From SFWiki

Ocean Beach stretches from the Western edge of San Francisco, starting near the Cliff House, to Golden Gate Park. The water is known for having hazardous riptides. The parking lot closes at 10pm, after which cars are ticketed and towed.

Ocean Beach is a popular location for nightly bonfires, but recently a group of nearby residents, led by Buffy Maguire, have petitioned the The National Park Service to ban beach fires. Critics of the fires, including the The National Park Service, claim that beach users don't dispose of litter, fail to properly extinguish fires, and cause soot to blow into neighbors' homes. In May of 2006, a period of public comment resulted in an indefinite delay in instituting a ban, due to general public reaction against such a measure. Currently, anyone can build a fire on the beach without obtaining a permit.

At all times, glass bottles are prohibited, as is alcohol, littering, and off-leash dogs. Fires must be extinguished with water, not by being buried in sand.

Ocean Beach is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Outside Links

• Save Ocean Beach - A group working to keep bonfires on ocean beach and organizes beach cleanups

• Nation Park Service - Golden Gate Nation Recreation Area - NPS information website

• Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy - Non-profit partner of the NPS