karen portrait circle

By Karen

Updated December 27, 2023.

Golden Gate Park
A local's guide to the best of the park 

Here are all the best things to do in Golden Gate Park! The well-known and much-loved attractions, plus all the hidden and off-beat activities.

Golden Gate Park is one of the best things about San Francisco. You could spend a week here and not see and do everything!

Golden Gate Park hours: the park is open from 5 am till midnight every day.

Jump to...

Golden Gate Park is larger than Central Park in NYC, stretching from the center of the city, in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, all the way out to the western edge at Ocean Beach.

Aerial view of Golden Gate ParkGolden Gate Park
(Image thanks to Hispalois, under CC-BY-SA license.)

There's something for everyone here: world-class art and science museums, the Japanese Tea Garden, botanical gardens and lakes to go boating on. Plus miles of walking and biking trails.

Some of the best things are tucked away and not well-known except to locals, like the imaginative Koret Children's Playground and carousel, Portals of the Past "ruin", Stow Lake, the Shakespeare Garden and the Beach Chalet.

What to see and do in Golden Gate Park...

Map of San Francisco showing Golden Gate Park, Lands End and the Presidio.
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Golden Gate Park is three miles long, one half a mile wide and has over 1000 acres of grounds.

Locals love this park, and there's a lot here for visitors to enjoy. But how to approach such a massive list of things to see and do?

I've divided this into three sections:


The Main Attractions in Golden Gate Park

If you have just a brief time to explore, here are some of the best things to see in Golden Gate Park. 

  • Academy of Sciences
  • Japanese Tea Garden
  • Botanical Garden
  • de Young Museum
  • Conservatory of Flowers
  • Stow Lake

The California Academy of Sciences is San Francisco's premier science museum.

Explore the four-level Rainforest, the Steinhart Aquarium, and state-of-the-art Planetarium. Check out the Living Roof, too.

See Academy of Sciences for more info and tips for visiting.

The Japanese Tea Garden is a favorite spot. Beautiful, peaceful paths over pools and  past pagodas, with Japanese refreshments at the Tea House to finish off.

More info on visiting the Tea Garden

San Francisco's Botanical Garden has 50 acres of green loveliness. Wander through the Prehistoric Plants Garden, wax poetic in the Moon Viewing Garden or inhale the Fragrance Garden. 

See Botanical Garden for photos and info on everything to see here.

The de Young Museum has an enormous art collection, from 19th Century paintings, abstract art, African masks, pre-Columbian pottery, and special traveling exhibits like King Tut or the Impressionists.

Find out what's at the de Young.

The Conservatory of Flowers takes you back to the Victorian era. Explore the rooms of orchids and carnivorous pitcher plants, plus the high altitude cloud forest and giant lily pond.

See Conservatory of Flowers for details and visiting info.

Stow Lake is a big favorite of the locals. Charming, man-made lake with waterfalls and a Chinese Temple, with pleasant walking trails and boats to rent. 

Climb Strawberry Hill in the center to see views of SF and the bridge.

More on Stow Lake: tips for visiting and renting the boats.


Action! Cool Things to Do in the Park


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Bike Rentals in Golden Gate Park

Plus roller skate & rollerblade rentals

Golden Gate Park is a great place to ride a bike; there are miles of trails, paved and not, winding through attractive scenery and past the park's numerous attractions. 

Renting bikes. There are three options for bike rentals in the park.

  • Parkwide Bike Rentals and Tours. 2 park locations (see below).
  • Bay City Bike Rentals and Tours. 1669 Haight Street.
  • Golden Gate Tours and Bike Rentals. 1816 Haight Street.
Map of Golden Gate Park showing locations of bike rentals.
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate

This bike and rollerblade rental shop had been a local fixture for decades. This was a local business that has been providing bicycles and roller skates/rollerblades for people to use in the park at a convenient location on Fulton Street at 7th Avenue  (3038 Fulton Street).

Sadly, this business has closed. I used to rent skates from them when my son was young. They had the best rates for bike rentals. Very sorry to see them go.

Golden Gate Park Bike and Skate bike rental shop, San FranciscoGolden Gate Park Bike and Skate


Skater Dance Party: this is an area that skaters like to gather and skate to music, or just learn to skate. That area is off Fulton directly across from 6th Ave. See Orange Dot on map above.

