Main Parking Area and Hang Gliding Viewing DeckStop on Fort Funston Historic & Scenic Tour, a free self-guided tour.Begin your tour at the spacious main parking lot off Skyline Boulevard. This area serves as the gateway to Fort Funston's trails and historic sites. The accessible viewing deck here offers spectacular panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and is the premier spot to watch hang gliders launch into the strong, steady winds that make Fort Funston one of California's top hang gliding destinations. The site is rated as a Hang-III intermediate location. On clear days, you can see south along the coast and watch both experienced pilots and the occasional brave newcomer take flight over the windswept bluffs. The viewing deck is wheelchair accessible and provides interpretive information about the area's history and natural features. This is also where you'll find portable toilets and information boards about trail conditions and safety. The parking area itself sits on what was once the Nike missile site SF-59L, part of the Cold War defense network that protected San Francisco Bay.Stops on this tourMain Parking Area and Hang Gliding Viewing DeckBattery Davis - The 16-Inch Gun EmplacementsNike Missile Site SF-59 Launch AreaSunset Trail - Coastal Bluff WalkBank Swallow Nesting CliffsSand Ladder Beach AccessHorse Trail and Equestrian AreaHistoric Battery Howe SiteSand Dune Ecosystem PreserveChip Trail and Northern ViewpointsFort Funston Native Plant NurseryCoastal Trail Connection - California Coastal TrailOff-Leash Dog Recreation AreaGeological Formations and White Ash LayerLake Merced Connection and John Muir Drive Trailhead