Stow Lake
4
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
About
Located in Golden Gate National Park. Small boats are available for renting to sail Stow Lake.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.0
116 reviews
Excellent
52
Very good
47
Average
9
Poor
5
Terrible
3
WillieMacfan
Healdsburg, CA788 contributions
Nov 2023 • Family
Stow Lake is in Golden Gate Park Now only reachable by car via Martin Luther King Drive since John F Kennedy Drive is closed to cars. It can also be reached by footpaths from the areas of the park below it.
Free parking around the lake. You can walk around the lake, feed the ducks, cross one of two bridges to Strawberry Hill Island, walk around the island or to the top of the island hill. You can also, rent paddleboats and/or rowboats and work your way around the island via the water. Also a snack bar with an eating area. There are many photo opportunities-two special sights are Huntington Falls on the island and the Pagoda on the island.
Great place for families and kids or individuals just looking for some space to relax and enjoy nature.
Free parking around the lake. You can walk around the lake, feed the ducks, cross one of two bridges to Strawberry Hill Island, walk around the island or to the top of the island hill. You can also, rent paddleboats and/or rowboats and work your way around the island via the water. Also a snack bar with an eating area. There are many photo opportunities-two special sights are Huntington Falls on the island and the Pagoda on the island.
Great place for families and kids or individuals just looking for some space to relax and enjoy nature.
Written 5 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TheShis
Tel Aviv, Israel39,605 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
This is one of the park's largest lakes, which provides a nice stroll if you choose to circle it.
You can also rent pedal boats to enjoy the lake's water.
You can also rent pedal boats to enjoy the lake's water.
Written 1 June 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wireless_in_CA
United States4,907 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
Having been to Golden Gate Park many times to visit the Museums, I was surprised that we had yet to walk around the lake.
A flat path circled the lake and was easy to walk on but we did have to watch out for the surprises left by the noisy geese. Ducks were the other common residents of the lake and were looking for some food while we paused by one of the scenic points.
The boathouse was closed, again for COVID, so we were not able to experience the boat rentals or the small onsite coffee shop.
In the center of the lake was a small island that was accessible by a bridge. The path gradually wound its way upwards while shaded under the towering trees. Also one could visit the small Chinese Pavilion that was a gift from Taipei to the City.
Since we arrived late in the afternoon there wasn’t too many people walking around so street parking was easy to find and we could maintain lots of social distancing.
A flat path circled the lake and was easy to walk on but we did have to watch out for the surprises left by the noisy geese. Ducks were the other common residents of the lake and were looking for some food while we paused by one of the scenic points.
The boathouse was closed, again for COVID, so we were not able to experience the boat rentals or the small onsite coffee shop.
In the center of the lake was a small island that was accessible by a bridge. The path gradually wound its way upwards while shaded under the towering trees. Also one could visit the small Chinese Pavilion that was a gift from Taipei to the City.
Since we arrived late in the afternoon there wasn’t too many people walking around so street parking was easy to find and we could maintain lots of social distancing.
Written 4 March 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
GPBurdell67
Asheville, NC1,978 contributions
Aug 2019
Great spot for bird watching and strolling along the lake shore. Lots of little kids having fun in nature.
Written 21 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
MsCasualTravelor
Hartford, CT639 contributions
Jun 2019
After spending hours walking around the Golden Gate park, we stopped for lunch at this ‘roadside stand’. We got a grilled chicken sandwich, veggie burger (both came with ample fresh fries) and lemonade. We waited inside one of the 2 adjacent boathouse rooms, and soon enough our order was ready for pickup at the window. We watched people come in and out of their rented pedalboats (how they get lifted in and out of the water via wench is amazing to watch). Very peaceful to do people and animal watching here.
While there is 1 bathroom in the boathouse, there are more behind it, down a little hill.
While there is 1 bathroom in the boathouse, there are more behind it, down a little hill.
