Fort Funston is a former harbor defense installation located in the southwestern corner of San Francisco. Formerly known as the Lake Merced Military Reservation, the fort is now a protected area within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) and is used widely as an off-leash dog park. It was named in honor of Frederick N. Funston (1865–1917), a Major General in the United States Army with strong connections to San Francisco, and included several artillery batteries. The fort is located on Skyline Boulevard at John Muir Drive, west of Lake Merced.
A hang glider launches from Fort Funston Overlook, San Francisco. The launch platform is modified from a former fire control bunker.
Recent photo of an emplacement of Battery Davis. Some of the earth covering the fort has eroded.
Steps from the southwest corner of the parking area to the beach.
A 16-inch gun on the road to the fort
Golden Gate National Recreation Area
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is a U.S. National Recreation Area protecting 82,116 acres (33,231 ha) of ecologically and historically significant landscapes surrounding the San Francisco Bay Area. Much of the park is land formerly used by the United States Army. GGNRA is managed by the National Park Service and is the second-most visited unit of the National Park system in the United States, with more than 15.6 million visitors in 2022. It is also one of the largest urban parks in the world, with a size two-and-a-half times that of the consolidated city and county of San Francisco.
View of the Golden Gate from Lands End
San Francisco Bay, and the city skyline seen from Marin County in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Bicentennial Campground arranged around a small clearing, with each site accommodating a maximum of two people.