Adults and children rollerskating in Golden Gate ParkSkating Area in Golden Gate Park

Parkwide Bike Rentals

Parkwide rents bikes, at two park locations.

One is just behind the band shell on the Music Concourse, between the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.

Their other park bike rental office is at 1669 Haight Street, two blocks from the park.

Bike rental kiosk, Golden Gate ParkBike Rentals Behind the Band Shell

Parkwide does bike rentals at 5 locations in the city, plus has guided bike tours available for the park and other areas of the city. They have surreys and tandem bikes for rent as well.

See Parkwide for info and booking.

Red surrey for rent, behind the Music Bandshell in Golden Gate Park.Surrey for Rent, Two-Seater Version

Note on the surreys: they are really cool, but are heavy going on hills.

The park is fairly flat, but even slight hills are a lot of work in a surrey! No gears.

The flattest route is along JFK Drive past the de Young Museum and Conservatory of Flowers; easy access from the Bandshell. They come in two and four-person versions.


Bay City Bike Rentals

Bay City Bikes also does bike rentals and guided tours of the park.

Their office is at the same location as Parkwide, at 1669 Haight Street.

See Bay City Bikes for info and booking.


Golden Gate Tours and Bike Rentals

Golden Gate Bikes rents bikes (but doesn't do guided tours).  

They're right next to the park, between Stanyan and Schrader.  1816 Haight Street.

See Golden Gate Bikes for info and booking.


All three businesses have tandem bikes, kids bikes, and trailers for rent.

Parkwide has surreys for rent.

Tips for saving money:

Golden Gate Tours and Bike Rentals's all day rental is sometimes 20% off if booked online.  Goldengateparkbikerental.com

Bay City Bike's all day rental is 20% off if booked online. Baycitybike.com

Parkwide's all day rental is 10% off booked online. Parkwide.com

For bike tours of Golden Gate Park, see below.


Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Golden Gate Park has a 9-hole, par-3, public golf course on JFK Drive, near the western end of the park. Goldengateparkgolf.com

Fairway and patio, Golden Gate Park golf course.9th Fairway at the Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Archery in Golden Gate Park

There's a large archery range in the park, free to use, and maintained by a local club. It's just off Fulton Street where 47th Avenue enters the park.

Drawing a bow, Golden Gate Park archery rangeGolden Gate Park Archery Range

The range is open for the public to use during the day, seven days a week.

If you don't have the equipment, there is an archery store nearby that will rent you the bows and arrows and other equipment, and give you a ten minute quickie course in using the equipment. Very nice people. 

SF Archery Pro Shop. 3795 Balboa Street.

For more info on the archery range, and other archery classes, see my page on SF Archery.


Golden Gate Park Disc Golf

Golden Gate Park has a disc golf course tucked in amongst the trees (more challenging!). Another place to play in the park created and maintained by a local group. On JFK Drive.

The bike rental shop at 3038 Fulton Street at 7th Ave rents and sells disc golf equipment.

Sign showing map of disc golf course in Golden Gate Park.

See my page on disc golf in the park, with info and pictures of the course.


Koret Children's Quarter  & Carousel

One of the most popular city playgrounds is in the eastern end of Golden Gate Park. It recently got a complete makeover, and has lots of fun play structures and fanciful elements.

Reptile and blue waves at Koret Children's Playgorund, Golden Gate ParkReptiles and Waves, Children's Playground

Fortunately, they kept the best feature of the old playground: the cement slides. Sized for kids, they aren't as steep and fast as the primo cement slides of Seward Street, but they are nice and long, and sufficiently fast for the little ones.

There is a wonderful carousel next to the playground, built in 1914,  with beautifully-restored animals. Hop on a frog, a dragon, or maybe a rooster, for a turn on the merry-go-round, and check out the local scenes decorating the carousel.

Armored horse on the Golden Gate Park carouselKnightly Steed

Art in the Park

There is a place to do art in the attractive building next to the Carousel. The Sharon Art Studio has classes in painting, ceramics, jewelry-making, and more. All ages. See sharonartstudio.org for their list of classes and info.

Lindy in the Park

Every Sunday a group gathers off JFK Drive near the entrance to the Music Concourse area (near the de Young Museum). You can join in for free lessons in dancing the Lindy, a form of swing dancing.

Looks like good fun, with all levels of ability represented, so don't feel shy about joining in.

