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Lily Pond

4.4 (14 reviews)

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Ed U.

Color me puce as I was not aware there was a hidden lake between the Conservatory of Flowers and the National AIDS Memorial. The signs mention Fern Dell and Lily Pond, but I thought it was the opening act of a folk music festival. Instead you discover over a slight incline an intriguing sight of almost prehistoric portions with huge dinosaur leaves and an intensely green pond where ducks and their other aviary friends frolic in private. Well, almost private since I was there and so was a homeless woman and her shopping cart. Didn't think to ask if her name was Fern or Lily. RELATED - Exploring Golden Gate Park? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37IV1wZ

Wow
Nadine C.

A place of serenity in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco... My friend got her friend, Ed, to drive us around the city. My friend asked me, "Don't you remember Ed from my wedding (?) number of years ago?" Um... no... sorry! That was decades ago...lol! Anyway, Ed was an EXCELLENT tour guide! He wanted to show us a place that's not well known! Ooh! How exciting! Ed took us to The Lily Pond... Hah! What a misnomer! There are NO water lilies here! It seemed like a lot of algae growing in the water and the wild ducks were having a grand time, eating, flapping their wings, and diving for more food! Ed said that it looks like the pond hasn't been maintained... Oh, well, it was a cool excursion! It would be challenging to find it again if I were by myself!

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost..." - J.R.R. Tolkien
Eric R.

"All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost..." - J.R.R. Tolkien Ahh another Tolkien adventure, well not quite, but hey another freebie gem I stumbled upon while wandering the legendary Golden Gate Park. It's somewhat hidden, but if you keep on the Fulton paths, eventually you'll see a sign to Lily Pond. Lily Pond is a small pond which has been around for only a few decades filling up an old stone quarry. The size and pathway allows you to circle the pond in less than 10-minutes tops. The short stroll from the Conservatory of Flowers makes the pond an ideal must do for solo wanderers or hobbit families! All in all, I'd suggest walking around the pond, I didn't see any reptiles, amphibians, on my short stroll, however I know these critters live in Lily Pond. I originally rated Lily Pond at 5-stars, since I'm a sucker for random nature freebies, but I admit my original rating does not reflect my visit, so I must deduct a star. See... my visit did not have a happy ending as I was distracted looking for pond life... Prince Eric stepped in a pile of dog s...! Hey it didn't end on a storybook note, but it's still beautiful & free! And yes, I forgive you... you fricken irresponsible dog owner who leaves s...! Karma! Update: I later google searched https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/amp/Lily-Pond-in-Golden-Gate-Park-overrun-3718185.php and found out the pond has been on the decline since invasive plants, and even worse, the aggressive African clawed frog, somehow entered the pond. Efforts by the city to remove the non-native species have been slow (some past attempts), but in the end I have confidence in this progressive green city! So check-out Lily Pond! Just don't feed mutant Kermit and anything that resembles Creature of the Black Lagoon! And please watch your step, son!

Caitlyn G.

What a beautiful, peaceful little oasis. Lots of beautiful plants and birds chirping galore. Benches along the walkway I used to sit, stretch, and meditate. Nice place to come and reflect.

Having the time of my life!  So relaxing. What a view! Also very safe.
Tony T.

This pond was uhhhmazing. Definitely the highlight of Golden Gate Park if not all of SF. Worth every step to get there. I usually don't give out 5 star reviews, but for lily pond, I do gladly. A must-see, an instant classic, felt completely safe, if not right at home. Do yourself a favor and bring your beloved ones here. It won't disappoint! P.S. Just kidding. The pond is closed. Don't come here.

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4 months ago

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2 years ago

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10 months ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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11 years ago

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18 years ago

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10 years ago

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12 years ago

FYI: Park is currently closed. They are killing some non native species to let native species thrive again...

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11 years ago

This has been gone for about 2 years now. It should just say closed on Yelp so that people won't be disappointed upon arrival.

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Review Highlights - Lily Pond

Visited this beautiful pond while going for a run at Golden Gate Park this past Saturday.

