Candlestick Point State Recreation Area

Welcome to Candlestick Point SRA

Often called a "hidden gem," Candlestick Point State Recreation Area (SRA) is a tapestry of grassy uplands, coastal salt marsh, intertidal mudflats, and pocket beaches where community members gather to fish, barbeque, exercise, ride bikes, kayak, windsurf, and find respite from the bustle of city life. It was established as California’s first urban park after many years of community organizing by Bayview Hunters Point residents who wanted to reclaim the land from junkyards that covered the shoreline. 

Home to hawks, herons, ground squirrels, and jackrabbits, Candlestick Point SRA also has a public pier from which anglers catch halibut, jack smelt, striped bass, perch, sturgeon, leopard sharks, or bat rays, depending on the season. Many dabbling and diving ducks migrate from Canada and Alaska to overwinter in the warmer waters of the San Francisco Bay, making our park an important stop on the Pacific Flyway. 

 

Location

• Main Park Entrance: 500 Hunters Point Expressway, San Francisco, CA 94124.
  
  
• Last Port Entrance: 150 Harney Way, San Francisco, CA 94124
  
  
• Park Office & Community Garden: 1150 Carroll Ave, San Francisco, CA 94124

 

Day-Use Picnic Areas

Candlestick Point SRA has many picnic areas with BBQ grills for visitors to enjoy, including four group picnic sites. All picnic tables and group sites are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and cannot be reserved at this time.

When using our day-use areas, please keep the following rules in mind:

• No balloons or confetti
• No bounce houses
• No open ground fires
• DJs and private vendors allowed only by special permit

Activities

• Fishing*
• Bird watching
• BBQing
• Walking
• Biking
• Kayaking
• Windsurfing
• Kiteflying
• Free arts and nature programming - Check our Eventbrite page!  
• Volunteer days the first Saturday of every month - Sign up here.

 *A license is NOT required to fish off of our public pier. All fish and wildlife rules apply, including pole and daily bag limits. If you are over 16, you must have a license to fish from the shoreline. Please visit https://wildlife.ca.gov/Regulations for more information.

 

Climate / Recommended Clothing

Candlestick often basks in sunshine while the rest of the city is blanketed in fog. Wind typically picks up in the afternoon. Layered clothing is recommended.

 

Social Media and Park Events