Every Sunday 11 to 2. Free lesson at noon every Sunday.  Lindyinthepark.com

Lindy in the Park sign, Golden Gate Park

Lawn Bowling and Petanque

There's a lawn bowling court near the Children's Playground; the local club is active, and you'll often see them there in their white bowling outfits (or not).

Lawn bowling in Golden Gate Park

The Petanque courts are in another area, near the Dog Training Area, just west of Spreckels Lake. 


Tennis Courts

In March of 2021, a new tennis complex opened in Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park has 16 tennis courts and a pickleball court for public use, located just off JFK Drive,  across from the Conservatory of Flowers.

The courts are open daily, 8 am to 10 pm, reservations required, no more first-come, first-served.

To reserve a court, go to tennis reservations.

415 581-2540 for questions.

Court Fees

Weekdays 8am-3pm: $14 (SF residents $10); seniors 65+ $7 (residents $5); 17 and under (weekdays 8-6): $14 (residents free).

Weekends, holidays, & weekdays 3-10 pm: $18 (SF residents $11).


Fly Fishing in the Park?

There are lots of odd little places in Golden Gate Park that surprise and delight the wanderer.

Golden Gate Park has casting pools set up to practice fly fishing. Not much used, but neat to have. They have their own little lodge, as well.

Fly casting pools, Golden Gate ParkFly Casting Pools

Boating and Hiking in the Park

Stow Lake is the place to rent boats. Choose a paddle boat,  a rowboat or an electric boat, and sail around the lake.

One leisurely trip around the island takes about an hour, and you can stop at the snack bar afterwards for burgers or hot dogs to revive you.

Stow Lake is also one of the best places for walking. Circle the island to admire the waterfall and Chinese Pavilion, or climb Strawberry Hill for the views.

Stone bridge at Stow Lake, Golden Gate ParkStone Bridge at Stow Lake

There plenty of free parking around the lake.

The name of the lake was recently changed to Blue Heron Lake.

See more on Stow Lake, boat rental info, and how to get there.


Picnics in the Park

Golden Gate Park is a great place for picnics.

Loads of pretty meadows surrounded by trees and flowers are found all through the park, and picnic tables are provided here and there.

Picnic areas, Golden Gate ParkInviting Spot for a Picnic

Many of the picnic areas have BBQ grills; or you can bring your own.

To reserve a picnic area, go to Golden Gate Park reservations.


Free Band Concerts

The Golden Gate Park Band is back! They've started their Sunday concerts again, after almost two years of absence due to the pandemic. Here's an article about their history and return to the park.

Every Sunday at 1:00 p.m, from the beginning of May into the first week of October, the Golden Gate Park Band gives a free concert on the Music Concourse, the flat area between the Academy of Sciences and the de Young Museum.

There are rows of chairs for spectators among the trees in front of the Band Shell at one end of the Concourse. Each concert has a different theme; the last one I watched was Big Band music, lots of fun.

The concert starts with the National Anthem.

See Golden Gate Park Band for the schedule.


Golden Gate Park Tours

You can take a tour of the park as well, to get a good overview.

  • Hop On Hop Off Bus
  • Segway Tours
  • Go Car Tour
  • Bike Tours

Hop on Hop Off Bus: these convenient bus tours go all around the city and stop in the park near some of the main attractions (de Young Museum, Tea Garden, Academy of Sciences, Conservatory of Flowers).

It's not really a tour of the park, but you do hear about the attractions you're passing. It's mainly useful for getting you there without a car, and back to the other areas of the city.

See Hop on Hop Off Bus for booking and more info.


Segway Tour: (not running at the moment-check back later)

This highly-rated tour takes you all over the park, explains the history, and lets you see lots of cool things. Fine for beginners and beyond (they do a 40 minute training session before you set out).

Meet at the Segway kiosk behind the Band Shell on the Music Concourse (next to the Parkwide bike rentals marked on the map above). I've seen them whizzing around the park; looks like fun!

Segway lesson, Golden Gate ParkSegway Lesson Behind the Band Shell

See Segway Tours for booking and more info.


Go Car Tours: zoom around the park (and the rest of the city, if you want), in the self-guided Go Car. You'll hear information about the attractions in your ear as you drive near them. Plus you can park anywhere, and get out and explore.

