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    Spreckels Lake

    4.5 (38 reviews)

    Spreckels Lake Photos

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    Montage of images from Spreckels Lake
    Ed U.

    "My, she was yar." That was how Katharine Hepburn described the model yacht designed by her ex-husband Cary Grant in the 1940 classic, "The Philadelphia Story". In her trademark haughty tone, Kate explained that "yar" meant "easy to handle, quick to the helm, fast, right." This artificial lake was apparently built specifically for model yachts that strive to be yar, and I've seen a few such boats powered by electric motors on the lake. Central Park in NYC has a similar cement pond, Conservatory Water, with the same intent, model yacht sailing, so I guess it's a long-standing hobby among people I sure don't know. However, the most dominant inhabitants of Spreckels Lake are all the geese and ducks that parade in and out of the water. RELATED - Exploring Golden Gate Park? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37IV1wZ

    Phil A.

    Spreckels Lake is a concrete lake located in Golden Gate Park. It probably takes about 20 minutes or so to walk around. And there are almost always plenty of birds here, along with people operating their remote control mini boats and yachts in the water. This is one of those scenic places where you just want to sit back and take it all in. It seems to be a place people gravitate to when walking through the park. For years, this was the starting line for the 2nd Half of the SF Marathon, so I got to know this lake pretty well. Another great Golden Gate Park landmark!!

    Arlene C.

    A nice refuge from all the noise in the city. Easy to get to off of 36th and lots of parking. It seems that pollution is running off what's left of the wildlife. Sad.

    Lovely day on the lake. The turtles & QUEEN duck would agree;)
    Eric R.

    "...But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common... they were crazy about each other." - The Notebook Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA. Spreckels Lake aka "my second favorite lake" in Golden Gate Park. Of course, Stow Lake (the Lady in the Lake lore) is my all time park favorite. And although I don't feel like Noah serenading Allie at Spreckels... it still has it's own romantic charm. Spreckels Lake not as handsome and with the lack of wandering ghosts stories still has a spot in my heart. What it lacks in Stow Lake lore it sure makes it up with a perfect paved walking path and abundance of green wooden benches. I do enjoy watching the "On Golden Pond" crowd and the Russian grandpas talking war stories at the picnic tables. You can also admire the Tai Chi club in the mornings or catch the Yacht Model club sailing a Grace 1935 in the late afternoons. Yet, maybe my fav pastime is just laying on the grass doing nada. In the end, I recommend Spreckels Lake to anyone visiting Golden Gate Park. She's a solid 4.5-stars, so bring a camera. Again, first check Stow Lake and discover the story of the Lady in the Lake - a true lake with rowboats. Hey, you might not find Allie Hamilton at Spreckels, but I promise you a smile, turtle sightings, and a chance to fall in love...

    Denise C.

    I have been to Spreckels at Golden Gate Park quite a bit. People visit and it's for old people who like to play with toy boats in the lake. It's a fake park lake, but it's cute. This year at Hardly Strictly..I stepped out of the festival and wandered by the park and sat at the bench. They have an entrance near Spreckels Lake..is that like German(Spreckels)? HAH https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Spreckels Claus Spreckels was a German immigrant who built his fortune with the sugar trade!

    Carmina R.

    Where the Richmond district natives at?! Anyone else grow up thinking Spreckles Lake was actually Stow Lake until middle school? I remember going to check out the bison at GGP and reading on a map that Spreckles lake was around the corner...first mind blown at 12 years old. Anyways, I love this lake. It's a super nostalgic place for me. Used to walk around here (and dare I say roller skate? 90s baby!) as a kid, used to feed the birds (because I didn't know any better, don't do it now folks.. it's not good for them!), and used to watch duo matches of elderly, but youthful senior citizens play board games and people with mini remote control boats take their toys out for a spin on the lake. Fast forward to 2021.. everything is pretty much the same! How cool is that. Even the green "monkey bar" polls are just where I left 'em, some odd 20+ years ago. The main change is no duo board games of chess or checkers because of covid, but the nostalgia is still real. The birds seem to have never left either . The ducks, the geese, the -every kind of bird- seem to be here! They're just chillin', waiting for someone to throw 'em sourdough bread crumbs or a child to drop their bag of Cheerios. Looking for a nice photo opp at golden hour? This is perfect. The way the sun hits the lake, the tall trees, and with barely that many people around--it's a good spot. Parking galore, a couple of picnic tables, and many seated benches along the lake in case you need to take all the breaks. Still, a very easy stroll and an access point to the rest of the GGP. Don't forget to get that fresh air! Just a lap or 2 around Spreckles will do wonders.

