If you're looking for one of San Francisco's hidden gems, definitely check out Mountain Lake Park. Not many people seem to know about this park, which honestly makes it feel even more special. The park itself is beautiful and offers a little bit of everything. There are scenic trails, open grassy fields, a dog area, picnic spaces, tennis and basketball courts, plus a large children's playground. As a former outdoor teacher who spent Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM outside with children, places like this almost make me feel like I'm back living the outdoor classroom life again. The layout makes it feel peaceful while still offering plenty to do. One of my favorite parts is the lake itself, it's beautiful, peaceful and clearly well cared for. It's a great place to walk, relax, picnic or just clear your mind for a bit. Overall, this is definitely a park worth checking out if you want a quieter, beautiful side of San Francisco that feels tucked away from the city. Perfect for a picnic, a peaceful walk, or letting kids burn off energy. read more

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Stopped by Mountain Lake Park on a sunny weekday and loved it! Entered through the playground at Lake & 12th Ave. and enjoyed a short, very easy 0.7-mile loop. Along the way are several tennis courts, a basketball court, and exercise stations (even tried the balance beam--fortunately it's only about eight inches off the ground!). The park attracts a wide range of visitors: walkers and runners, people pushing strollers, kids playing, and lots of dogs. There's an area where dogs can run around off leash--one dog walker had nine dogs with them! A playful, friendly golden doodle gently touched me as it ran by. Also noticed a few people enjoying picnic lunches, and there are plenty of places to sit, relax, or host a small gathering. A peaceful, welcoming hidden gem in the Richmond District--a refreshing escape from the bustle of Clement Street and Geary Boulevard, with quiet paths, shady trees, a calm lake, and secluded spots that make it feel like a quiet retreat. Tip: Traffic from Highway 1, Park Presidio, and Lake Street can be heard nearby, but most of the park is quiet. read more

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First time being in this park and I loved it. Lots of dog walkers, runners and families especially at the playground. You can walk around the lake by doing the mountain lake trail which takes you around but not close by the shore. I learned that the broad walk was the exact place where the Spanish settlers arrived. During that time the lake was much bigger in size and has since shrunk due to the impacts of development, such as the roads and the surrounding golf course. Now the park is filled with wildlife. There are lots of birds to see and a great place for birdwatching. There is even a little box trunk by the lake where people can release their fish or turtles in, instead of the lake to avoid harming the ecosystem. Thanks to the restoration efforts by the Presidio Trust and it's volunteers in creating a vibrant area for the wildlife and the community. read more

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Mountain Lake Park is along the Mountain Lake Trail and seems to be entirely geared towards children. It boasts a playground and quite a bit of highway noise, but had very little seating, wildlife, or culture. We paused for a moment to take in the lake and the plaque which spoke about the lake's history, but overall it's not for anyone looking for a serene spot or a quiet place to eat lunch, it's basically just a space to bring small children to play. read more

There are several entrances you can enter the park from Lake street - from 10th to 12th Avenues. Since Covid, this park has been redone. Water is pristine; children's playground is large with structures for every age; lots of seats with unobstructed views so you can watch your child safely; lots of foliage has been cut and trimmed; and signs letting you know what is planted and significance of that spot. The bathrooms are clean and is right next to the playground. Tennis courts are nearby the area. There are many trails you can take and some trails lead you into the Presidio (about a 2.5 mile walk). read more

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A natural lake right by highway one! Other than it being natural and accessible to a trail, Mountain Lake Park seem best suited to those who have young children. Otherwise there are more interesting parks (GG park is just a few blocks away.) read more

Beautiful The history behind this Lake is very quite extraordinary. The amount of wildlife being saved by this team (and people from everywhere) is awesome! We got to see the behind the scenes with a ecologists and it was a blast! Knowing the history behind it just makes it so much better! The park is pretty big, with a little beach area (wouldn't recommend going in it), tennis courts, bathrooms, and trails. read more

Mountain Lake Park is right by Presidio Heights and it's a nice outlet for activities like tennis. It has a kids' park and some walking areas. I came here to play tennis with a friend and it was a good tennis park. Sunny, quiet, safe and there's parking in the neighborhood. Here's to parks in SF. read more

