Grassy dunes up to 200ft high at Fort Funston give an idea what the Sunset looked like until the 20th century. A defunct military installation, Fort Funston still has 146-ton WWII guns aimed seaward and abandoned Nike missile silos near the parking lot. Nuclear missiles were never launched from Fort Funston, but flocks of hang gliders launch and land here. Butterflies and shorebirds flock to Fort Funston, which is now part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
Loop trails and hang-glider launch areas are wheelchair- and stroller-accessible, and dogs are allowed off-leash in many areas. The National Park Service is gradually replacing invasive ice plants with native vegetation, and volunteers are welcome to join the effort at Fort Funston Native Plant Nursery (see website for details). Park entrance is on your right off Skyline Blvd, past Lake Merced.