Written 11 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WillieMacfan
Healdsburg, CA788 contributions
Aug 2019
In the middle of Golden Gate Park, Stow Lake offers a respite from the fast paced atmosphere that is San Francisco. There is a road that wraps around the Lake where you can park; there are also foot paths up to the lake and over bridges to the island in the middle of the lake.
You can stroll around the lake, have a picnic, rent paddle boats/row boats, climb the mountain on the island, check out the waterfall. You can feed the ducks and you may see a turtle or swan or two.
Just a quiet and relaxing spot. Just enjoy the setting.
You can stroll around the lake, have a picnic, rent paddle boats/row boats, climb the mountain on the island, check out the waterfall. You can feed the ducks and you may see a turtle or swan or two.
Just a quiet and relaxing spot. Just enjoy the setting.
Written 24 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Insertnamehereuserid
Brisbane, Australia108 contributions
Aug 2019 • Family
We hired a four person pedal boat, and it was tough going pedalling the whole way around.
It was pretty and a nice thing to do, but more physically demanding than a person with fairly low fitness levels would find enjoyable for the whole way around.
The boats take a little balance and faith to get in, and you don’t really have room for your backpacks etc. (not sure if they had lockers?)
Fitter people would enjoy it, but probably not so much those with less fitness.
It was pretty and a nice thing to do, but more physically demanding than a person with fairly low fitness levels would find enjoyable for the whole way around.
The boats take a little balance and faith to get in, and you don’t really have room for your backpacks etc. (not sure if they had lockers?)
Fitter people would enjoy it, but probably not so much those with less fitness.
Written 16 August 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
treefrog1680
Murrieta, CA22 contributions
Jul 2019 • Family
So amazing that this is available. This place is very peaceful and family friendly. We took our boys on a paddleboat ride around the lake, climbed strawberry hill, and ate lunch. Such a great day.
Written 26 July 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Go2theZoo
Layton, UT961 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
You'd never know that one of the busiest cities in the world is just outside this park. It is a beautiful place to walk. There are little boats for rent, which we would definitely like to do on a return visit. We walked around the lake at a strolling pace, which took about 45 minutes. There are cute bridges, a waterfall, a gazebo, and numerous waterfowl. Certainly one of my favorite places in San Francisco!
Written 10 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CaptainSPI
Sugar Land, TX898 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
Another hidden serene locale in a large city park. The walk around the park is good for people watching along with goslings everywhere. Take one of the bridges across the water and then hike up Strawberry Hill for some surprising views of the city. Because it's a steep climb the tourists don't usually make it to the top; it's not that bad! I'd do this again especially for a sunrise or sunset vista.
Written 1 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sebahlke2017
San Francisco, CA2 contributions
why is the waterfall dry? So disappointed!
norma_gordon
Sydney, Australia505 contributions
Sorry! I have no idea. When we went, the waterfall was running freely and i have some beautiful photos of my husband and I in a pedal boat in front of the waterfall.
gisellgomez7710
Fresno, California19 contributions
Has anybody been to the Café inside Stow Lake boathouse? If so, was it good/bad quality food and the price? I'm going there in 2 weeks I just want to know if I should spend the money to eat there or not. thanks in advance!!
happy4travel
Northern California1,290 contributions
We thought the coffee was good. We were there for a party. Everyone seemed to enjoy the coffee and the venue.
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Claim your listingSTOW LAKE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Stow Lake
- Hotels near Stow Lake:
- (3.80 km) Hotel Drisco Pacific Heights
- (3.81 km) Lodge at the Presidio
- (3.39 km) Inn at the Presidio
- (4.32 km) Parker Guest House
- (4.62 km) Union Street Inn
- Restaurants near Stow Lake:
- (0.71 km) de Young Cafe
- (0.68 km) Han II Kwan Korean Restaurant
- (1.83 km) Pacific Cafe
- (1.87 km) Burma Superstar Restaurant
- (1.09 km) Pacific Catch