Mountain Lake Park - Parks Near Me

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Situated behind a row of homes along lovely Lake Street, this park is not so much the hidden gem one might wish for it to be. It's normally a busy patch of green, especially on sunny days. At the east of the park lies an off-leash dog play area. By law, dogs are meant to be on leashes everywhere else within the park. Most dog owners ignore the law, however, so one would do well to look hard and long for dog shit tucked away in the grass before plunking down. Even the most astute park visitor (read: me) has missed seeing shit and it's always been for the worse. The newest portion of the park, a decent-sized playground, lies at the west end of the park between the tennis courts and the public restrooms. Dogs are also not allowed within the playground and tennis courts, but someone's furry snowflake is bound to be there, so just be prepared to share the space, I guess. read more

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Love this park. Great park to stroll around and lots of fur friends to see. I sometimes take my fur baby to the dog park section to exercise. I still remember that a long time ago, someone left a gator here in the lake and they had to drain it and get the creature out. Fun times! read more

Mountain Lake Park - Parks Near Me

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I came here with my nephew who is 4 years old. He is a little bit big for the 2-5 year old side which is more geared to little 2 year olds. The other side is 5-12 year olds where it is not really for a 4 year old because it's mostly rope and wood jungle gyms. My nephew only wanted to do the slide, which is different from when I was a kid because it is polished concrete and there is a rock climb also stairs to get to the top of the slide. There is no play structure like there was a long time ago in the 1990s. There needs to be a play structure that is friendly for all abilities and ages. read more

This was my childhood park growing up. I lived about 2 blocks away and still have vivid memories of coming here with cardboard to slide on the concrete slide and to feed the ducks with my grandpa. Coming back as an adult, more than a few things have now changed. The lake area from the park is much smaller, but there are now designated trails that allow you to walk around the lake. The far end of the park (towards 7th) is now a designated dog run and the other end where the children's playground is completely redesigned. Gone are the days of getting your shoulder down dirty in sand making tunnels and all the wood structures. The original concrete slide is also gone but it's nice that they built a new one in it's place. Still, it's a awesome little neighborhood park. We came today to just picnic in the meadow. It was warm and sunny with just the slightest breeze. Given the situation, people were very accommodating giving each other enough space to lie about and bask in the warm sunny day. What a great day! read more

By Accident we made the wrong turn as we plan to head to Presideo Park to walk..at the end of Mac Arthur Tunnel turned left on Lake... Turned out there's a trail to walk our Bentley... Mountain Lake is perfect with mostly locals walking their Fur Buddies...Ours Enjoyed it to..Theres a Children play ground and a small pond to enjoy the view... Rest Rooms is conveniently located across the play ground... read more

Meadows, picnic benches, and a lake stocked with native turtles...Mountain Lake Park is a magical place. When it's foggy, the wooded areas take on a mystical look and when the sun is shining, the lush green grass is technicolor. There's always at least one tennis court available, which is a plus - since you don't have to reserve one. The playground is currently being renovated. so keep that in mind if you have a playdate soon. read more

Mountain Lake Park - Bucolic scene in the city Mountain Lake Park #AlwaysSF #RichmondDistrict - Parks Near Me

Wait, is this technically a park within a park? I always think of Mountain Lake Park as being part of The Presidio, but to be honest now I'm not quite sure if this is technically NPS or SFRP or both. Either way, it's a darn nice stretch of land on the Northeast Corner of Park-Presidio and the Inner Richmond. San Francisco is a great place for someone who enjoys a good urban park. I tend to get out to The Presidio quite a bit, and, I am also a big fan of the Inner Richmond. Those two things give me occasion to come to this park and several occasions to pass through this park. One thing to mention right off the bat is that this park feeds and is a hub for a number of trails. The Mountain Lake Trail comes in from the East. A number of trails head out to the North as you pass under Park Presidio Blvd. I think of this as sort of the central point of the central southern edge of The Presidio. Mountain Lake Park itself is very lovely. It's a fairly large park covering several blocks and particularly serene given that it is surrounded by lake on one side and a golf course on the other. There are large meadows, picnic shelters, a lake, basketball court, tennis courts, playground, rest rooms... It's a fully furnished park. I would imagine most people at the park are locals, but since so many trail pass through your will have some Presidio crowd as well. If you are passing through The Presidio, this might also be a good place to jump out into The Avenues for a while and grad some food. Lots of good stuff on Clement Street. read more

