Thursday, February 7, 2013

Fort Funston Beach Day - Get Out and Hike!

Fort Funston Beach

It's the end of January! Why is it so warm? Because it's winter in San Francisco! Gotta love the reversed seasons here in SF. We call it Jun-uary! Get out there and Urban Hike while the weather is nice. Saltwater, fresh air, and a dog friendly beach is just what the doctor ordered after being stuck in the flat with a cold for almost 2 weeks! Yikes!

Fort Funston was named in honor of Frederick N. Funston (1865–1917), a General in the United States Arm.

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Even cooler historical fact, my brother and I had our birthday parties here. Birthday cake with a little wind-blown beach sand, sandy feet and lot running around laughing and freezing. Great memories at this beach!

Fort Funston Beach

Lost of parking (not sure it's free), two sets of bathrooms and a Dutch sand ladders leading down to the beach. A Dutch sand ladder is a cable ladder with rungs usually made of wood - Great leg work-out on the way back up to the parking lot.

Fort Funston Beach

Above the beach are a network of trails for hiking, horseback riding or off-lease dog walking. The trails are lined with trees to protect hikers from the wind and it's great for dogs to exploring the area.

Fort Funston Beach

Decaying structure on the beach, now home to some fish street art.

Fort Funston Beach

I don't know what these big, round circles are? Do you?

This area (San Francisco Defense Area Site SF-61R), is part of the California State Military Museum - read about the history and use of Fort Funston before is was a public beach.

Fort Funston Beach


Fort Funston, San Francisco. Mosaic octopus at Fort Funston.  Street art made with found sea glass or beach glass on the outfall structure on the beach.

Fort Funston Beach

Doggie street art at on the watershed or outfall structure

Fort Funston Beach

Submarine discharge pipeline next to the sewer overflow structure - The sewage overflow receives only primary treatment, excluding bacterial disinfection, before being released from overflow structures into the ocean.

Please check the water condition before swimming after a big storm. You can here at SAN FRANCISCO PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION website.

Fort Funston Beach

Decaying wooden pillars on the southend of the beach at Fort Funston.

Fort Funston Beach

No leash needed at this beach. Dog heaven!

Fort Funston Beach

Reminder! This is a dog friendly beach. If you do not like off-leash dog, maybe this isn't your spot!

Fort Funston Beach

Long our 2 hour exploration, we saw many dead and half dead crabs. I tried to put one back in the water. The birds were really enjoying their fresh crab! Most birds at this beach are seagulls and Bank Swallows

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Look at that old ice-chest! Fort Funston 1977 - Brother's birthday party

Photos of Family in USA - old scanned photos

Family Birthday party - Ski jackets on in the parking lot of Fort Funston 1977 - best birthday party!

5 comments:

Ladders said...

I give up, what is with the Ski jackets?!?

Louisa Pickering said...

The water is so cold you need a ski jacket!!! LOL

Louisa Pickering said...

The water is so cold, you need a ski jacket afterwards!

Parag French said...

The round disk: It is a Panama mount fallen from cliff due to erosion. Another mount can be seen at the top of the cliff here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Collapsed_Panama_Mount_on_beach_as_seen_in_photograph_no._2._Exposed_underside_to_extant_Panama_Mount_and_ammunition_depot_are_seen_at_top_of_cliff_left_of_center._Looking_HAER_CAL,38-SANFRA,_214A-6.tif

Parag French said...

This is the picture of that Panama mount way before it ended up on the beach: http://www.militarymuseum.org/Resources/BtyBluff02.jpg