Pedal boat fun, beautiful waterfall views, a charming pagoda, picnicking by the lake, birdwatching (especially those adorable ducks and geese), appreciating the peaceful atmosphere and surrounding nature... what a great place to be on a calm and cool spring day! This is a lovely area of Golden Gate Park, with a short concrete trail behind the restrooms connecting to the JFK promenade through the trees and greenery (I've trekked nearby parts of GGP many times before and never realized how close I was to this amazing lake and its many features). The food stand at the boathouse was open on a Thursday afternoon, offering a diverse menu of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and other snacks cooked to order. There are a couple stone/concrete bridges you can cross if you want to climb to the top of strawberry hill at the center of the lake (an easy hike). The parking lot in front of the boathouse has a limited number of spaces available, but there's plenty of free parking on the side of the road as well, bordering and leading up to the lake. read more

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Now Called Blue Heron Lake, this is a favorite with tourists and locals. This is a nice easy walk. Great for runners after work as it's very level but might be harder on the weekends because it gets more crowded. I like coming when they have the snack bar open, it's in this cute little Swiss Chalet building which closes around 4:30pm. The snack bar also rents out peddle and row boats by the hour. There are lots of ducks around. I used to come here just to walk around the lake but then realized how close it is to other things in Golden Gate Park like the Rose Garden, and Conservatory of Flowers. You can make a long walk of it. For more hiking ideas, here's a collection of other trails I've reviewed: https://bit.ly/43PhQtL read more

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Nice place to go to enjoy some fun in the sun boating in the lake is so serene and enjoyable. Love the turtles and even got to witness the blue heron in the lake. read more

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Golden Gate Park has a lot of lakes. It has this one which was man made and is one of the oldest. Blue Heron Lake is known for the hill and waterfalls among other stuff found here. A pagoda is on the east side of this. The island with the hill is one of the most popular points to get views. A lot to do around. It's good for boating or hiking. This is a man made lake. Hard to believe. On the east of the island is the Chinese Pavilion. It can be rented out. Popular for picnics. A popular place on the lake is the boathouse. It's been here since 1893 and is the launching pad for boats to go around the lake. The boats include pedal boats and rowboats. In the middle of the lake is an island. This is known for the good views. Get here by either of the two bridges. Strawberry Hill is on top. Good climb. This takes awhile but it's worth going to it seems. Certainly it's not all natural to be honest. It's a man made lake, so it's harder to appreciate the beauty or whatever it happens to be for sure. This lake may get another name before long but it takes it from the scenery for others to think about though. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Quick take: boating and trails Stow Lake is a beautiful lake inside GGP. We walked the perimeter and the trails that go through this area. Most of the lake is fenced off temporarily for tree removal and maintenance. We didn't see any pedal boats or row boats on the water today. Not sure if the boathouse area was open or closed. We will be back for the boats next time. read more

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Walk around a lake. Hike up for views. A waterfall. Plenty of shade. Ducks. Turtles. Free parking. What more do you need? read more

Blue Heron Lake - turtles too - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I absolutely love this place. If I lived here, I would probably come here for a and walk every day. Parking is free. They have a nice walkway all around the lake. Very family friendly. You can rent a row boat or a paddle boat. And if it's warm out, you may see some turtles! read more

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The lake is not a very big one, the water is pretty dirty. Sometimes you can even smell the terrible odor when you pedal on the water. The trees and other plants around the lake is lush and beautiful. Hopefully they can clean the water better. read more

Beautiful lake in the middle of Golden Gate Park. It is pretty hidden and a lot of people don't know about it, but I highly recommend it! You can ride a small boat on the lake, have a picnic or relaxing time alone, or see the beautiful Pavilion located on the tiny island in the lake. read more

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There is a lot to like about Stow Lake!! Located in Golden Gate Park, this Great Lake surrounds Strawberry Hill. There are 2 bridges that cross over the lake leading to Strawberry Hill. The street surrounding the lake is a one way street with parking pretty much on both sides. You can rent paddle boats from the Boathouse when it's open. Or you can just walk around the lake on the path, or sit at one of the many benches around the lake, which many people do. Crossing over the lake you can hike up Strawberry Hill, or check out the Chinese Pavilion or the fantastic waterfall there. There are ducks and geese aplenty here also. It's about 1 mile to walk around the lake, nice and short, I always enjoy coming here!! read more

