San Francisco County · Presidio · Golden Gate
Crissy Field
Bay Beach · Tidal Currents · Windsport · Cold Water
Tidal Data
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⚠ Data may be stale — showing last known reading. Conditions may have changed.
Current Speed
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knots
Tide Direction
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at Gate
Water Temp
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°F
NOAA Tidal Currents · Golden Gate (SFB1203)
Long-period swell is dangerous. Any swell period above 15 seconds means waves are arriving in sets with long quiet intervals — sometimes 20 minutes of calm. During the quiet, energy is building offshore. People who walk to the water's edge during the lull are swept in when a set arrives.
Known Hazards
Golden Gate Tidal Currents
Crissy Field sits directly inside the Golden Gate. Tidal currents here run up to 4–5 knots on strong tides — faster than any person can swim. The current above shows real-time conditions. Outgoing (ebb) tide is the most dangerous for swimmers.
Source: NPS GGNRA — Crissy Field / Golden Gate (nps.gov/goga); Pacific Open Water Swim Co. safety guide (pacificswim.co)
Wind & Chop
The Crissy Field area is one of the windiest in San Francisco. Choppy bay conditions combined with cold water make swimming here hazardous for anyone not accustomed to open bay conditions.
Source: NPS GGNRA — Crissy Field / Golden Gate (nps.gov/goga)
Cold Water — Year Round
San Francisco Bay and ocean water is cold year round. Hypothermia can set in quickly. Always swim with a buddy and stay close to shore.
Source: California State Parks — Ocean Safety (parks.ca.gov/OceanSafety); NOAA / NPS GGNRA Joint Coastal Safety Advisory
Boat Traffic
Crissy Field is an active area for windsurfers, kiteboarders, and recreational boats. Swimmers in the water are difficult to see, especially in fog or chop.
Source: NPS GGNRA — Crissy Field (nps.gov/goga)
Before You Enter the Water
01
Check the tide before you swim. Outgoing tides push water hard through the Golden Gate. Swimming against a 3-4 knot current is impossible for most people. Always swim on an incoming or slack tide.
02
Stay inside the breakwater. The Aquatic Park cove is protected. The moment you swim past the breakwater you enter open bay current. Many swimmers have been swept out and could not return.
03
Never swim alone. Cold water incapacitation can happen fast. Always have someone watching from shore who knows where you are.
04
Know the signs of cold shock. Hypothermia can set in quickly. Enter slowly and acclimate before swimming.
05
Watch for boat traffic. In fog or low visibility, boat traffic in the bay is a serious hazard for swimmers who venture outside the protected cove.
06
If swept out: float, signal, conserve. Do not fight the current. Float on your back, signal for help, and wait for rescue. The current will not pull you under — it will carry you. Stay calm.
Ocean Emergency
911GGNRA Dispatch · (415) 561-5505
USCG San Francisco · (415) 399-3547