    Mama goose w her gooslings
    Sofia R.

    I grabbed some food from the neighborhood, wandered off to the park and ended up at Spreckels Lake. A simple, man-made lake within the park. There are plenty of well-spaced benches and tables around the lake, which was exactly what I was looking for. The walk around the lake post-meal was also really nice and peaceful. It's easy to appreciate the nature around you...I even ran into a mama goose and her baby gooselings! Had a great experience with my first visit to this lake, looking forward to my next take-out meal in the area!

    Toy boat instructions !
    Tejashree M.

    Nice calm lake, quiet. Good for reading a book or laying in the grass without distractions.

    Helen H.

    The lake has a lot of birds. There were also men with remote controlled boats, so that was kind of cool. The best part was seeing a turtle sitting atop the concrete turtle in the water.

    Turtles

    Nice place for a stroll! Great place to stop by while you're in Golden Gate Park. There are a lot of geese and turtles to see. It's best to come here on a sunny day!

    Inside the Clubhouse
    Joe R.

    On a warm windless day, at the beginning of Indian Summer, we visited Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park, one of the finest manmade model boating facilities in the world. As if they were creating wind out of thin air, model yachtsmen raced their crafts back-and-forth past ducks and gulls on the opaque green water. At lake edge, we met two friendly gentlemen sailing their elegant model boats. With ease and grace, they trimmed the tall sails by remote control. In between tacks, they kindly educated us about their specialized hobby and extraordinary club. We were told the story of Adolph "the original sugar daddy" Spreckels, himself a model yachtsmen, who built the lake specifically for model sailing. Established in 1898, the SF Model Yacht Club is now the oldest in the Americas. We peeked into the stylish WPA era clubhouse, and were welcomed by enthusiastic club members eager to show us the world's largest collection of model yachts. Arranged by class, the boats are intricately hand crafted, and immaculately maintained. Boating season runs from March to October and regattas are held on the weekends. Every day, powerboats run in the morning, and sailboats run in the afternoon when the west winds usually pick up. We were charmed by the friendliness of the model yachtsmen, and impressed by the skills required to sail a boat by remote control, on a warm windless day, at the beginning of Indian Summer.

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    Like sweet miniature boats? Then go here... and just stare at grown men play with boats.

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    Ask the Community - Spreckels Lake

    How can you figure out when the model yachts will be there?

    There are organized sailboat races every Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday starting around noon on weekdays and 1:00 pm on weekends. Racing usually last 2 - 3 hours. Racing is from March through October. Check out the calendar of of the… Read more

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - Spreckels Lake

    I read that it was created for the Model Yacht Club back in the early 1900s and I still sometimes see people sailing these model boats here.

    Mentioned in 2 reviews

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    Lake Anza - Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley, CA

    Lake Anza

    4.3(103 reviews)
    15.9 mi

    This is an idyllic place to hike and picnic in Tilden. There is a lake (pond?) that has a swimming…read morearea, but I personally don't think it is especially clean for that. But there are lots of turtles and birds to watch. For picnics, there are tables and a large grassy expanse for laying down a spread and also playing frisbee. For a hike, the loop around the lake (pond?) is perfect for kids and adults who are able to climb rocks and scramble comfortably along a few narrow strips of the trail. There is a bridge and an area where kids like to explore the creek. There are other paths off the lake, but those do tend to have more mountain bikes. This is an especially nice park when we have our late summer weather in September and October. Plenty of parking.

    Lake Care…read more Recreational swimming reservoir located in Tilden Regional Park that was named after Spanish "explorer" Juan Bautista de Anza. The Good: *Free *Swimmable *There's a beach area** with actual sand *Fishing allowed (w/ CA fishing license [$62]) *±3/4-mile loop trail around the lake that has some gorgeous almost Hoh Rainforest-like vibes (IYKYK). *Restrooms** *Large paved lot The Meh: *Area has signs about a dangerous algae bloom in the water, so if you do go swimming, make sure not to intake too much water--and keep your pets away from it! *There's also signs telling you how to prepare any fish you catch here. The Ugly: *As the signs state "Rough Trail," and boy howdy is it rough. Especially when it's wet, as some of the trails around the backside were ultra thick, slippery mud which had us fighting for our lives! Bring a hiking pole(s) or a hiking stick to help with steadying yourself. Conclusion: Cool spot with a trepidatious hike that's for a good payoff. Gird your loins and just do it! **area was under construction when we visited in Dec '24, but we're assuming it'll be done by summer?