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I have been coming to Stow Lake since I was a kid. We use to ride our bikes to the top of the mountain and ride back down. It was a blast. The place has changed a little since I was a kid but still a very nice place to walk and of course people watch. It is always clean and well kept. My parents and their friends often come to walk around the lake to. It is a great place for the family. read more

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This is a Magnificent Artificial Lake located in the middle of Golden Gate Park. You should make a point of visiting when you are in Golden Gate Park. There are so many beautiful places to see. If you are interested, they rent out little peddle boats. It's really pretty, especially on a warm day. read more

"A lake is the landscape's most beautiful and expressive feature." "It is earth's eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature." ~Henry David Thoreau On Saturday afternoon my boyfriend and I stopped by to see this amazing lake and oh what a gorgeous lake it was! We enjoyed people watching as couples canoed, peddled pedal boats and snuggled on picnic blankets on a beautiful summer's day! Seeing ducks and geese glide their wings through the gentle waters, as we kissed. I couldn't imagine a more romantic way to spend an afternoon! I would highly recommend visiting this amazing lake in Golden Gate Park, especially if you have a sweetheart, even a solo stroll to enjoy the peaceful sounds of nature! We will definitely be making a return visit to rent one of their pedal boats, I've always wanted to try it! Probably bring a picnic basket as well! read more

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Stow Lake is a gem in the city with a plethora of wildlife to see. In the spring, you can often spot some baby Canadian geese or ducklings. I have occasionally spotted a coyote. Attractions: The Chinese Pavilion is a lovely spot for photos. I often see people renting out the paddle boats for dates around Stow Lake. It's also a nice place to picnic or hike. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Golden Gate Pavilion at Stow Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Beautiful oasis in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California... My friend, Eric R., was awarded Review of the Day (ROTD) for this landmark, so I really wanted to see Stow Lake and the waterfall! During my most recent visit to San Francisco, my friend's friend, Ed, was our chauffeur and tour guide for the day. He was excellent! He knew where everything was! Ed showed us Stow Lake and brought us to the waterfall! He even had us climb up to the top of the waterfall! It was awesomely thrilling! We walked around the lake and saw people in the paddleboats. We hiked around and enjoyed the lush, green scenery... I wouldn't mind returning! read more

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A great place to relax in the middle of the city and to get away from the city without getting away. You can decompress just by watching the squirrels, the ducks, turtles and all kinds of wildlife. You can also get your exercise by walking around the lake or walk up Strawberry Hill. It's an easy walk with beautiful views. There's a concession stand by the boathouse and you can also rent paddle and tie boats. I don't recommend you going in the lake though. It's also centrally located inside Golden Gate Park as it's close to a lot of attractions. Best of all, the parking is free. read more

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Of the many times coming to SF and golden gate park in particular, I have never been to stow lake. I see so many posts about the lake and the hidden falls, boat rides, and many landscapes here, but still have never been. Thanks to tik tok, this place has been wildly visited over the year. I still never had the urge to go but I found myself here last weekend while waiting for my wings at san tung. It was an hour wait, so what better to do than go to the park across the street? I love that the lake is a one way street and you can practically park anywhere. The boat rentals were closed by the time we visited the park. The rest of the golden gate was packed but I think because the rentals were closed, the lake was empty. I love that they have this park in the middle of the city. It is quick an oasis from the bustling city. read more

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great place to go for a walk, jog, walk the dog, walk the kids! interesting how i lived in sf for 2 yrs and only after leaving the city, for over a decade, do i come visit this icon in golden gate park, while playing tour guide for some out of town friends! this is actually a man made lake that spans about a mile all the way around, roughly a 20 minute walk. it has several little turn offs including two bridges that take you to strawberry hill island, a mound in the middle of the lake, namesake is from the wild strawberries that used to grow here. if you climb to the summit of strawberry hill (~400ft elevation) you can have a partial view of the entire city, thru the thick trees and shrubery. this is also a popular place to go boating and picnicking. i recommend coming in the autumn when the weather is the nicest and there's actually sun in golden gate park (usually covered in fog, clouds and light mist/drizzle). at the boathouse, you can rent pedal boats and row boats, and buy a drink/snack at the snack bar. there is free parking in the small lot behind the boathouse, as well as restrooms with flush toilets and running water. highly recommend stopping by and checking out this hidden gem when visiting golden gate park! read more

waited over an hour when they said 30 minute wait. the line is messy and unsure how they keep people on time

