This urban state park features 37 acres of walking and biking trails, scenic vistas of the Bay, spots for picnics, bird watching, fishing and windsurfing and other outdoor activities. All this at the southern tip of the City and County of San Francisco. The name "Candlestick" came from early settlers in the area. When they burned wooden ships off the point, as the flaming masted vessels sank, the last part going down resembled a candlestick. Later, the area became a garbage dump and junk yard.

It was first born during World War II as 170 acres of landfill that was going to be used as a U.S. Navy shipyard. After the war, the landfill remained, but without a purpose. Some of its neighbors found a purpose for it - an easy place to dump their garbage. Other neighbors sought a different purpose; they wanted to turn it into a park, with grass, trees, shrubs, and flowers. In 1973, the state legislature set aside $10 million to purchase the land. In 1977, the California Legislature voted to develop the land as a state recreation area - the first urban state recreation area. The California State Department of Parks and Recreation held more than 60 public meetings to help decide how to use the land, then drew up a general plan. After the Park and Recreation Commission approved the plan in 1979, work was begun to put the area to public use. Initial public use facilities were installed, and the public came. As more facilities and landscaping were added, visitor use expanded to hiking, jogging, bicycling, bird watching, informal games, and picnicking. There is a bike path and a fitness course for seniors, and - restrooms. Candlestick Point is also a popular entry point for windsurfing on the bay.