Aquatic Park
Aquatic Park
4.5
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
This waterfront area, once part of Fort Mason, is now a complex for museums and artists.
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Neighborhood: Fort Mason
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
84 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
40
Average
8
Poor
1
Terrible
1
mini
Fremont, CA212,260 contributions
Aug 2020
We had a nice time at Aquatic Park. Its a nice place to walk and see views of he an Francisco Bay. There are places to sit. Some were even enjoying a nice swim as it was a very warm summer day.
Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thomas V
Oakland, CA17,510 contributions
Jan 2023
This is one of the city's gems, a beautiful park on the beautiful Bay. Some folks come here to swim in the very cold water, God bless them. Come and enjoy the views, including the Bridge.
Written January 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SAB5859
Banff, UK4,716 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
Lovely park next to a nice beach and the Maritime Museum. It’s a nice place to watch the swimmers in the sea as there was quite few the day we were there. Numerous restaurants, cafes and bars close to the park.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mychal R
Tulsa, OK82 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
The Aquatic Park Pier (curve pier near Maritime Museum) offers the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alacatraz Island, Ghirardelli Square, Coit Tower and the Bay. You walk way out into the water, so views are unobstructed. Parking was free near Van Ness Ave. and it's just a short walk to the pier, beach access and the square or museum. Definitely worth the time and great way to see the bridge and Alcatraz without paying for tolls or tours and awesome view of Coit Tower on Telegraph Hill! Can't say enough about this Pier :)
Written February 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fred200099
Frederick, MD4,358 contributions
Oct 2012 • Friends
The water doesn't usually get very warm in the aquatic park, so this is in a special category of experiences that may not be for everyone (but should be!). I have gone swimming here as a guest of a good friend who is a member of the Dolphin Club several times of the past few years; today's swim was at 57-58 F, which is around the usual temperatures I've experienced. You need an insulated cap and wax earplugs to protect the head at this temperature, along with speedos and a light or glowstick on your cap. After the initial involuntary gasp when your body first immerses, you have a few strokes in the cold and then numbness and warmth envelope you; slightly warmer water temperatures make a big difference and this initial transition can take longer. Small waves of people head into the water from the two swim clubs around 5-6 am while it is still dark. You get some spectacular sunrises during the swim. You can swim to various buoy marker targets or do loops around the park within the breakwater. Rewarming in a sauna after the swim is part of the experience. The exhilaration and endorphin high from this cold water stimulation lasts for hours - until the next day's swim! I would join the Dolphin Club and do this everyday if I lived in the city.
Written October 6, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Melliehi
Malta1,579 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
This sheltered cove and park just behind the Ghirardelli building and Maritime museum is pretty and scenic. No dogs are allowed on the tiny sandy beach there is. Plenty of places to sit down unwind, and watch the sea.
Written August 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
metolius
San Francisco, CA35 contributions
Mar 2018
If you are an open water swimmer, Aquatic Park Cove and the two venerable swimming and boating clubs on its shore are well worth a visit, even if you don't have time for a dip. Both the Dolphin Club and the South-End club have been serving the needs of swimmers and boaters for over a century, and any given day, you will see handful of swimmers out in the water—some with wetsuits, some without. The water is typically in the mid-50s (that's 13-14C)—as high as mid-60Fs (19C) in August and down to 49F (9.5C) in January.
Even if you are not a swimmer, there is a nice beach along the south side of the cove and on warm weekend days, it can get quite busy (at least by local standards). Or enjoy a pleasant stroll out along Muni Pier on the north side of the cove and enjoy the views out across the bay and back toward the city.
And keep an eye out for seals and sea lions! They will pop up in the cove, sometimes pretty close to the swimmers. Generally, they seem to bother people... but there have been a handful of incidents. So, if you are swimming, don't pet the seals.
Even if you are not a swimmer, there is a nice beach along the south side of the cove and on warm weekend days, it can get quite busy (at least by local standards). Or enjoy a pleasant stroll out along Muni Pier on the north side of the cove and enjoy the views out across the bay and back toward the city.
And keep an eye out for seals and sea lions! They will pop up in the cove, sometimes pretty close to the swimmers. Generally, they seem to bother people... but there have been a handful of incidents. So, if you are swimming, don't pet the seals.
Written March 14, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ACHJ
San Francisco, CA14 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
If you sail in, watch out for the Sea Scouts. They claim the mooring balls are "private property," although in the sea in government property, and are quite nasty when you use them, even if you have a permit to stay overnight in the cove, as we did. It is really disturbing that the sea scouts here do not act more like the boy scouts and serve to aid the boating community rather than treat them like invaders.
On the other hand, the Dolphin Club members are very kind and friendly. At home in the sea, they treat others on the sea with respect. May be the sea scouts should attend some of the Dolphin Club meetings and find out what real mariners are about.
On the other hand, the Dolphin Club members are very kind and friendly. At home in the sea, they treat others on the sea with respect. May be the sea scouts should attend some of the Dolphin Club meetings and find out what real mariners are about.
Written July 14, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
0slodude
Oslo, Norway20 contributions
Sep 2012 • Family
... if you can stand the cold. Temperatures range from a hi of about 17˚C in August to 12˚C in January. It has sandy beaches and a very gradual/shallow entry, so friendly to both seasoned swimmers and beginners, alike (so long as beginner stay shallow). The area is protected by a breakwater and is on the bay side, so there are no waves, but the current can still be somewhat noticeable (especially if you go out to the outer wall) and its proximity to the Golden Gate Bridge often brings in afternoon fog and strong breezes, which causes wind swells and surface chilling. There is a cold water shower on site, but the idiots at the National Parks Service shut it off for 8 months a year after Labor Day (first Monday in September). Hot showers and sauna are available for day use at The Dolphin Club, which is immediately next door to the beach on the southeast side. There is also a complete lack of any bicycle parking whatsoever anywhere in the vicinity, so plan on either walking, or parking illegally if you ride a bicycle. One round trip around the buoys equals about 500 meters, three round trips roughly equals a mile.
Written September 18, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Greg
Cambridge, UK5,219 contributions
Feb 2019 • Couples
Next to the San Fransisco Maritime Museum and Ghirardelli Square, Aquatic Cove is part of the waterfront area of Fisherman’s Wharf and one that can mark the beginning of a long stroll down the coast towards Crissy Field and the Golden Gate Bridge. You will see people swimming in the area, dog walkers and there is a large concrete-blocked seating area overlooking this lagoon. It is one of San Fransisco’s many National Historic Landmarks.
Written February 19, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
is there a fare for park/beach? can we bring our own picnic foof? is there swings/something for a 15 mo, old toddler to play or do /
Written July 14, 2016
No this part is free. There are areas in which you can sit and eat.
Written July 14, 2016
Cannot say for certain, however, we do not recall seeing any rental locations.
Written May 27, 2016
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