Absolutely stunning. My favorite place to walk and see nature. It's stunning 365 days a week. Best one mile walk ever. Excited to see all the new landscaping being done as well. read more

Stow lake is a must visit! It is located inside of golden gate park & there is plenty of parking! We visited this past weekend & everyone was wearing masks which was really nice. This is a perfect spot to take your family. There are lots of turtles & ducks in the water for the kids. You can also rent pedal boats from the boathouse. There is also a beautiful waterfall located here. Although there were lots of people gathered around to take pictures there. The Chinese pavilion & bridge are also really pretty. Definitely a picturesque spot & local favorite! read more

Blue Heron Lake - Stow lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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"Just one year of love Is better than a lifetime alone One sentimental moment in your arms Is like a shooting star right through my heart..." Ahh Highlander! Who doesn't love a story about everlasting love, lakes & green hills, with medieval swords carried by immortals? Hmm, I admit I might be getting carried away... Yet there's a lake in the middle of San Francisco that brings the Highlander out of me! Stow Lake was made during the Victorian era, circa 1893. It's a storybook type of lake, like something from "The Notebook" or "Highlander". It's filled with ducks & turtles and the typical flora & fauna found around such lakes. The seasons will determine the colours. There's a boathouse (daily 11am - 5pm) where you can rent rowboats ($20hr+) or paddle-boats ($25hr+). Electric boats for lots more, but why? You can also purchase duck food here, or food for humans too, like hotdogs, burgers, nachos, refreshments, etc. You really can't miss the boathouse just follow the seagull... poop! The walk around the lake and to the Victorian era waterfall is charming in itself. You really don't need a boat to enjoy the lake. Just note that the complete stroll takes nearly two hours, but great spots to picnic or find the pagoda area to dream. Lastly, for the historians & story tellers there's a ghost story about this lake, which has circulated for over a century, back to the days of Queen Victoria, called "The White Lady of Stow Lake." Go read it! This ghost story comes directly from the official Golden Gate Park website, and fortunately she only appears at night. And no, I'm not interested in meeting her anytime soon... so daytime it is with the ducks & floppy hats. Hey, I might even wield my Highlander sword, y'know just in case! "It was well for him, with his chivalry and mysticism, to make the grand renunciation. But it takes two to make love, or to make a quarrel..." read more

Blue Heron Lake - Great place for a picnic, duck love'n, or simply to dream - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friend decided to celebrate his birthday by having a barbecue in Golden Gate Park a couple weeks ago on Sunday, August 14th. He picked Strawberry Hill and reserved a spot right between the pagoda and the waterfall, so we had an awesome view of the lake. (Bbq started at 12 noon, but I took my sweet time and got there around 2:15pm.) A couple people in our party ended up renting a pedal boat, so you can do that if you'd like to enjoy a nice ride around the lake. Me? I decided to take in the views by hiking up Strawberry Hill. It does offer great views, but there are a lot of trees, so they are partially obstructed. Still a nice way to get a bit of exercise in while enjoying the relaxing nature of the park. Finding a group of friends in this area can be a little challenging. I'd suggest dropping a pin if you are having a bbq here. I would have never found my friends if not for that dropped pin. One of my girlfriends didn't see the pin, so she waited at the boathouse while we went and got her. Beautiful place to spend an afternoon and take in the beauty of GGP. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Waterfall - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

PEACEFUL SPOT IN THE CITY. http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=CKM4pumgBKrdkCzvxVN-Nw&userid=QhYJx2jQdPuSq3fGe3aGcA GREAT DATE SPOT. I think I came here on a date with someone a long long time ago. We rowed in a boat on the lake. It was so romantic in a cheesy kind of way. We stopped to see the ducks. We got really close to the waterfall. I sat there while he rowed, but I can't remember who it was with. Fast forward to this past weekend. My son wanted to ride the paddle boats but the boathouse closed at 4pm!! So we went geocaching around the lake and jumped on to the island and climbed to the top of the hill overlooking Huntington Falls (kind of like Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland but everything is real!) and it brought back some of those magical memories from long ago. But I still don't remember who it was with. My husband says it was him, so we'll just go with that. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Huntington Falls - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A park within the city .. loved this park .. we come here every weekend to Hike and walk our Buddy dog .. we park by the aids Memorial park then walk through the Japanese Garden ... it's a good serene walk .. love the ducks on the ponds .. lucky to see all the new born duck with their protective parents... read more

