Rowing in San Francisco

By the Watta Team · Updated March 2026

San Francisco's rowing community benefits from the stunning waters of the Bay, with boathouses clustered along the Embarcadero and at Aquatic Park. The city's tech-forward culture means early adoption of fitness technology, and Concept2 ergs populate gyms from SoMa to the Marina. Combined with one of the densest CrossFit communities per capita in the US, San Francisco is a strong city for both on-water and indoor rowing.

Rowing Clubs & Programs

South End Rowing Club

Founded in 1873, this historic club at Aquatic Park is known for open-water swimming and rowing. Offers a tight-knit community for adults of all skill levels on the Bay.

Dolphin Swimming and Rowing Club

Another Aquatic Park institution, the Dolphin Club has been active since 1877. Members row and swim in the Bay year-round in one of the oldest athletic clubs in the Western US.

Pacific Rowing Club

Based at Lake Merced, Pacific Rowing focuses on competitive sculling and sweep rowing for masters-age athletes in the greater SF area.

Gyms with Concept2 Ergs

  • +San Francisco CrossFit in SoMa -- a large, well-equipped box with Concept2 RowErgs, SkiErgs, and regular rowing-focused programming.
  • +Fitness SF SOMA -- a popular gym with a bank of Concept2 ergs in its cardio area, popular with the lunchtime tech crowd.

HYROX & Functional Fitness

San Francisco's fitness community embraces HYROX, with events held at the Moscone Center and local gyms offering targeted preparation classes. CrossFit affiliates like San Francisco CrossFit and boutique studios across the city integrate rowing into HYROX-style circuits. The running-heavy culture in SF means athletes often have a strong cardio base to complement their erg work.

Track Your Ergs in San Francisco

Whether you row at a club, a CrossFit box, or your home gym in San Francisco, Watta tracks every session. Snap your PM5 screen, get your Effort Score, and see how you compare on the leaderboard.

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