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Shoreline Lake Boathouse

4.2 (433 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 7:30 pm
Updated a few days ago

Shoreline Lake Boathouse Photos

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Henry L.

Fun place to enjoy some fun on the water. You have options of renting the pedaling boat, sail boat, or even a motor boat. They charge hourly at fairly reasonable rates. The stand up board is fun as well, and I believe they have a tutorial / class for that. No swimming allowed. Nice getaway that's not too far from where you live, if you need a nature recharge. Don't feed the animals!

Kristy S.

This was my first time here and I absolutely loved spending my afternoon here. There is so much to do and the area is amazing! You can rent bikes and many activities to do on the lake. Also, bring picnic setup as there is a large area of greenery by beautiful trees. My boyfriend and I decided to walk 5 miles on the Bay Trail. It was calming and we plan to definitely visit again! I would recommend coming here, you will not regret it. There is something for everyone of all ages :)

Rules and info
Jean T.

Staff was very friendly! I went on a pedal boat for 1 hour and it was $30. It's a default 4 seater, so they don't have a 2 seater if you're looking for just a 2 seater. The weather was really nice out and there were lots of other people in the water doing pedal boats, kayaking, and wind surfing! It gets pretty tiring after 10 minutes of pedaling but it's chill to just sit and let the water take you around! They provide life jackets for you to pick up after paying for the rental equipment before heading out to the pedal boats. Parking: there are a lot of spots available when I went mid day a little after lunch

So many choices
Jacqueline S.

Some of my favorite family memories invoke pedal boats and watching the windsurfers zoom through the water. Sitting on the grass with a picnic is great too! You have to be certified to rent a sailboat - and I never got that far, but it sure looked fun. The pedal boats were perfect for me and the kids. One time my Sis and I brought our two young boys - oh they said THEY would do all the pedaling! But actually they ended up in the back looking out at the lake like little kings of the water! ‍We pedaled the whole time - it was fun and we had lots of laughs. An hour was enough- we loved it!!

Vivi B.

I absolutely love this place. It is so serene and beautiful. I like to do the walk around the lake. Sometimes I venture out and find a bench to view the water. There are geese and bunnies! There are lots of areas where you can put out a blanket and picnic. They also have rentals for water activities like kayaking and paddle boarding. Parking can be challenging on the weekends, but I usually just go to the front and wait for someone to walk out and I got a spot pretty quickly. When I need some fresh air this is my go to spot.

Jonathan C.

This is such a great place to spend a weekend as there are things for everyone to do and is quite pandemic friendly. Want to spend your time on the water? You can rent kayaks, paddle boards and peddle bikes! Want to play golf? Come on by! There's even a designated place near the entrance for kite flying! It's right next to the Bay Trail for you to walk, do some bird watching, and you can even rent out bikes. The restaurant near the dock was open and has your standard American grill food. There's lots of grass space to have a picnic. There's plenty of parking as well!

Canoeing
Cathrin P C.

Have you ever woken up in the morning and felt like you suffered a small stroke? That was me. Then I remembered: oh that's right, we went canoeing yesterday! With lots of activities closed due to the pandemic, kiddo was so happy to try canoeing here. We've tried pedalboating and rowboating in SF at GGP so we were ready for our next adventure! Canoeing on a windy day... can be challenging. Really tests how well you can work together as a team... Good thing they weren't enforcing the rule about charging by the hour! Things started out great but slowly and surely the wind kept blowing us in a particular direction. Trying as hard as we could, we were unable to get unstuck from a little nook that the currents had trapped us in. I seriously thought about abandoning ship and crawling onto shore... No wonder other families opted for the pedalboats!! Luckily after 90 minutes of being out there, they sent out a rescue boat to help pull us out. Made a great story to tell people that's for sure! Canoeing was $26. Boat holds up to 4 people. If you're not used to lifting any weights or being very active, be prepared for the most intense workout of your life. Canoeing is a full body experience! You will feel muscles you didn't even know existed the next morning. Parking can be tricky on the weekend. A lot of people come here to picnic or use the trails. They have lots of rentals for all kinds of activities. If the lot is full, you can always go to another lot and walk back over. There are trails nearby called Bayland Trails. You can definitely get a good 5 miles done no problem. There isn't too much to see though and it can get super windy under direct sun with no shade -- lots of birds and some extremely stinky. Your mask will not help you. When something smells so bad you can smell it through your mouth, it's BAD! The highlight of everything were the cute ground squirrels. They will beg and are used to humans feeding them. Bathrooms are nearby and lots of people are masked. A great place to hangout for the weekends.

Tommy C.