Mentioned in 7 reviews

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Mount Tamalpais State Park

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4.8(435 reviews)
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Just past SF this park has so many different trail options perfect for all hiking levels. The…read moredownside is this place gets PACKED! My sister and I arrived before 8am at the Watershed parking lot and barely found a space. We did the trail that took us to the West Point Inn for the pancake breakfast and round trip was close to 5 miles so it was a great workout. There's gorgeous views and well! On the way back to the 101 however it's a mess. The road on the way down is crowded with parked cars, which makes driving through challenging. That's the only thing about this park, other than that I'd love to come back in spring when everything is green and vibrant!

My first association of Mt Tam is from Cowgirl Creamery's best seller, Mt Tam Triple Cream with…read moreHeart cheese. Ever since then, I've wanted to hike this peak, today I have achieved my wish. Early June with mild coastal temp, 50s-60s. Started up Matt Davis Trail in the foggy forest, to Pantoll Campground, to West Point Inn where we can look down to the top of the fog layer, to the Fire Lookout building at the Peak. Then we came down reverse but split off to Steep Ravine and Dip Sea trail after the campground. I've also always wanted to climb that ladder. This hike provided views of the Pacific ocean on the West as well as views of Richmond-San Rafael Bridge on the East side. I thoroughly enjoyed the cool lush forest, but actually my favorite section was the single track along the slope of the open area after the Mt Tam State Park sign.

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Golden Gate Park - Shooters Shoot ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Golden Gate Park

4.7(1.4k reviews)
0.4 mi

Imagine a huge rectangle. Make it a park with grass and hills, flowers, trees, some fountains... I…read moredunno, throw in a big lake, some world-class Art and Science museums, and a dome where concerts and shows perform in the Summer. Let's also close down the streets from cars one day a week in the Summer so people can ride their bikes, skate, rollerblade, play and dance in the streets! How about on some warm weekend days we put huge concerts there that fill the grass for as far as the eye can see so people can bring all their friends to enjoy food, drinks, and music together. And the lake... let's make it so people can rent boats, and if they don't or can't row, they can peddle so they, too, can enjoy the waterfall and life on the lake! Let's also have beautiful statues around the park, definitely a Shakespeare Garden, and let's throw in something for garden lovers, like a Botanical Garden (a big one) and a Conservatory of Flowers. For more culture, let's add a Japanese Tea Garden with more lakes and flowers, and even a bridge in the shape of a circle. Let's also make this accessible to everyone, so some days, the museums are free (ie, usually once a month). And some entrance fees are lower for locals. (Check the websites.) Aaaaaand this is Golden Gate Park, and this is my favorite park in California, if not the entire country.

something for everyone…read more this park is big! don't try to walk it all, just go to wherever you're interested in. whether it's the museum, japan tea garden, botanical garden, boating at the lake, or choose any picnic spot. a sunny day here is really enjoyable, so much space to spread out from others and do your own thing great for taking a stroll and dog walking.

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Lafayette Park - Lots of monkey bars at Lafayette Park!

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4.5(186 reviews)
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We really enjoy coming to Lafayette Park Playground this morning for an early Easter egg hunting…read moreevent--it's quite unique compared to other playgrounds in the city. The layout is more challenging and perfect for little explorers who love to climb, balance, and stay active. My 3-year-old always finds something new to do, and it keeps them engaged for a long time. I also appreciate that babies aren't left out--there are designated areas where younger kids can safely play too. The restroom is conveniently located and clean, which is a big plus for families. That said, some of the rocky edges can be a bit risky for adventurous kids, so it's definitely a place where you'll want to keep a close eye on them at all times. The only downside is parking--it can be pretty tough to find a spot, especially during busy times. Overall, it's a fun and exciting playground that's great for kids of different ages, as long as you're prepared for a bit of supervision and a parking hunt!

What you lose in challenging elevation changes, you gain in stunning views and greenery. Lafayette…read morepark is an iconic location in San Francisco and a place that serves regular park goers, those who want to play tennis, those with kids, as well as our four legged friends. The park is beautifully maintained, with clean walking paths, manicured gardens, and enough benches and seating spaces. You can easily find a little corner to make your own for a bit. There is a rather large and modern kids playground and even more large grassy areas, both for those who want to lounge and for the dogs that want to run around. Overall, Lafayette Park is yet another gem that makes San Francisco special.

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Lily Pond - parks - Updated May 2026

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