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CHILL'N There are some great spots to chill here. In particular, I like to hit Kazu on 7th and Cali to pick up a kick @$$ sammy to go and then head for the "snacky spot" (see photos) in the park. There is also a little enclosure with many tables that looks great for playing chess, but it tends to be a dope den. DOG PARK Love this dog park. Sure, it's a dog owner clique, but friendly folks and lots of happy dogs! LAKE The Lake is small and nice to sit by for a short while. A good amount of benches and the occasional happy water dog. TRAILS Some good trails to walk through the park and a nice trail to head under the highway. OVERALL Not crowded! How nice. :) read more

Mountain Lake Park - Snacky Spot - Parks Near Me

There is one feature of this playground that I really like: the toddlers area quite distinct from the big kids area and is enclosed in a big circle and only has one way out. This means you can let your kid wander all around and not worry that they've exited through some side gate that somebody left open, or wandered over into the big kids area where they are getting into activities too advanced for them. One thing I didn't like was the toddlers swings are really short so they swing back and forth very quickly. Another thing I disliked was the (complete?) absence of trash cans. All in all I love this newly renovated spot and will certainly be coming back. read more

Mountain Lake Park - Lawn at the park. - Parks Near Me

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My kids love mountain lake park. We go there every weekend. It's very close to bakery and coffee shops on California/ clement street. We usually brought food to the park, have the kids run up and down or around the playground then have picnic by the lake. My kids enjoy the slide/ swings and jumping structures. Climbing on the rope is very fun. read more

Came by here today. I always look forward to seeing how far the lake water has covered the "shore." The water has covered the entire bottom path and the bottom part of the stairs!!! I'm quite sadden though, in a few years it will engulf the entire stairs. The last time I was here (not even year), I was able to walk down the stairs to the circle. =\ read more

Great small, albeit nice park. There's exercise course, tennis courts, playground, card shack, bathrooms, and of course a small lake. Nice to sit and unwind. Only negative is it's close to the 1 which is loud with cars. read more

Mountain Lake Park - The lake. - Parks Near Me

Cool park but not enough shade! There is a bathroom here; no walls to contain the kids but there are small partitions and seating areas. We parked on a neighborhood street and walked on over here. read more

Now I understand why so many people run up and down Lake St. rather than through the park. It's good for kids, dogs and homeless people. The park is characterized by wide, asphalt lanes and is a veritable obstacle course of dogs and kids. The area by 8th Ave. is the official off the leash dog run but of course people had dogs off the leash all over the park. There are some benches that face the lake and some were occupied by homeless people. There is one dirt path that takes you up a hill past some dried out foliage - it takes you to the Presidio Golf Course. I got lost on the golf course which was probably the highlight of my run. The golf course looks lush and green but the park does not. It's definitely grimy in parts and you never get away from the sound of cars driving by or people. It was hard for me to stay there - I just wanted to escape. The playground is nice though - with a jungle gym, slides, swings and more. They built a par course here ages ago (late 70s?) with various stopping points for touching your toes, doing chin ups, step ups, and doing jumping jacks. Park on Lake St. (free, limited to two hours on the weekdays). read more