The tribe wanted to try rowing a boat on a hot day. There were kayaks, paddle boards, pedal boats, and canoes available but we wanted to try something new. Rowing a boat is harder than it seems. They also have wind surfing rigs and sail boats for rent. We walked up and paid $26 for the 1 hr row boat rental. Picked up some mandatory life vests. I was pleasantly surprised they didn't smell like musty socks. The dock worker checked our receipt and have us a 60 second tutorial. It took almost the entire hour to casually row from the rental dock out the island and back. There are patrols circling the lake making sure people are wearing life vests. Scenery wasn't bad but the smell bird poop Was kind of strong. Water is pumped and presumably processed.

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2 years ago

Beautiful space. Great for brunch, a walk, paddling. Too bad doggies are not allowed!

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Ask the Community - Shoreline Lake Boathouse

What is the age limit to Kayak alone?

The age limit to kayak alone depends on the individual kayaker's skills and strength. While 7-8 year olds (and some younger kids) can do so, Boathouse staff will first evaluate the child's ability to keep safe: However, regardless of age, if someone… Read more

How do I raise the wind restriction on the sailboat rental card?

Changes to watersports requirements, including those for sailing, should be addressed by contacting Shoreline Lake's Boathouse directly (650-965-7474 or boathouse@shorelinelake.com). The Boathouse staff is happy to answer this or other questions,… Read more

Can i bring my own kayak or paddle board?

You can bring your own kayak and paddle board. There is a $5 launch fee to pay at the boathouse before you launch your vessel. Also, everyone on the lake is required to have a life jacket, which must be Coast Guard approved. If you don't have your… Read more

Are dogs permitted in boats?

Dogs are not allowed at Shoreline Lake (including on the lake, or in watercraft) or elsewhere within Shoreline Park, per the City of Mountain View: "Dogs (excluding canine assist dogs) are not allowed in Shoreline Park and may not pass beyond the… Read more

What time is the pedal boats required to be back to dock during the weekdays?

All rentals, including pedalboats, need to be back by closing (Last rentals start one hour before closing.). Current hours can be found here: https://shorelinelake.com/hours.html

Are there shaded areas for having a picnic?

Yes, the trees in the grassy areas around Shoreline Lake provide shade for picnicking.

Do the lake facilities have public or paid showers available for after you've been in the water?

There is an outdoor shower.

How much does it cost if you bring your own kayak?

You can bring your own kayak. There is a $5 launch fee to pay at the boathouse before you launch your vessel. Also, everyone on the lake is required to have a life jacket, which must be Coast Guard approved. If you don't have your own, life jackets… Read more

Are there any bbq pits in the area? Do they allow you to bring your own grill near the lake?

Hi Janine, There are no BBQ pits available, and no grilling (or open flame) allowed by the City of… Read more

Can I use my own paddle boards there?

Hi Yulia, You can launch your own watersports equipment, for a nominal fee which should be paid at… Read more

Can you bring and row your own kayak or inflatable boat to Shoreline Lake?

You can bring your own kayak. With regard to an inflatable boat, since you don't mention the type of craft, it's best to contact the Boathouse directly (650-965-7474, and boathouse@shorelinelake.com) for details.… Read more

Are dog's allowed?

Unfortunately, because Shoreline Park is a wildlife sanctuary, no dogs are allowed inside the park. There is a dog park outside the entrance of the park. Instead of passing the ranger station, turn right before it to find the dog park.

Do you know if the Lake is open for use ? I saw that the boathouse and bistro were closed but wasn't…

Shoreline Lake’s Boathouse has re-opened (on a partial basis) for Summer Camps and visitors launching their own vessels, with current hours restricted to Monday-Friday, 8am-5:30pm.… Read more

Can I hold a gathering here for like 150 people?

Hi Angelo - Definitely! Since booking and arranging something like this would be covered by the Shoreline Lake Events Team, you can reach them at (650) 965-3779, and events@shorelinelake.com. Also, if you need additional info about the different… Read more

Can I bring my own kayak over there in lake?

Yes, you may bring your own boat to Shoreline Park, as long as it is not motor-operated. Motorboats are not allowed on the lake; we only have one as a rescue boat. There is a $5 launch fee to pay at the boathouse before you launch your vessel.… Read more

Is camping allowed?

Good question. No camping is allowed. Only picnics. I believe visitors must leave around sunset (please double check)

Are you allowed to fish there?

No, fishing is not allowed. I called to ask.

Is there fishing allowed?

Unfortunately, because Shoreline Park is a wildlife sanctuary, there is no fishing allowed in the lake.

What time is the entrance to the park closed?

As many parks, they close at night. I don't know if the gate is actually closed though.

Is it open at night? Can we just sit near the lake at night?

No the park closes.

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Review Highlights - Shoreline Lake Boathouse

Though the Shoreline lake is awesome, I am writing this review especially for the trails in the shoreline park.

Mentioned in 23 reviews

Read more highlights

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Shoreline Lake Boathouse - boating - Updated May 2026

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