Ocean Beach is protected by sand dunes. On the other side of the dunes is the Great Highway, a four-lane road that follows San Francisco's western border. There is a walking path near the roadway, and for a stretch, a nice paved seawall walkway follows the beach. On the other side of the road, a multi-use path, popular with joggers and bicyclists, runs along the highway. 
Rip currents can be extremely dangerous, dragging swimmers away from the beach and leading to death by drowning when they attempt to fight the current and become exhausted. Although a rare event, rip currents can be deadly for non-swimmers as well: a person standing waist deep in water can be dragged out into deeper waters, where they can drown if they are unable to swim and are not wearing a flotation device. Some beaches are more likely to have strong rip currents than others, and a few are particularly well known for them, the overall topography of the area being the main factor.Rip currents cause approximately 100 deaths annually in the United States, more than all other natural hazards except heat and floods. Over 80% of rescues by surf beach lifeguards are due to rip currents totaling 18,000 lifeguard rescues a year.
Fort Funston is a popular San Francisco dogwalking location. Most visitors walk the paved Sunset Trail, a north to south route on the bluff, and reach Ocean Beach via Fort Funston's northern section. Fort Funston's stretch of Ocean Beach is where you'll see scores of dripping wet dogs, romping across the sand with driftwood stick in their mouths.
Baker Beach is located in the historic Presidio, once a strategic army base, now a notoriously beautiful park. On sunny San Francisco weekends, tourists and locals stretch out their towels for sunbathing, adventurous children scramble over the rocks, and fishing buffs sink their bait along the shores. Walk along Baker Beach's busy shoreline and you will likely pass beachcombers, dog-walkers, Frisbee and volleyball players, and other kindred spirits in love with the sea.