Last weekend was the first time Jamie W. and I had been to Stow Lake since they renovated the Boathouse and replaced all the paddle boats late in 2011. The place definitely looks cleaner and more efficiently run with a lot of families hopping off and on the boats with surprising dexterity. At the same time, it's still the same charming place it's been since I was a child, and my dad took me here back in...well, none of your business. I remember I used to be one of those jumpy toddlers who had to do all the pedaling. It's a control thing, something I never got over except I don't do it with my feet anymore. I always thought this place was more quaint than gorgeous with a tinge of amusement park about it with the electrically pumped Huntington Falls on the preciously named Strawberry Island, the anomalous Chinese Pavilion along the fringe of the island trail, and the rocky Rustic Bridge connecting the island to the perimeter. There are ducks, gulls and turtles everywhere on the lake, so kids will obviously be enchanted by all the wildlife. Adults, too, some of whom look like they're looking for dinner. Even though the familiar pink candy popcorn is still sold here (a nostalgic treat for me), eating here certainly moved up a notch with the introduction of food from La Cocina, American Box and Let's Be Frank, all of which I've tried at other locations but not here. It's great to see that nothing is more than $7. The hourly boat rental rates are not bad either - row boats at $14, pedal boats at $19, and electric boats at $29 (though I've rarely seen anybody on an electric boat here). I still haven't been up to the top of the hill. Too lazy, I guess, but a stroll around the lake is not necessarily beyond me. read more

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This is located in my favorite place in San Francisco which is Golden Gate Park. I like the feel and sound of nature. Great place to jog or walk. Plenty of parking. I like seeing the ducks. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stow Lake is definitely one of my favorite spots in the city. It's so pretty here and serene too! When I was a wee little one, my parents would rent the paddle boats occasionally during the weekends and afterwards go take me to play in the playground area that's nearby. There are paddle boats, rowboats, & bikes(?) that people can rent to use for their enjoyment. Paddle boats are fun since like everyone get to put in effort to make the boat move. Haha.. whereas the rowboat is more..a romantic type of boat experience. ;) I've done the rowboat once while I was on a date years & years ago (Okay, not that long long ago | about 5yrs ago actually so it's not like super ages ago!).... Lol and of course, the dude did all the rowing while I sat there & looked pretty. Hehe.. that's what all girls should do right? Unless you're the type of girl who wants to show off your muscle power to a guy to prove that girls can do what guys can do type of dealio. Then more power to you. The last few times that I was at Stow Lake was for photosessions which is perfect setting for pictures. You got the serene lake, beautiful stone bridges, waterfall, Oriental Pavilion, and the interesting trees. I would definitely love to come back sometime in the future to do the boats again... read more

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Stow Lake is a lovely place to go for a hike on a sunny day. Although beautiful weather can bring much more foot traffic, along with the summer season, if you arrive in the late afternoon after 4pm, you can still get a great hike with plenty of space and parking options as more people are starting to leave in the evening. There is an abundance of flowers, as well as water fowl like geese and ducks. There's a paved, accessible route around the outer section of Stow Lake. If you cross the bridge to walk around the island, that path is not paved. read more

This has become a runner's dog park. So many locals using it as their gym, often running against traffic. And the dog owners who not only let their animals swim in the water but also don't pick up after their dogs. It would be great if one of the runners slipped on the dog poop and beat the dog owner up. But that wouldn't happen since runners run on the street, not the sidewalks. read more

Blue Heron Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Always a favorite of mine when visiting San Francisco. When I was young we would always come here and pedal boat around the lake. We would switch off who would pedal and who would sit in the back. We would always get pink popcorn and it was such a treat. This time around my dad and I walked the trail. You can cross over a bridge and walk around the little island. There is a beautiful view of the city from the top. It is a pretty nice walking path and you can kill an hour wandering. I was in sandals and although I could have used more support from tennis shoes, it still wasn't that bad. Just watch out walking up some of the inclines because they can get a little steep. When we first got there at about 12:30 p.m. it was hard to find a parking spot. When we left an hour later all the cars around our car were gone! I guess it is a popular spot to stop to eat lunch. Whether you come here to boat or to walk, Stow Lake is a beautiful part of Golden Gate Park to spend some time in nature. read more

