Rove the Cove

Wander or Bike San Francisco's Warm Water Cove

Today’s San Francisco still has a few places where bits of interesting grit exist. Warm Water Cove is an urban waterfront blending serene bay views and relics of days past when this rugged alcove hosted impromptu punk shows. Located off the beaten track in the Dogpatch neighborhood, the park is small, comprising a short asphalt loop curving along water framed by rickety piers, warehouses, and cranes. Fiery bursts of wild parsnip and daisies dot the path, as do remnants of graffiti.

Warm Water Cove is now owned by the Port Authority, which has manicured and maintained the surrounding grounds and added a farmers market on Wednesdays and Sundays. Pause at a bench with vistas out to distant barges, or scramble down to a rocky shoreline punctuated by tires lodged in the sand—a good perch from which to soak in the industrial landscape.

BONUS WINE: From Warm Water Cove it’s a 10-minute walk down the street to Dogpatch WineWorks (2455 3rd Street), an urban winery and tasting room, where you can sample a selection of their rotating in-house varietals (or make your own with their private barrel program). NOTE: The tasting room is open Sundays only, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., or by appointment.

Warm Water Cove Park is located at the east end of 24th St. in San Francisco’s Dogpatch neighborhood. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Greater by the Dozen

    This hike is anything but a dime a dozen. The all-new "Golden Gate Dozen Trail" links 12 National Park sites on a spectacular 13-mile journey across San Francisco's coastline.

    View
  2. Napa Valley Paddle kayaker and paddle boarder on the Napa Valley river

    Napa's Wild Side

    It’s wine country’s Amazon. The gentle Napa River is an ecological—and recreational—delight. And Napa Valley Paddle sets you up for maximum enjoyment of this experience.

    View
  3. A Thousand Steps to Paradise

    A picture is worth a thousand words, but is a gorgeous beach in Laguna worth a thousand steps? The answer is yes, though the question is moot, because it’s only 223 steep steps down to the 400-yard stretch of sand known as 1000 Steps Beach.

    View
  4. Hike Mount Tamalpais into Muir Woods

    Muir Woods Through the Backdoor

    A backdoor entrance into Muir Woods? Hike a tranquil trail that starts in Mount Tamalpais State Park and quietly leads into Muir Woods, letting you avoid the busyness of the main parking area.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Rancho Style

    Vicente Bluffs Reserve dazzles anytime, but during the golden hour it’s an absolute knockout. Majestic rocky bluffs, dreamy ocean views, and a picturesque lighthouse are just a few of the reasons.

    View
  2. Inn-spiration Point!

    For more than a century, people have been hiking or mountain biking to West Point Inn for good reason. Perched at 1,785 feet on the southern slope of Mount Tamalpais, the historic inn has sweeping views from the Marin Headlands to the San Francisco skyline.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View
  4. Hike to the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout in the Lakes Basin

    Lookout for This View!

    Sierra Buttes Lookout, at a lofty 8,591 feet, is a memory maker for its pucker-worthy stairway to the tower’s balcony. It's a 5-mile (round-trip) hike to reach it. And the reward? Epic!

    View