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Ocean Beach Information
Ocean Beach is a beach that runs along the west coast of San Francisco,
California at the Pacific Ocean. It is adjacent to Golden Gate Park, the
Richmond District and the Sunset District. The Great Highway runs along side 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
and operated by the National Park Service.
The beach throughout the late spring and summer is almost always enveloped in
San Francisco's characteristic foggy weather leaving average temperatures there
at 50-55F (9-12C), thus scaring away many tourists and beach goers. Conversely,
the beach is popular with surfers, campers and bonfire parties. More beach
friendly weather occurs in late fall and early spring, when the fog dissipates.
The northern part of Ocean Beach on February, along with Seal Rock
The water at Ocean Beach is noteworthy for its strong currents and fierce waves,
which makes it popular among many serious surfers. The water is also quite cold,
due to a process known as upwelling, in which frigid water from below the ocean
surface rises up to replace the surface water that moves away from the beach as
a result of the Coriolis effect. The rapid rip currents and cold water make the
ocean dangerous for casual swimmers or even for those who simply want to set
foot in it, and many swimmers have been swept away and drowned as a result. This
attracts many surfers making it one of the world's top, if not challenging,
surfing spots.
Surfers and other swimmers have died at Ocean Beach; as of May 2006, the most
recent death is documented here with the next-previous death taking place in
January of 2006. Prior to that, it had been about four years since anyone died
at Ocean Beach. In 1998, a record seven people lost their lives here.
Both the north and south ends of Ocean Beach are equipped with their own surf
shops (North being Mollusk Surf Shop and South being Aqua), as well as a handful
of local surfers devoted to its freezing waters and dangerous break. Seal
Rock is a prominent local feature of the area.
Due in part to its sometimes inhospitable weather (high winds, cold weather and
fog) the area was largely undeveloped throughout most of San Francisco's early
history as it was known as the "Outside Lands". Development finally came in the
late 19th century with the construction of the Sutro Baths below the site where
the Cliff House now stands.
Following a brief stint as a refugee camp following the 1906 earthquake, the
area was touted as a resort, as a small amusement park, Playland at the Beach,
was built where Cabrillo and Balboa streets now stands. Major development
occurred in the 1920s and 1930s with the construction of the Great Highway, the
Sunset District and the Richmond District that extended right up to the beach.
After the destruction of the Sutro Baths in the 1960s, the neighborhood lost its
resort appeal as the amusement park was also torn down and replaced by apartment
blocks and a supermarket.