I did this tour and had a great time! See my page on what it's like, plus tips on driving the Go Car, at my Go Car experience. I've included copies of the map that shows the routes available.  Read about our mistakes;-)

For availability and booking, see Go Car Tours.


Guided Bike Tours:  Have a guide show you the park. They take you through the Haight Ashbury neighborhood at the eastern end of the park, all through the park, and out to the ocean by the Cliff House and the ruins of the Sutro Baths.

Starting point at 622 Schrader St. $50, 2-3 hours.

See Guided Bike Tour for more info and booking.

Self-guided Bike Tours: Parkwide, Bay City Bike and Golden Gate Rentals have self-guided bike tours. They send you off with a map with suggested tour routes on them. Very popular. 

See self-guided tours for info and booking.


The Extras: More Fun Things to Explore
Off the Beaten Track...


The Golden Gate Park Windmills

When Golden Gate Park was being created, two windmills were built on the western edge to pump water for irrigation.

These windmills provided water for the plants in the western half of the park for its early years, until 1935, when electric pumps took over.

The windmills pumped water up to the reservoir on top of Strawberry Hill at Stow Lake, and that water was used to irrigate the eastern side of the park.

Excess water was released into Stow Lake via the waterfall by the Chinese Pavilion.

Both windmills had fallen into serious disrepair by the 1950's.

They stood at the edges of the park for many years in a raggedly condition, but were recently restored and are quite impressive to see now.

The Dutch Windmill

The northern windmill was built in 1902 and was donated to the city by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands. 

A beautiful garden has been planted at the base of the windmill, which displays masses of tulips in the early spring (February and March in SF), and other flowers the rest of the year.

Dutch Windmill and Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden, Golden Gate ParkDutch Windmill

See more info on the Dutch Windmill and the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden.

Murphy Windmill

The southern windmill was built in 1908 and is now decorative only. It's the largest windmill of its kind in the world.  

Murphy Windmill is the scene of the annual Dutch festival, King's Day, where you can join the Dutch community, wear orange (color of Dutch royalty, the House of Orange), eat and drink, play games and celebrate all things Dutch. Held at the end of April every year. See King's Day for the schedule.

Murphy Windmill, Golden Gate ParkMurphy Windmill

The Gardens of Golden Gate Park

Of course the park itself is one big garden, and the Botanical Garden and Conservatory of Flowers have amazing collections, but there are also many unique gardens tucked here and there, which focus on a specific floral theme.

These varied gardens are often placed off the well-worn paths, and are sweet spots for quiet contemplation and relaxation.

  • Rose Garden
  • Shakespeare Garden
  • Fuchsia Dell
  • Rhododendron Garden
  • Redwoods Grove
  • AIDS Memorial Garden
  • Fern Grotto
  • Dahlia Garden
  • Tulip Garden

I went through the park and found them all; most I had never seen before, in spite of living here many years. 

The Shakespeare Garden has over 200 of the flowers and plants mentioned in Shakespeare's works. It's a popular wedding venue.

Metal gate entrance to Shakespeare Garden, Golden Gate ParkEnter the Shakespeare Garden

To find more info and see photos of all the these gardens, plus a map I created showing where to find them, check out Golden Gate Park gardens.


Spreckels Lake

Spreckels Lake is a good-sized body of water, where you can watch the model-boat enthusiasts sailing their yachts.

Sailing model yachts on Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park

There's a nice walking path around it, and a group of turtles have claimed it as their home (look for them on the turtle sculpture). Named after the Spreckels Sugar family, big donors to the park.

Turtles resting on turtle sculpture in Spreckels Lake

Horses and Stables

Equitation Field

Horseback rides for the public are back again!

After an absence of many years, the rides returned briefly to Golden Gate Park in the summer of 2017, then again in the winter of 2019/2020, after an absence of many years. And they have returned once more, hopefully for good.

They are located at the Bercut Equitation Field, a riding ring on the Chain of Lakes Drive in the outer park. See my page on horseback riding in the park for what the trail ride is like.

To see all the various rides available, and to book a ride, see Chaparral rides.

People can also make arrangements through the park offices to bring their own horses to ride here.

Pinto pony, horseback riding in Golden Gate ParkPinto Pony Ready for Riding

Golden Gate Park Stables

In addition to some horses being privately boarded here, the San Francisco Police Department keeps their mounted-police horses in the park stables and you'll often see the officers riding in the park on patrol. 

