Transforming how we experience and care for the San Francisco Bay through urban swimming
Swimmable
San Francisco Bay
The health and resilience of our region’s communities and natural ecosystems depend upon the health of the Bay.
We’re working towards a clean, safe, accessible, fishable, and swimmable Bay by:
Empowering communities to reclaim their right to healthy urban waterways
Advocating for innovative blue-green infrastructure to secure a revitalized and resilient waterfront for people and wildlife
Cultivating partnerships with governing authorities, environmentalists, urban planners, climate scientists, fishers, and swimming, paddling, and rowing clubs
Publishing up-to-date information on local water quality, conditions, and safe swimming practices
Promoting ecological literacy and responsible stewardship of the Bay
Swimmable Cities
We’ve joined the international urban swimming movement Swimmable Cities!
In 2024, organizations from over 50 cities in 22 countries worldwide have committed to regenerating their urban waterways and transforming how their local communities connect with the water! By becoming a Signatory to the Swimmable Cities Charter, we're showing a public commitment to working in accordance with its principles and the values of the urban swimming movement.
Photo: City Splash 2024, Charles River, Boston, MA. Credit: Aram Boghosian
Where would you like to swim?
The San Francisco Bay has many excellent swimming spots and a rich history of urban swimming, but for decades, vast stretches of the shoreline have been degraded by industrial use and fenced off to the public. New parks, trails, development, and climate adaptation initiatives along the waterfront present new opportunities to expand public access for safe swimming.
San Francisco
Aquatic Park
You can swim anytime for free off the beach at Maritime National Historical Park. Or pay $12 for public day use at the Dolphin Club or South End Rowing Club to warm up afterwards with a hot shower and sauna!
Muni Pier, the National Historic Landmark built in 1933 to create a protected cove for swimming, has critically deteriorated and has been closed to pedestrians since 2022. The Aquatic Park & Pier Project is working to rebuild the pier and revitalize the waterfront between Aquatic Park and Fort Mason.
San Francisco
Crane Cove Park
The calm and protected waters of Crane Cove in sunny Dogpatch are great for swimming! In 2020 the Port of San Francisco opened this new park with water access for kayaking, paddle boarding and wading, but swimming is officially prohibited.
San Francisco
China Beach
Part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, this small cove on the ocean side of the Golden Gate Bridge offers a wild refuge for advanced open water swimmers.
