Mountain Lake-Anza Trail
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Mountain Lake is at the southern edge of the Presidio, just north of Lake St. and 12th Ave., near Park Presidio Blvd. (road to the Golden Gate Bridge)
Location: We like starting our Anza Trail and Mountain Lake Trail walk from near 15th Ave. and Lake Street, which offers a walk on the west side of Park Presidio Blvd. and then through an underpass beneath the busy roadway to Mountain Lake.
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.)
Mountain Lake info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/mountain-lake
Mountain Lake Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/mountain-lake-trail
Mountain Lake info link (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/mountain-lake.htm
Anza Historic Trail info link (Anza Historic Trail):
https://anzahistorictrail.org/county/san-francisco-ca/
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/trails/juan-bautista-de-anza-national-historic-trail
Mountain Lake Trail info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/trails/mountain-lake-trail
Presidio map link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-trails.pdf
Distance:
The route we like for Mountain Lake walks starts from near Lake Street and 15th Ave. A short path from 15thAve. connects to the Anza National Historic Trail, which we walk a short distance until it connects to a small path leading east past the Marine Cemetery Vista. Wooden walkways and steps lead down to the Park Trail, which we follow north as it passes above Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd until it connects to the Mountain Lake Trail. (It is also possible to skip the extra Marine Cemetery Vista section and just follow the Park Trail northeast to the Mountain Lake Trail.) The Mountain Lake Trail leads through an underpass and then around Mountain Lake which includes a park, picnic area and playground. The full loop around the lake and back to the starting point along Lake Street is between 1.5 and 2 miles. (Look in the San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area for other Presidio walks.)
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Parking rules vary from street to street, so read parking signs carefully. There are also public transportation options. (https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/routes-stops).
• There are public toilets at the Mountain Lake Park playground near Lake Street and 12th Avenue.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Bay Area weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
Though it is possible to park at Funston and Lake St. and walk the short path to the Mountain Lake Park playground and lake area, we like to make a loop walk of it, so we find street parking near Lake Street and 15th Ave. The paths in this part of the Presidio offer views of some historic buildings.
From the entry path from 15th Ave., the Anza National Historic Trail, which goes along Wedermeyer Street, continues north. We take this trail for a short distance until the trees on the right side of the trail mark where we turn right (east) and walk through the open space leading to the Marine Cemetery Vista area. A path and wooden steps continuing east then lead down to the Park Trail.
The Park Trail parallels the Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd. (road to the Golden Gate Bridge). Where the path forks, the Park Trail on the left continues north, but we take the Mountain Lake Trail which veers to the right. This leads walkers through the underpass below the busy roadway.
Mountain Lake Trail continues along tree-lined stretches and eventually reaches a break in the shrubbery to a lake viewing spot with wooden benches. Hugging the lake perimeter, this trail eventually connects to a wider path that continues east, leading away from the lake. To continue around the lake, however, turn right on the narrower path. This part of the trail is lined with a stone wall part of the way, and leads past picnic areas, a meadow, and the stone and metal plaque marking a historic Anza visiting spot.
Steps down to the shore of Mountain Lake open up to the right, and tennis courts and the playground are ahead on the left. This is a good area for a stop to view birds on the lake, play on the playground (this is where public toilet facilities are), and then take the path up behind the public restroom building and walk down to Lake Street and Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd. to return to the 15th Ave. gate starting point.
For other Presidio walks, check out the San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area.
Mountain Lake-Anza Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Eyes to the Sky” 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)
Mountain Lake is at the southern edge of the Presidio, just north of Lake St. and 12th Ave., near Park Presidio Blvd. (road to the Golden Gate Bridge)
Location: We like starting our Anza Trail and Mountain Lake Trail walk from near 15th Ave. and Lake Street, which offers a walk on the west side of Park Presidio Blvd. and then through an underpass beneath the busy roadway to Mountain Lake.
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.)
Mountain Lake info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/places/mountain-lake
Mountain Lake Trail info link (Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy):
https://www.parksconservancy.org/trails/mountain-lake-trail
Mountain Lake info link (National Park Service):
https://www.nps.gov/places/000/mountain-lake.htm
Anza Historic Trail info link (Anza Historic Trail):
https://anzahistorictrail.org/county/san-francisco-ca/
Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/trails/juan-bautista-de-anza-national-historic-trail
Mountain Lake Trail info link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/trails/mountain-lake-trail
Presidio map link (Presidio.gov):
https://www.presidio.gov/transportation-internal/Shared%20Documents/presidio-trails.pdf
Distance:
The route we like for Mountain Lake walks starts from near Lake Street and 15th Ave. A short path from 15thAve. connects to the Anza National Historic Trail, which we walk a short distance until it connects to a small path leading east past the Marine Cemetery Vista. Wooden walkways and steps lead down to the Park Trail, which we follow north as it passes above Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd until it connects to the Mountain Lake Trail. (It is also possible to skip the extra Marine Cemetery Vista section and just follow the Park Trail northeast to the Mountain Lake Trail.) The Mountain Lake Trail leads through an underpass and then around Mountain Lake which includes a park, picnic area and playground. The full loop around the lake and back to the starting point along Lake Street is between 1.5 and 2 miles. (Look in the San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area for other Presidio walks.)
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Parking rules vary from street to street, so read parking signs carefully. There are also public transportation options. (https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/routes-stops).
• There are public toilets at the Mountain Lake Park playground near Lake Street and 12th Avenue.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Bay Area weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
Though it is possible to park at Funston and Lake St. and walk the short path to the Mountain Lake Park playground and lake area, we like to make a loop walk of it, so we find street parking near Lake Street and 15th Ave. The paths in this part of the Presidio offer views of some historic buildings.
From the entry path from 15th Ave., the Anza National Historic Trail, which goes along Wedermeyer Street, continues north. We take this trail for a short distance until the trees on the right side of the trail mark where we turn right (east) and walk through the open space leading to the Marine Cemetery Vista area. A path and wooden steps continuing east then lead down to the Park Trail.
The Park Trail parallels the Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd. (road to the Golden Gate Bridge). Where the path forks, the Park Trail on the left continues north, but we take the Mountain Lake Trail which veers to the right. This leads walkers through the underpass below the busy roadway.
Mountain Lake Trail continues along tree-lined stretches and eventually reaches a break in the shrubbery to a lake viewing spot with wooden benches. Hugging the lake perimeter, this trail eventually connects to a wider path that continues east, leading away from the lake. To continue around the lake, however, turn right on the narrower path. This part of the trail is lined with a stone wall part of the way, and leads past picnic areas, a meadow, and the stone and metal plaque marking a historic Anza visiting spot.
Steps down to the shore of Mountain Lake open up to the right, and tennis courts and the playground are ahead on the left. This is a good area for a stop to view birds on the lake, play on the playground (this is where public toilet facilities are), and then take the path up behind the public restroom building and walk down to Lake Street and Park Presidio/Veterans Blvd. to return to the 15th Ave. gate starting point.
For other Presidio walks, check out the San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area.
Mountain Lake-Anza Trail Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Eyes to the Sky” 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