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    Lake Anza - Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley, CA

    Lake Anza at Tilden Regional Park - Berkeley, CA

    Lake Anza - Lake Anza

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    Bon Tempe Lake - Coming back to the lake.

    Bon Tempe Lake

    4.5(28 reviews)
    13.5 mi

    This is actually just one of several reservoirs that make up the Mount Tamalpais Watershed. There…read moreare also creeks and a dam that add to the features. One of the main roads to get up there is just above the town of Fairfax in Marin County. It is a windy road but short, like 10 minutes or so. There are also a lot of bikers who like this area, so watch out on those narrow roads. Once you get closer to the park, the pavement stops and you will have to drive on large gravel for quite a bit, so don't be bringing your high end luxury car here. Lol Once there, an $8 parking fee through a kiosk awaits. I did a 6 mile loop starting at the dam and starting on Alpine lake. Easy start for the first mile or so, with most of it being lakeside. Then the middle 3 miles goes deeper into the forest cover and is more strenous, a constant climb that will speed up the heart rate. Love doing this amongst forest air. Deep in city confines...not so much. The descend will bring you back to where Alpine Lake and Bon Tempe Lake meets, by the dam. The top of hike is exposed and rocky but still gorgeous. Actually reminded me a bit of Tahoe with rocky trails and exposed blue skies. There will be a view of the lower elevations of Southern Marin County. There will also be many glimpses of neighboring Mt. Tam. And after that great morning workout, I was able to have a nice relaxing outdoor meal at one of the many charming independent restaurants in Fairfax, just 10 minutes down the road. Great way to start my stay-cation.

    A post on NextDoor.com caught my attention. Someone had just moved to the neighborhood and was…read moreasking how they could hike without paying the $8 parking fee they'd noticed in some areas. The deluge of responses made it clear: if you're paying to park in Marin County, you're doing something wrong. With only a single exception in memory, I don't think I've paid to hike anywhere in the county and these days all I do is hike. But, if you want to hike the grounds of the Mount Tam Watershed it is true that there's a $8 cost to that. You can get around this by purchasing an annual parking pass or checking a pass out from the Marin County Library system. Bon Tempe Lake is my favorite hike within this area of the Mt. Tam Watershed. With an easy to follow, well-trod, 4.8 mile path around the lake's perimeter, and situated only minutes from downtown Fairfax, Bon Tempe is a quintessential Marin experience. You're in nature, beside a gorgeous, placidly serene lake yet only 10 minutes from a good brunch or latte. There's nothing difficult about the hike around the lake and though it isn't flat, it's elevations are quite gentle. If you need more, add a loop around Lake Lagunitas (the two paths intersect) to increase your hike by another 1.2 miles. Fishing is allowed here (but no swimming) and the parking area - for Bon Tempe in particular - fills up early on weekends. All the more reason to make time for Bon Tempe on a weekday. There's lots of hiking options here in the Watershed but for my money, the half-shaded-half-sunny path around Bon Tempe is the loveliest of them all.

    Photos
    Bon Tempe Lake - Morning Blues. (That's Mt Tam out yonder)

    Morning Blues. (That's Mt Tam out yonder)

    Bon Tempe Lake - Start to climb. Through redwoods.

    Start to climb. Through redwoods.

    Bon Tempe Lake - Gloomier morning, but it cleared up within an hour.

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    Gloomier morning, but it cleared up within an hour.

    Mount Tamalpais State Park

    Mount Tamalpais State Park

    4.8(435 reviews)
    10.3 mi

    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.

    Photos
    Mount Tamalpais State Park - Yummy time for critters

    Yummy time for critters

    Mount Tamalpais State Park
    Mount Tamalpais State Park

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    Blue Heron Lake - Bridge

    Blue Heron Lake

    4.6(136 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Pedal boat fun, beautiful waterfall views, a charming pagoda, picnicking by the lake, birdwatching…read more(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.

    Now Called Blue Heron Lake, this is a favorite with tourists and locals…read more 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

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    Blue Heron Lake - Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

    Stow Lake, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco.

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    Blue Heron Lake

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    Spreckels Lake - lakes - Updated May 2026

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