I LOVE this park.(Enter at 12th Ave & Lake or Funston & Lake) I played here as a kid, so did my older brother. And both my children as well. It breaks my heart that they will soon tear everything down to be replaced by structures that are more art than playground equipment, and rubber matting or wood chips. We need more good old fashioned playground like this. The largest wooden structure is like a giant pirate ship or castle. There are multiple levels, different ways up & down (stairs, a ladder, a slide, a firemans pole) and multiple places that jut out like balconies for children to make their speeches, survey for intruders or just have fun being up high! They have baby swings and smaller swings on the top level, and 3 long chained swings for going real high on the bottom level. There's this blue slide with rollers that leads the kids from the top to bottom levels (or stairs or paths for their tender parents) but the slide is in severe disrepair .Only some rollers even spin, the paint is terribly chipped & worm. But the highlights of this park are the mountain and the lake. The mountain is a big grassy hill on the south and west sides, a stairway on the east side, but most importantly a huge concrete slide on the north side. Hopefully there will be some cardboard scraps to slide on, or you risk tearing your pants & shoes (although it's well worth the risk in my opinion!) And the lake. You can see it from the playground areas, and there's a small beach usually covered with ducks & pigeons. In the past geese and swans have lived here too. Right now, they are dredging the lake and returning it to it's natural habitat. Hopefully the lake & shoreline will be cleaner and even more beautiful when they are complete. the areas around the park (walk east) are very well kept, there are open fields great for flying a kite, kicking a ball or having a picnic. I see a 3 yr old soccer team that practices here some mornings. There are also 3 large tennis courts,and further back into the park there is a small basketball court (very rough) and closer to the 8th Ave & Lake entrance is an off leash dog park. Be careful, as there is no fence around the off leash area, its really just a bump & turn in the road between on leash & off, and I have seen many dogs running down the hill with someone chasing after them. Note the only entrances into the Presidio from the south side that lead to Mountain Lake Park (all on foot) are: Arguello Blvd & Jackson St (partial woodchip path) 5th Ave & Lake St (partial woodchip path) 8th Ave & Lake St (stairs) 10th Ave & Lake St 12th Ave & Lake St Funston Ave & Lake St There is no direct access to drive here through the park, this whole area of The Presidio is made for walking & bike riding only. If you drive, park near one of these entrances & walk from there. Or take the 1 California bus. If you're in a wheelchair or have a stroller, use the last 3 listed, as the first 3 have obstacles listed that make them unfriendly routes for people on 4+ wheels :) read more

While making the trek on foot from Western Addition to Baker Beach on Saturday, happened upon this hidden gem. Considering that I was with two lovely ladies who've lived in SF for 10 years and never been inside, that's saying something... Enter from 8th and Lake - you'll see a few flights of stairs. Picnic areas and plenty of trees greet you as you walk inside. To give you an idea of the location, it backs up into the golf course near Legion of Honor. Kapeesh? As we wandered along the paved path, we saw several parties happening (one for adults and another for kids) as well as folks getting pumped up with the strategically placed fitness circuits. And of course there's a pretty lake! Ducks and various water birds flocked around this body of water, appreciating the warm spring afternoon. Having walked at least a mile or two already, it was perfect timing for a potty break. From all accounts the bathrooms were clean, sans any creepsters or glory holes that one might find in a public park. So if you find yourself seeking some fun in the great outdoors, like a picnic or a new fitness routine, Mountain Lake Park is ready and waiting! read more

-Parks with dog parks are scary for sure. You never know what other peoples' dogs are like. But you wouldn't think an owner would be irresponsible enough to let violent, nail-toothed, attack-monsters off leash. Well, you'd be wrong. -Parks with sheltered picnic areas where druggies hang out and listen to really loud death metal and yell about things are scary for sure. You'd think that park and/or city employees would ask them to move it someplace NOT designed with children and families in mind. You'd be wrong again. -Parks where there are dogs roaming freely are bound to get a little dog-poo build up for sure. You'd think that all owners are as responsible as you and I and would clean up after their beloved mutts. You guessed it. Wrong again. Minus two stars for the above. Three stars for a glorious duck pond, wide open spaces, and a great playground (for the big and small alike). If your dog is a diva or just plain meek, stay away from the dog park when there's lots of action. Stay in the well-populated areas, too, as there's been some strange activity over there lately. read more

