Ocean Beach, San Francisco

About

Ocean Beach is a beach on the west coast of San Francisco, California, United States. Bordering the Pacific Ocean, the beach is 3.5 miles long, and it is known for its strong currents, surf culture, foggy weather in the late spring and summer, and lack of high rise buildings. Located on the city's West Side, Ocean Beach is adjacent to Golden Gate Park, Sutro Heights Park, the Richmond District, and the Sunset District. The Great Highway runs alongside the beach, and the Cliff House and the site of the former Sutro Baths sit at the northern end. The beach is a part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, which is administered by the National Park Service. It is accessible via Muni Metro at the Judah and La Playa station. During the late spring and summer, San Francisco's characteristic foggy weather frequently envelops the beach. The average temperature for the last 5 years has been 13.2 °C (55.8 °F). Most of the beach-friendly weather occurs in the fall (usually mid to late September) and early in the spring when fog and strong sea breezes are less prevalent. Dry winter days also tend to provide excellent weather at Ocean Beach (especially in drought years). The water at Ocean Beach is noteworthy for its strong, dangerous currents and powerful waves, which make it popular among serious surfers. Currents can exceed 2.5 meters per second in the inlet throat, 1.5 meters per s

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.