descending upon us like a slick and clammy shroud. As you huddle together to preserve body heat, amaze your friends with five fun facts about the fog.
Article
In our parks, there are two mountain peaks within five aerial miles of the closest GGNRA beach. In just a few hours, you can take in 360-degree mountain-top views of the Bay Area and walk barefoot through the sand at sea level.
Parks
Where else can you roast s'mores while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean? So bundle up and head out to these beaches for a memorable time out.
Summer Events in the GGNRA
From a world class art exhibit at a Civil War-era fortress to the Bay Area's best craft beer festival, don't miss a splendid summer in the parks.
The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust.
Volunteer
Fri, Jun 06 10:00am-5:00pm
Sat, Jun 07 10:00am-5:00pm
Sun, Jun 08 10:00am-5:00pm
Fort Point Entrance
Events
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