Mallard Lake-Golden Gate Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Mallard Lake, Golden Gate Park, Martin Luther King Drive, San Francisco, CA 94122
Location: Mallard Lake is on Martin Luther King Drive, the middle of three lakes on the south side of Golden Gate Park near Lincoln Way. Mallard Lake is across from the Elk Glen Picnic Area to the north, and aligns approximately with 27th Ave. when looking at a map.
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Golden Gate Park information link:
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park Lakes information link (sfrecpark.org):
https://sfrecpark.org/777/Gardens-Groves-and-Lakes
Elk Glen Picnic Area information link (goldengatepark.com):
https://sfrecpark.org/920/GGP---Elk-Glen-Picnic-Area
Mallard Lake bird sighting information link (ebird.org):
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1352166
Distance:
Mallard Lake is not large, so a single loop around it is not a long walk. Golden Gate Park offers miles of trails, so visitors can create a walk as long or short as they wish with Mallard Lake as a feature stop.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• It is usually possible to find a parking spot within a short walking distance from Mallard Lake.
• Golden Gate Park has some regular weekend road closures (leaving roads open for pedestrians and bicyclists) and special event closures. See link above.
• Toilet facilities are at the north and south sides of the Polo Field, Hellman Hollow picnic area, and the Stow Lake Boathouse, all a bit of a walk from Mallard Lake.
• On any hike or walk, avoid contact with poison oak. Scrubs like Technu are helpful if exposed.
• Heed any health and safety notices, including recent wildlife alerts.
The trail:
Mallard Lake is one of several tiny lakes in Golden Gate Park. The loop created by Middle Drive West and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive includes three charming little lakes. Mallard Lake is the one in the middle, with Metson to the west and Elk Glen to the east. It is possible to park along Martin Luther King Drive right near the entrance to Mallard Lake, right across from the Elk Glen Picnic Area.
Just a loop walk around Mallard Lake is fairly short, so we often start from near the bathrooms on the south side of the polo field (closer to Metson Lake), and walk along Metson Road and Martin Luther King Drive to Mallard Lake, and then take the trail that passes through the Elk Glen Picnic Area to Middle Drive West and walk along that back toward the polo field where we started.
There are large trees at the east end of Mallard Lake, drawing walkers over a little rocky creek crossing onto a trail that passes under tree tunnels along the south side of the lake. This path tends to be quiet and is lined with blackberries in the summer. The western end of this south edge becomes quite marshy, with cattails and other pond plants. This is where we’ve seen some unusual birds, including a juvenile night heron. I once felt powerful waves of air beating toward me and heard a deep whooshing noise, only to look up and see that a great blue heron had just made a landing. See the ebird.org link above for the remarkable list of birds observed at this tiny body of water.
Walking along the north edge of Mallard Lake means walking along Martin Luther King Drive with park traffic, but the views of the lake from this side are absolutely magical. There’s something about the way the trees reflects in the water from all angles along this stretch that is really photogenic.
In addition to the herons, we’ve seen turtles, ducks, geese, songbirds, red-winged blackbirds, hawks and egrets at Mallard Lake. The turtles put on a good show at their log gathering places.
Those who’d like a longer walk can enjoy this lesser-known area of small lakes by making a three-lake loop walk of Elk Glen Lake, Metson Lake, and Mallard Lake.
(Mallard Lake-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “The Shimmer Beyond the Shadows” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Mallard Lake, Golden Gate Park, Martin Luther King Drive, San Francisco, CA 94122
Location: Mallard Lake is on Martin Luther King Drive, the middle of three lakes on the south side of Golden Gate Park near Lincoln Way. Mallard Lake is across from the Elk Glen Picnic Area to the north, and aligns approximately with 27th Ave. when looking at a map.
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser. (Information links may change. We do our best to update.)
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Golden Gate Park information link:
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park Lakes information link (sfrecpark.org):
https://sfrecpark.org/777/Gardens-Groves-and-Lakes
Elk Glen Picnic Area information link (goldengatepark.com):
https://sfrecpark.org/920/GGP---Elk-Glen-Picnic-Area
Mallard Lake bird sighting information link (ebird.org):
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1352166
Distance:
Mallard Lake is not large, so a single loop around it is not a long walk. Golden Gate Park offers miles of trails, so visitors can create a walk as long or short as they wish with Mallard Lake as a feature stop.
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• It is usually possible to find a parking spot within a short walking distance from Mallard Lake.
• Golden Gate Park has some regular weekend road closures (leaving roads open for pedestrians and bicyclists) and special event closures. See link above.
• Toilet facilities are at the north and south sides of the Polo Field, Hellman Hollow picnic area, and the Stow Lake Boathouse, all a bit of a walk from Mallard Lake.
• On any hike or walk, avoid contact with poison oak. Scrubs like Technu are helpful if exposed.
• Heed any health and safety notices, including recent wildlife alerts.
The trail:
Mallard Lake is one of several tiny lakes in Golden Gate Park. The loop created by Middle Drive West and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive includes three charming little lakes. Mallard Lake is the one in the middle, with Metson to the west and Elk Glen to the east. It is possible to park along Martin Luther King Drive right near the entrance to Mallard Lake, right across from the Elk Glen Picnic Area.
Just a loop walk around Mallard Lake is fairly short, so we often start from near the bathrooms on the south side of the polo field (closer to Metson Lake), and walk along Metson Road and Martin Luther King Drive to Mallard Lake, and then take the trail that passes through the Elk Glen Picnic Area to Middle Drive West and walk along that back toward the polo field where we started.
There are large trees at the east end of Mallard Lake, drawing walkers over a little rocky creek crossing onto a trail that passes under tree tunnels along the south side of the lake. This path tends to be quiet and is lined with blackberries in the summer. The western end of this south edge becomes quite marshy, with cattails and other pond plants. This is where we’ve seen some unusual birds, including a juvenile night heron. I once felt powerful waves of air beating toward me and heard a deep whooshing noise, only to look up and see that a great blue heron had just made a landing. See the ebird.org link above for the remarkable list of birds observed at this tiny body of water.
Walking along the north edge of Mallard Lake means walking along Martin Luther King Drive with park traffic, but the views of the lake from this side are absolutely magical. There’s something about the way the trees reflects in the water from all angles along this stretch that is really photogenic.
In addition to the herons, we’ve seen turtles, ducks, geese, songbirds, red-winged blackbirds, hawks and egrets at Mallard Lake. The turtles put on a good show at their log gathering places.
Those who’d like a longer walk can enjoy this lesser-known area of small lakes by making a three-lake loop walk of Elk Glen Lake, Metson Lake, and Mallard Lake.
(Mallard Lake-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “The Shimmer Beyond the Shadows” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
