Metson Lake - Golden Gate Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Metson Lake, Golden Gate Park, Middle Drive West, San Francisco, CA 94122
Location: Metson Lake is on Middle Drive West, just southeast of the Golden Gate Park Polo Field, slightly east of the intersection of Middle Road and Metson Road, and slightly north of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, near 30thAve.
Information links (if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser):
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 Lakes information link (sfrecpark.org):
https://sfrecpark.org/777/Gardens-Groves-and-Lakes
Golden Gate Park information link:
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Elk Glen Picnic Area information link (goldengatepark.com):
https://sfrecpark.org/920/GGP---Elk-Glen-Picnic-Area
Distance:
Metson Lake is a tiny body of water, so making 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 Metson 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 Metson 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.
• On any hike or walk, avoid contact with poison oak. Scrubs like Technu are helpful if exposed.
The trail:
Metson 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 lakes, with Metson being the smallest of the three.
We like to walk eastward along Middle Drive starting from near the intersection with Metson Road. There is a mixture of eucalyptus trees and pines along this stretch, as well as the intermittent vintage lampposts which are part of Golden Gate Park’s charm.
Rising up toward a bright area through the trees at the western side of Metson Lake is a tree root-filled dirt pathway that rises up to the lake edge, guarded over by large pine trees.
Large white Cala lilies grow along the sides of the small lake, and in spring, pink cherry blossoms reflect on the lake surface.
The mirror reflection of blue skies and trees on a clear, calm day offer one special pleasure of visiting the lake. Misty cool days with fog floating on the surface offer another. There’s nothing like a foggy day in San Francisco where you can hear a bird land in the water but can’t see it for the fog.
Turtles, ducks, geese, songbirds, hawks and sometimes herons make the lake a lively place for listening and looking.
Metson Lake has benches scattered around for those wishing to sit and contemplate. This makes for a great start to a three lake loop walk moving from Metson, to Elk Glen Lake and then looping back to Mallard Lake.
(Metson Lake – Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “No Stone Unturned” 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)
Metson Lake, Golden Gate Park, Middle Drive West, San Francisco, CA 94122
Location: Metson Lake is on Middle Drive West, just southeast of the Golden Gate Park Polo Field, slightly east of the intersection of Middle Road and Metson Road, and slightly north of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, near 30thAve.
Information links (if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser):
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 Lakes information link (sfrecpark.org):
https://sfrecpark.org/777/Gardens-Groves-and-Lakes
Golden Gate Park information link:
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Elk Glen Picnic Area information link (goldengatepark.com):
https://sfrecpark.org/920/GGP---Elk-Glen-Picnic-Area
Distance:
Metson Lake is a tiny body of water, so making 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 Metson 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 Metson 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.
• On any hike or walk, avoid contact with poison oak. Scrubs like Technu are helpful if exposed.
The trail:
Metson 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 lakes, with Metson being the smallest of the three.
We like to walk eastward along Middle Drive starting from near the intersection with Metson Road. There is a mixture of eucalyptus trees and pines along this stretch, as well as the intermittent vintage lampposts which are part of Golden Gate Park’s charm.
Rising up toward a bright area through the trees at the western side of Metson Lake is a tree root-filled dirt pathway that rises up to the lake edge, guarded over by large pine trees.
Large white Cala lilies grow along the sides of the small lake, and in spring, pink cherry blossoms reflect on the lake surface.
The mirror reflection of blue skies and trees on a clear, calm day offer one special pleasure of visiting the lake. Misty cool days with fog floating on the surface offer another. There’s nothing like a foggy day in San Francisco where you can hear a bird land in the water but can’t see it for the fog.
Turtles, ducks, geese, songbirds, hawks and sometimes herons make the lake a lively place for listening and looking.
Metson Lake has benches scattered around for those wishing to sit and contemplate. This makes for a great start to a three lake loop walk moving from Metson, to Elk Glen Lake and then looping back to Mallard Lake.
(Metson Lake – Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “No Stone Unturned” 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