If you haven't already kissed this once beautiful gem of a park and lake goodbye, it's too late now. As of 2 a.m. this morning, the demolition crew hired by the Presidio Trust (what an oxymoron!) has just about finished removing all the vegetation on the North side of Mtn. Lake. And I do mean all. They had promised, in three seperate community meetings, to leave some of the existing vegetation on the edge of the lake, but, as usual, they fibbed. Flat-out freaking lied is more accurate. The vegetation consisted of underbrush and other typical plants that are found on rivers and lakesides. The problem is that this vegetation was where dozens of ducks, turtles, migrating geese and a couple of amazing Egrets made their homes. No more. All gone. I live in a flat overlooking the lake, and I haven't seen or heard any of them for days. Up until a few days ago, when the clearing of the vegetation began, we'd hear the ducks all night, and see them all day. The turtles would line up on the limbs of small lakeside trees to sun themselves. The Egrets were usually always visible on the far side of the lake, unless they were off hunting gophers next to Crissy Field. The Mallards, sometimes with a line of ducklings swimming behind, are almost all gone, probably off to Lake Merced. So, the Presidio Trust people are getting what they wanted all along. A "native" lake, looking like something in Disneyland, totally devoid of any real life. But why should they care? They don't live here, and by their own admission, have rarely even visited the lake. A few years ago they removed the stand of trees that once had a great tire-swing over the lake, and was perfect for walks and picnics. A little oasis in the City. But since the trees weren't "native", they had to go, replaced by more correct plant life that is now fenced-off. Look, but don't dare touch. So, with the trees and vegetation gone, the wildlife is also all gone, or almost gone. And the traffic noise from Highway One has increased by more than 100%, now that there's nothing left to deaden the sound. The bats that used to live in the trees and who kept the mosquito population in check are gone, as are the small hawks who did the same with the pigeons, who have now over-run the place. Anyway, the lesson is to never, ever trust the Presidio Trust, at least not the current bunch. They'll hide the real truth with smoke and mirrors, claiming that they "need" to remove all the vegetation for "topographic mapping" and such. (For the record, if that were truly the case, every lake and river ever mapped would "need" all the vegetation removed) So, goodbye Mountain Lake and hello Disneyland. We who have lived near you and visited you, and all the kids who grew up playing and growing with you for years will miss you. read more

Why haven't I found this place before? So I've officially been a mainlander for more than 2 years now. Come May, I'll have officially been living in SF for 2 years. Particularly, the Inner Richmond. So I have no excuse as to why I have never seen or even heard of this place before. Sure, it's a few blocks from my home, but I also frequent the dim sum place down the street. Bernadette & I had just finished a meal at said dim sum place when we were walking to her car. I had noticed the ominous staircase when we first parked there, but now I was full of chinese food and determined to see what the hell it went to. With a little hesitation, we walked down & saw the most amazing little lake! Immediately, I turned to her and said "Doesn't this place remind you of Mililani?" (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mililani) Yep. Complete with winding paths, swing sets, slides, & tennis court, this is like every park in the town that I grew up (well kinda grew up) in. It was a beautiful day to accidentally discover a park. I've now chosen this place as the place I walk to when I wanna think and just sit to myself. I love SF. read more

Mountain Lake Park is one of those parks that I spend so much time in. It's got everything I need... dog park/run, playground, tennis courts, lake, running trail, exercise course, close proximity to store and it connects to other running trails.. other than the Swedish Bikini Team sunning here..it's really all I need! There are 4 tennis courts that are well kept when compared to others in the city. The courts have mini dividers that keep balls from rolling to other courts. The courts surface is relatively clean so it's plays at a moderate speed for a hard court. These courts are sweet but are busy on the weekends. But overall I love them and you can find me hitting there at least 3 times a week. The playground is fun. They have a huge play structure when the kids can climb up pretty high. They also have a slide built into a small hill so bring along some cardboard and watch the kids have fun riding down it. They also have other various swings and kid's structures. My nieces like the playground here more than Julius Kahn Playground which is also another solid playground down the street. This place is also one of the few dog parks in the city. The dogs have a field that gets a lot of use. You see the big dogs playing fetch and they are adorable. My little 3 pounder gets good use of the sidewalk and the park connects to a trail that leads up the Presidio Golf course. For runners he park also loops way into Presidio if you are looking for a long run. You can just create a big loop by running around the perimeter and do that a few times. I like it because you won't be running near cars so you leave the car fumes behind. This park is located off Lake St so you are still close to the shops off Clement. I've spent a few days playing 6+ hours of tennis here and stopped into Clement for snacks which is in walking distance. The final mark that gives it 5 stars is the Lake. After a crappy day at work it's nice to walk around or sit by while reading a book. Seriously.. this park is perfect for me.. I sometimes think that they built it just for me. read more

