Fort Point
Left-breaking wave under the south anchorage of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Wraps in only on the biggest northwest groundswells. The Gate refracts most swell out before it reaches the wave.
Spot intel
Parking
Paid lot at Fort Point itself, gated and limited. Free roadside parking along Marine Drive when the lot's full. The walk to the lineup is short.
Crowd
Thin most of the year; thick the few days it breaks. Locals run it. The wave's rarity tightens the lineup whenever the swell shows up.
Beginner-friendly?
No.
Reef-and-rock bottom, strong tidal current out of the Gate, and a wave that only turns on at sizes well past beginner range. Not a beginner wave.
Famous for
Fort Point in San Francisco. A left under the Golden Gate Bridge: a cold-water novelty wave that breaks on big west and northwest swells, and one of the most photographed breaks in the state.
Lineup etiquette
Single-peak left. Priority goes to the deepest rider. Dropping in on a wave already taken from the peak is the standard call-out.
When it's on
Long-period northwest groundswell with light offshore wind from the east. The tidal current through the Gate shapes the wave more than the tide level itself.
Where it breaks
- Coordinates
- 37.8100, -122.4751
- Shore faces
- WNW
- Region
- SF, California
Common questions
- What swell direction is best for Fort Point?
- Fort Point works best on a W to WNW swell.
- How big does Fort Point need to be?
- Fort Point is best in the 5-12ft range on a 14-22s period.
- What are the best conditions at Fort Point?
- Light or offshore wind under about 10 knots, with the tide around 1-3.5ft.
- Where is Fort Point?
- Fort Point is a left under the bridge in SF, California. The beach faces WNW.
- Does GhostFingers forecast Fort Point?
- Yes. GhostFingers grades Fort Point with a six-tier verdict from swell height, period, direction, tide, and wind. iPhone, summer 2026.
New to reading a forecast? Start here.
Launching summer 2026.
Six-tier verdicts for every California break, calibrated to swell, period, direction, tide, and wind.