Golden Gate Park stablesGolden Gate Park Stables

Portals of the Past

The white gateway with its classical columns, standing alone on the shore of Lloyd Lake, looks like it was constructed in the manner of a romantic, Edwardian-era,  faux ruin.

But this ruin is genuine and has an interesting past.

Portals of the Past, at Lloyd Lake,  Golden Gate ParkPortals of the Past, Lloyd Lake

This was originally the entryway of a California Street mansion owned by Alban Towne


Alban Towne mansion, San Francisco, before destruction in 1906 earthquakeAlban Towne Home Before the Earthquake
(Photo courtesy of San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library)

The house on Nob Hill was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and the portal was donated to the park by Towne's wife in 1909, as a reminder of the devastation suffered by the city.

Ruined portal of the Alban home after the 1906 earthquake.Remains of Towne Mansion in 1906

The photo above was take by Arnold Genthe, a well-known, San Francisco photographer of the time. His studio, along with many of his photographs, were also destroyed in the fire.

In the distance, you can see the dome of San Francisco's City Hall, also wrecked in the earthquake.

Are the lake and the portal haunted? Some say they are. Wraithlike forms and balls of light have been reported after dark!

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes) visited the lake in 1923 because of its spectral reputation, and the lake was mentioned in the Hitchcock film, Vertigo.

That's not the only haunted place in San Francisco, or even in Golden Gate Park! Check out all 24 ghostly spots in the city.


More Lakes and  Waterfalls...

Waterfalls

Golden Gate Park has some pretty waterfalls scattered here and there. A particularly nice one is near the Chinese Pavilion at Stow Lake

There's another tall one on MLK Drive near Stow Lake, and a gurgling low one joins the waters of Portals of the Past, a neoclassical structure on Lloyd Lake.

Rainbow Falls, a waterfall on JFK Drive near Transverse Drive, marks the location of the hidden Prayerbook Cross

Rainbow Falls in Golden Gate ParkPrayerbook Cross Waterfall

Take the path to the right of the pond and up the hill, and you'll come to a huge stone Celtic cross, the Prayerbook Cross. This was donated by the Church of England in 1894.

Some speculate that it was allowed to become hidden by vegetation to protect it from the political scrutiny that befell the large cross on Mount Davidson.

Lakes in Golden Gate Park

There are 10 lakes in Golden Gate Park, plus various ponds, all man-made except for the three in the Chain of Lakes in the western part of the park.

Stow Lake is the largest.

Map of lakes and ponds in Golden Gate ParkGolden Gate Park Lakes
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

Statues of Golden Gate Park

All through the park you'll find statues. Many famous subjects, plus some unknowns, are placed here and there, often partially hidden by shrubbery.

A tribute to Cervantes is near the de Young Museum, and Beethoven is seen frowning near the Academy of Sciences.

Statue of Cervantes, Don Quixote, and Sancho Panza in Golden Gate Park.Cervantes, with Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

Keep an eye out for the artists, poets, composers, baseball players and some cool animals decorating the park. I particularly like the mountain lion and bear guarding the park entrance at 8th Avenue.

And now, a gleaming, chrome pirate lurks near the de Young Museum, behind some bushes near the pond. 

Even John McLaren, creator of much of what you now see in the park, got his own statue. Kind of funny, because he was outspoken is his dislike of the statues already in his park.

They waited until he died to put up his statue. He's standing in an out-of- the-way spot, in the woods by the Rhododendron Dell; fitting, since McLaren used to plant shrubbery to hide the other statues!

John McLaren statue in the Rhododendron Dell, Golden Gate ParkJohn McLaren

A statue of Robert Emmet, an Irish patriot,  stands in front of the Academy of Sciences. He was executed in 1803 for rebellion against the British.


Hippie Hill & the Janis Joplin Tree

In the Summer of Love in 1967, one area of the park became Hippie Central. 

The area called Hippie Hill became a favorite gathering place for the flower children drawn to San Francisco... a place for playing music, dancing, hanging out and doing drugs.

This is where the Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin, and others,  gave impromptu, free performances. Many of them lived in the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood adjoining the eastern end of Golden Gate Park.

This is still a gathering place for the 21st Century hippies, or hippie-wanna-be's. On sunny days, especially on weekends, you'll usually find a drumming circle there, and people hanging out on the grass (and smoking it).

One of the trees is famous for being the spot where Janis Joplin used to sit and play her guitar.