Now that the playground has been renovated, I must say this is an awesome park! I love the large toddler area, which provides an interesting terrain for your little ones who are under 3! read more

MLP is a great park, diverse for all kinds of needs (dogs, kids, tennis, jogging, picnics, etc). I can be found here almost on a daily basis out of convenience. Unfortunately, I'm spoiled. I come from the NOPA neighborhood, where the local park was Alamo Square park (360 views, grassy dog run). I admit that I miss Alamo Square park, as well as the other dogs and dog owners there. MLP tends to bring in owners that are more into checking their phones for an hour than playing with their dog, who then decides that it's cool to steal my dog's ball with no consequences. Granted, not all encounters are this frustrating. The dog run is all wood-chipped, which I'm guessing can be quite uncomfortable for dogs to run on (splinters, ouch). And the awesome areas where dogs should run, is on-leash only. Also, there are no signs as to when the sprinklers go off, and I have been caught in the middle of grassy areas and the sprinklers pop up, making me panic and run for cover. The Tennis courts are great, but could use some major upkeep, and nighttime lights to play after sunset would be rockin'. read more

I'm a sucker for green in a city of concrete... and we picked our apt just to be near the Presidio, the world's largest backyard for our dogs. The park is open and real... meaning it doesn't have manicured lawn edges, rubber foam mats for your kids so they don't possibly get a bruise while they play, and no starbucks within stroller distance. All these are GOOD things. I'm even OK and not annoyed/jealous with the ever-present jump-room-blow-up-castles that I might have gotten on ONCE when I was a kid but now kids get them every week? There is a concrete slide where you use cardboard to get down (works for grown-ups too) swings, tennis courts, a bathroom and picnic and card tables and the kick-ass dog area that a guy who I've yet to get his name works his ASS off to maintain. The only thing that hurts this park, are the douchebags (you know who you are) that like to litter and the kids who still think graffiti is cool. Oh the dog owners who are too busy yapping while their dogs are dropping crap to see and then pick up are not helping. Do us all a favor and multi-task. Keep running your mouth but just pick up feces. If you take your dog to the park, sit there for 45 minutes then go home and wonder... "Hmm, did fido take a poop today?" YES HE DID. You didn't choose to see it. Next time pay attention. If I had to rate the dog owners AT the park, I'd give them a 3. I'd give the bums a 3 too... I'm totally ok with you actually, just when you need to do a #2, bury it. My dogs won't mind you either or care you are sleeping in the bushes, but if you leave a trail of food - don't get pissed if they bark. read more

I don't know where they got the "mountain" from, but there is a lake here (well, more of a pond by my Northwesterner standards), and a naturally occurring one at that--a rare sight indeed in San Francisco. Anyway, it's a pretty little corner of the Presidio and a classic neighborhood park for the picnic-n-playground set (the lakeside would be a lot more tranquil without Highway 1 alongside it, though). Also makes a good trailhead for excursions deeper into the Presidio. read more

Mountain Lake Park - Parks Near Me

Beautiful and Noisy. A 4 lane highway (hwy 1) runs right along side it. Needless to say if your idea is to hang out by the lake and relax.. well, think again. It seems like everyone avoids the lake, despite it being the focal point of the park. This means this park is all about business. Play tennis, let the kids run around the kiddie area or jog long the path with your ipod. To relax, you'd have to go way down on the Eastern side (by the houses) and pick a spot amongst the others of you with the same idea. Parking is on the street and shouldn't be too too bad. read more

Only used the playground, but it was awesome! And the bathrooms are clean. My kids could have played here all day. We will definitely be back. read more

Beautiful little park that isn't terribly crowded. Really easy to get a picnic reservation. So many puppies to oogle. We had a great day here with a group of students. You can also walk to the beach from the park if you'd like! Bottom line: Hidden gem. I'll be back with the pup in tow. read more

I love all the normal park items that Mountain Lake provides: kid drama, dog euphoria, small waterfowl, public restrooms, green grass. The real 5-star service that Mountain Lake provides to me, however, is that is a connector park to the Presidio. I can jog through Mountain Lake to the Presidio and through it out to Crissy Field. Or, at least, I can jog some of the way, walk some of the way. It might be my favorite route. I am also exuberant about the tennis courts, though I have not played since I was twelve, and have no raquet. read more