Love this park within the Gold Gate Park. Bunnies, ducks, Canadians (geese) and other floral and fauna were in abundance. I didn't do the paddle boat part but it was fun watching others. I didn't see any swans this time *cries pitifully* read more

Blue Heron Lake - Gorgeous! - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Admittedly, I originally came to practice my photography in a different venue, but Stow Lake proved to be more interesting than just another scenic venue to San Francisco. The one caveat to Stow Lake in general though is that everything is man-made. Certain areas of the lake are at a standstill. It's also murky and green and depending on the wind, has the foul stench of hundreds of waterfowl. That said though, it still has this weird charm to it. Many animals call Stow Lake home from common waterfowl all the way to rarer sights like eagles and owls. There are also a variety of activities to do at/around Stow Lake. You can rent boats, bikes, or segways to explore all that this lake and Golden Gate Park has to offer. Or you can hike. Strawberry Hill is fun to explore and culminates with an electrically operated waterfall that is still a sight to behold. If that's not for you, the edge of the lake is also paved making hiking or even jogging a very doable activity. Or you can simply picnic. read more

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Our family are big forest bathers, so we try to get out into nature as much as possible. Stow Lake is one of our favorite kid friendly nature spots. Parking is good, and we go almost every weekend, so my girls already know their way around. When we are in nature, everything is in harmony, and everyone's spirits are naturally lifted by the smell of trees. I'm so grateful for Golden Gate Park, just a few minutes from home :) read more

Another one of my regular walk spots! A beautiful place to get in some steps and take some great pictures too. Plenty of ducks and birds to see, and lots of turtles too. Sometimes you get to see a blue heron in the water, but a lot of times they're nesting in the trees on one of the islands. If you look closely though, you can still see them adjusting in their nests. If you're into paddle boats, I've seen a lot of those on the lake, but personally I have never rented one. I usually just walk and enjoy the lush, green, and calming vibe of this place. read more

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Lots of wildlife, beautiful vegetation and I'm still seeing new things every time I come! Now just to find a drinking fountain.... read more

Blue Heron Lake - Show Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Stow Lake is sweet in that it has a local, neighborhood feel. I think many of the people who walk here walk here very regularly and are quite protective of the ducks and geese. Which is sweet. Today I had mistakenly forgotten my pup's leash, and people certainly had their feathers (pun intended) ruffled! It's endearing to observe my fellow humans being protective of wildlife (bravo!). A shame that some people choose inappropriate language to get their point across, but not everyone is a good communicator. And I will likely not forget the leash law now, so I suppose they got their point across. Rather amused at some of the words I was called on my two hour jaunt with my bestie. Other important things to know Stow Lake wise: There are boats to rent - paddle, peddle, and motor. There is a snack bar. There is a waterfall. There are many walks to choose from - both flat/paved and hilly/trail. Look out for raccoons. And last but not least - dogs on leash! read more

So beautiful and serene!! Especially love the small Japanese hut, waterfall and round bridge for photo shoots.. But you need to find a time to skip people nowadays. It's a wee bit too crowded!!! read more

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Tucked away in the midst of Golden Gate Park, this little green oasis is the perfect getaway for those who want to go on a hike, stroll, or paddle boat trip but don't want to leave the city. Walking around the lake takes about 20 minutes, and hiking up Strawberry Hill can be done in 5-10 minutes (and is rewarded with a great view). Make sure to stop by at Stow Lake Cafe for a quick refresher (the Veggie Wrap is delicious!), this is also where you can rent paddle boats ($27/hour). Free parking around the lake. And pssst - this spot is also popular for engagement photo shoots! read more

Blue Heron Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great place to walk or run around if you're in GG park already. Lots of people come here to rent boats to row or pedal in this man made lake. I remember coming here as a kid with my family on the boats and it's amazing how much you can see from the water! Lots of geese and ducks in the water too! read more

Blue Heron Lake - Lakes Near Me - San Francisco, California