Janis Joplin Tree, Golden Gate ParkThe Janis Joplin Tree

For the best things to see and do the Haight Ashbury neighborhood next door, see Haight Ashbury. Includes a map of where to find the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, and Jefferson Airplane houses.


The Buffalo Paddock

Golden Gate Park has its own herd of bison which live in the park, just off JFK Drive near 43rd Avenue.

Wrongly named "buffalo paddock", these animals are North American bison, quite a different species.

North American bison in field of dry grass.North American Bison

To be candid, the bison themselves are not terribly interesting (they tend to hang out far from the viewing area and don't move around much). The more interesting aspect is, why is there a bison herd in Golden Gate Park?

There have been bison in the park since 1890, when a pair was brought from the Great Plains and donated to the park. Relatives of the current residents contributed to the rebuilding of the bison population in the U.S. when it was nearing extinction.

They can be seen grazing in a large enclosure behind a chainlink fence, on the north side of JFK Drive, near the Chain of Lakes.

Apparently they can be dangerous, as in unpredictable charges at 35 miles per hour, but they're in a fenced area and seem very placid.


2023 Events in the Park

Golden Gate Park is a popular venue for a number of annual events and special events as well.

Golden Gate Park Annual Events for 2024:

See full calendar of events and details.


Good to Know...

  • Shuttle route information - more limited route.
  • Dogs in the Park: off-leash areas and coyote warning.
  • Road closure schedule.  

Golden Gate Park Shuttle

Golden Gate Park runs a free shuttle, on weekends and holidays, from the eastern end of the park to the middle at Transverse Drive, along  JFK Drive. 

Free shuttle in Golden Gate ParkThe Free Shuttle

The shuttle is scheduled to run Saturday, Sunday and holidays, every 15 minutes, from 9 am to 6 pm,  though it may be more like 20 or 30 minutes in practice. 

Mon-Fri it runs every 20-25 minutes, 12-6 pm.

There are pick up points all through the park along JFK Drive (see map below).  with detours around the Music Concourse and up to Stow Lake. The stops are marked with a sign.

Golden Gate Park shuttle sign

Visitors can park anywhere inside the park itself, though finding a spot inside the park can be challenging closer to the popular attractions.

Unfortunately, the shuttle doesn't run out to the large Ocean Beach parking lot anymore. It will get you halfway out to the beach, into the middle of the park just past Stow Lake.

Tip: if parking is tricky the day you go, it's usually not too hard to park along the western stretch of JFK Drive, near the bison paddock, or Spreckels Lake,  both of which have shuttle stops nearby (marked on map).

But...don't leave any possessions visible in your car when you park in the lot, or anywhere else in the park. Lots of car break-ins here!

Golden Gate Park free shuttle mapFree Shuttle Map

Dogs in the Park

Golden Gate Park is a popular place for locals to bring their dogs for exercise. Dogs are required to be on leash, except for a few designated off-leash areas.

Map of off-leash, dog areas in Golden Gate Park.
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA

 #1: only fenced area    #2: unofficial area


Coyote warning: coyotes have attacked dogs in the park, even large dogs on leash, so keep a look-out if you bring your dog here. Be especially careful with small dogs off leash; several have been snatched by coyotes right in from of their people.

Coyote warning sign in Pine Lake ParkCoyote Warning in Park

The park staff have started putting up notice boards where coyotes have been seen recently, but they live in the park, so they could be seen anywhere. 

Coyote attacks on humans are extremely rare, so it shouldn't be a worry for visitors to the park.  I'm in the park a lot, and I've never even seen one there, but many people have.

If you see one, act bold and make noise. Don't approach them. They're mostly active around dawn and dusk, but they're often seen in the daytime, too. 


JFK Drive Road Closure

Following the passage of Proposition J in November of 2022, JFK Drive, which runs the length of the park, is now permanently closed to cars. 

This provides an auto-free area for cyclists and skaters to sail up and down the park, past the Conservatory, de Young Museum, and the Rose Garden. but it has come under criticism for making it harder for people with mobility disabilities to access this area.

The park shuttle is the only vehicle allowed in there now (plus occasional park maintenance vehicles).


History of Golden Gate Park

 San Francisco was booming after gold was discovered the hills in 1848. The small village of Yerba Buena mushroomed from 200 people in 1846, to over 56,000 in the new city of San Francisco by 1860.