My friend hosted her birthday party (like 30 people? She's pops) here on a Saturday afternoon. She literally brought a fold-up table and put it in the middle of the glade, and thus the innocent people not invited to the party were pushed to the outer circle. However, their dogs still made it into our circle. And nobody complained because this actually a huge park for how many people came. I kicked a soccer ball around and played some rookie tennis. The tennis courts aren't in pristine condition, but they were fine (meaning not too many cracks). The worst thing is that there was a dead body found here two years ago. The second worst thing is that parking was hard to find on Saturday afternoon. However, neither of these things are the park's fault and so I won't deduct any stars. read more

I'm conflicted about this... It's a pretty park. The lake is nice with all of the birds, I love the path around the park... a few tennis courts, the fitness stops. Great. However, the playground area surprised me. There was broken glass on the bottom of one of the big slides. Granted, that slide was roped off but, the broken glass? Hopefully, that doesn't happen too often. Luckily, I was paying attention to the little one. read more

I recently chanced upon another great discovery, right here in my San Francisco back yard: Mountain Lake Park. Mountain Lake is a 14 acre park, located in the Richmond District, which can be entered on Lake Street at Funston or 9th Avenue. I inadvertently discovered it while riding my bike back from Q's Cafe and Wine Bar, after savoring their incredible Black Mussels of Love-but, that is another story, and one that surely warranted some after lunch exercise. Mountain Lake has a ton of cool amenities; a parcourse, doggie playground and run center, basketball court, tennis court, benches throughout, and of course, the lake itself. With its well manicured meadows, bike trails meandering through towering trees, easy to navigate walking paths and plenty of signage to mark the way, this park is pristine, peaceful and a new favorite destination. Parcourses, were very popular in the eighties, but this was my first time seeing and working on one. It is basically an outdoor gym, located along the path or course. It has stations throughout, with various exercise equipment, intending to promote good health. Mountain Lake Park's parcourse has ten stations. Each station has a wooden plaque that explains how to use the area, what muscles it will exercise, and recommended repetitions for each of three fitness levels or goals. And although the signs of some stations are in need of fresh paint, and some areas are overgrown from lack of use, all of the signs are still readable, and there is no better way that to do sit-ups on an incline bench while while overhead branches and blue sky envelop you. The pooch playground, is another great feature. Dogs can be off their leash for exercise and socialization and the area is well stocked with fresh water and a very large running field, covered in bark chips; which is especially appreciated by larger dogs. There is an area known as 'the card shack', right at the 9th Avenue entrance, which has picnic tables, a meadow and can be reserved for birthday parties and special events through the Parks & Rec. Department. Mountain Lake itself, is a small body of water, surrounded by a beach area on one side and a very meditative area on the other, with benches and wild flowers. There are ducks and seagulls in abundance, and at one time, this lake allegedly played home to a white alligator that was abandoned here. After sitting on the bench at this point, I rode my bike through a forest like area, under Highway 1, which is Park Presidio Boulevard; (not Presidio but Park Presidio); the name will make a difference for bus routes. Lake Street has a great bike path, and less traffic. Two blocks up, at Clement Street, is where you find a San Francisco smorgasbord of culinary delights, including picnic supplies, dive bars and more. Whatever your pleasure, this is a great space to create a memorable afternoon. For photos, check out my blog at www.tnbta.com Cheers! Heather read more

So I grew up a few blocks from this park. I saw it go through MANY changes throughout the years. It's had it's crazy homeless people, it's stuck up snobby parents with their spoiled little brats and ghetto rugrats as well. A cool dog run at one end and a lake at the other. I think I drank my first 40 here...back in 199...ya, I won't date myself. I think I had a lot of firsts at this park. First fist fight, first cement slide rash, first smoked J... Did you ever hear about the alligator in the lake? Too bad it didn't devour those mean swans that attacked kids for years. I think my sister still has a scar from one of those beasts.... Anyways, it's a great park to check out if you've never been. On a hot day, it's the first park I think of to go to in the city because it isn't over-crowded and has some shade and has quite a few interesting stories behind it. read more