China Beach
- Status
- Construction; parts closed
- Parking
- Very limited
- Swimming
- Not recommended; no lifeguards
- Dogs
- Not allowed
.jpg?width=960 "Photo: Clay Gilliland, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons")
.jpg?width=500 "Photo: Hugh Nelson, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons")
- Restrooms
About this beach
Status: China Beach is under construction in fall and winter 2026. The National Park Service is renovating the bathhouse, lower terrace and picnic areas, parts of the site are closed and parking is very limited. A San Francisco water line project also brings parking limits, lane closures and access controls on Sea Cliff Avenue.
China Beach is a small sandy cove in the Sea Cliff neighborhood, between Baker Beach and Lands End, with views of the Golden Gate and the Marin Headlands. A monument honors the Chinese fishermen who camped and anchored in the cove.
Visiting
A paved drive and stairs lead from the parking lot down to the beach. There are no lifeguards and the Park Service doesn't recommend swimming because of unpredictable surf. When the site is fully open, grills and a picnic area are first-come, first-served, and restrooms and cold showers are open sunrise to sunset. At low tide you can walk to Baker Beach past tide pools. No pets, fires or glass.
Getting there & access
Getting there
China Beach is off Sea Cliff Avenue in San Francisco. Expect closures and limited parking during construction.
Low tide walk
At low tide you can walk from China Beach to Baker Beach and see tide pool life on the rocks.
- GGNRA
- 415-561-4700
What's here
Tide pools
Low-tide walk to Baker Beach
Picnic
Picnic area and grills (when open)
Restrooms
Restrooms and cold showers, sunrise to sunset
Rules & official resources
Reviews
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Pros who serve China Beach
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