The San Francisco numbers kept on climbing, and it was clear that the urban residents needed a park.

  • 1860: 56,802
  • 1870: 149,473
  • 1880: 298,997

In 1868, the city government set aside an area in the sparsely-populated sand dunes in the western part of San Francisco, known as the Outside Lands (now the Richmond and Sunset Districts, and the name of a popular annual concert).

It was a rather desolate, wind-swept area, with very few people, and wasn't considered very valuable real estate. It still has the grayest and windiest weather in San Francisco, but the real estate is no longer cheap!

The intention was to create a natural-looking park, with rustic bridges and winding roads and pathways. The biggest problem was getting plants to take root in the sandy and windy conditions.

Eventually the gardeners won, and the lush, green park took hold. A streetcar line ran out to the park making it easy to get out there,  and it became extremely popular with San Franciscans.

The park almost didn't happen. In 1876, some of the local millionaires (including Leland Stanford) tried to take over the area to build a racetrack, but after a power struggle with the Park Commissioners, the original plan for a park was reinstated. 

John McLaren, a Scottish landscape architect, was most responsible for the appearance of the park today. He lived in McLaren Lodge in the park until 1943, when he died at 96.


Food in the Park

Where can you eat in Golden Gate Park? There's a variety of food choices:

  • Beach Chalet. Nice restaurant with great view of the ocean, at the western end of park on the Great Highway. Cool WPA murals.
  • de Young Museum. Restaurant in the museum has good food; you don't have to pay the museum entry to eat there.
  • Academy of Sciences. Three restaurants inside (have to pay entry), good food.
  • Food trucks behind the Band Shell on the Music Concourse. Less expensive.
  • Stow Lake. Snack bar has burgers, hot dogs, salads, etc.
  • Japanese Tea Garden. Selection of Japanese treats.
  • Carousel and Golf Course have snacks.
  • During summer, there are little snack kiosks along JFK Drive.

Near the Park.  Just outside the park entrance, at Lincoln Way and 9th Ave, is a great neighborhood (Inner Sunset) that has a cluster of good restaurants.

Here are some I like, but there are lots of good restaurants in just those few blocks:

  • Arizmendi Bakery. A local favorite. 1331 9th Ave.
  • New Eritrea. For something different, tasty Eritrean food. 907 Irving St, at 10th Ave.

Getting to the Park

Public Transportation

The 5-Fulton bus runs along Fulton Street, along the northern edge of Golden Gate Park. You can catch it on Market Street, downtown.

See live map (stops and bus locations): 5-Fulton.

The N-Judah Muni streetcar runs along Judah Street, parallel to Golden Gate Park and two blocks to the south. You can catch it under Market Street (subway downtown).

See live map (stops and car locations): N-Judah.


Parking

There is one underground parking garage in the park, under the Music Concourse, with two entrances: at 10th Ave and Fulton St. under the de Young, and off MLK Drive on Music Concourse drive, under the Academy of Sciences

There's lots of parking on the roads throughout the park, but it can get congested in the area near the museums and Tea Garden. You should be able to park within walking distance of where you want to go.

Parking is free on the streets in the park, but some of the main roads have four-hour limits (check for signs).

Note: there have been lots of car break-ins in the park lately, so please don't leave anything in view; no bags, backpacks, jackets, etc. And no electronic devices, even if hidden. Thieves have bluetooth sensors now!

Parking Shuttle. There is a free parking shuttle that runs along JFK Drive on weekends and holidays, from 9 am to 6 pm. See map above (the official one has a mistake on it).

Ocean Beach Parking Lot. There is a huge, free parking lot at the far western end of the park at Ocean Beach. Unfortunately the free park shuttle doesn't come out there anymore.

See important info about the shuttle above.


Maps of Golden Gate Park

Map of Golden Gate Park, western half, attractions labeledWestern Golden Gate Park
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA


Map of Golden Gate Park, eastern half, attractions labeledEastern Golden Gate Park
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA



Golden Gate Park has some spooky spots that some say are haunted. Meet some of Golden Gate Park's famous ghosts.

More to explore near Golden Gate Park...

Map of western San Francisco showing points of interest near Golden Gate Park.
Map data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA


The Legion of Honor in Lands End is a wonderful art museum.

Lots of beautiful European paintings, and more, in a gorgeous setting.