Ocean Beach North at Lincoln W

San Francisco, California

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This long sandy beach at the end of Golden Gate Park runs along the Pacific Coast and the west side of San Francisco. It offers numerous opportunities for walking, surfing, and sunbathing (when the fog clears). The best time to catch the sun is in September or October. The rest of the year, the beach is foggy and chilly. The beach is part of what was once a vast dune system, and is home to at least one threatened species in the wintertime, the Western Snowy Plover. The beach is a popular surf spot, but be aware that there are very strong currents and riptides here.

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COVID-19

Keep your distance from other people.

Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Follow the advice of the health experts. If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.

For more information, please visit the World Health Organization public resource on COVID-19.

Water Quality

Meets water quality standards
Current Status
This status is based on the latest sample, taken on February 22nd, 2021. The Swim Guide updates the status of this beach as soon as test results become available. These results were posted to Swim Guide on February 25th, 2021 at 11:38 AM.

For water quality icon legend, click:

Current Weather

6°C

Clear

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Monitoring Frequency

Source Information

San Francisco Shoreline Beach Monitoring Program is a cooperative effort between Public Health Utilities Commission and the SanFrancisco Department of Public Health. Samples are collected year round, on a weekly basis and tested for 3 different bacterial indicators. Levels of total coliform, E.coli and enterococcus are analyzed by the quanti-tray method. Results are posted 18 - 24 hours after the samples are received by the laboratory. Health officials proactively notify the public and post and de-post beaches based upon preliminary results. Signs are posted at the beach in accordance with California standards and when a Combined Sewer System discharge occurs. Daily testing will occur and postings will remain until the discharge ceases and all bacteria levels drop below the following standards.

The standards for indicator bacteria are as follows:
Total Coliform > 10,000 MPN (Most Probable Number) / 100 ml of water
E.coli > 400 MPN / 100 ml
Enterocococcus > 104 MPN / 100 ml

A beach is marked Green when the levels of 2 or more types of indicator bacteria are less than state standards.

A beach is marked Red when the levels of more than one type of indicator bacteria at a single station are above state standards or when one or more indicator bacteria levels exceed at each of two linked stations. If one or more of the indicator bacteria levels are above the state standard in a repeat sample the beach will remain posted until all 3 indicators are below state standards.

A beach is marked Grey when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.

Swim Guide checks daily for the latest results. Swimmers are encouraged to stay out of the water during heavy rainfall and up to 48 hours after.

Water Quality Graph