North Lake-Golden Gate Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: North Lake is located along Chain of Lakes Drive between the junction with Fulton Street and the junction with John F. Kennedy Drive, in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Starting Point: North Lake is accessed most easily from the parking area near the intersection of Chain of Lakes Drive and Fulton St., or from the junction of Chain of Lakes Drive and John F Kennedy Drive.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
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
Distance:
The North Lake loop trail is approximately half a mile, but there are many miles of trails available within Golden Gate Park to make for a longer walk.
Considerations:
• There is parking near the junction of Fulton Street and Chain of Lakes Drive, and along John F. Kennedy Drive on either side of Chain of Lakes Drive.
• Toilet facilities are available nearby at North Lake and also at the Fly Fishing Pond (Golden Gate Angling and Casting) clubhouse.
• For those using public transportation, check out https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• Golden Gate Park is in a large city, but it is also home to coyote, fox, hawks, and other wildlife. Raccoons and coyotes are quite common in this area. Heed signs about wildlife and other health and safety notices.
• There is no charge for visiting North Lake.
The trail:
North Lake is the largest of the three lakes along Chain of Lakes Drive at the western end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Middle Lake across John F Kennedy Drive to the south underwent a renovation in recent years and makes a good extension for those who want to extend their scenic park walk.
Visitors can start from the north end of North Lake, from the parking area near Fulton along Chain of Lakes Drive, or start from the stairway that leads down to the North Lake paved trail from JFK Drive near the junction with Chain of Lakes Drive. Either starting place takes walkers around the full loop of the lake, about a half mile walk.
A restoration quite a few years ago cleared a lot of marsh plant buildup in the water, but the plant growth has overtaken parts of the lake again so that the south end is more like a marshy enclave while the north end is still open water.
The northern end of North Lake features picnic tables and also a large grassy area off from the parking loop. Plant and tree growth blocks some of the view that was available in the past, but a short walk along the loop brings clear views of the open lake area again.
The east side of North Lake has a couple of stopping spots with short stairs leading to sandy landings for looking out at the lake. There are some magically sculptural trees along the east side of the lake, and walking along this side leads to the southern end of the lake, where there is a bench centered facing the lake. This end of the lake has been more filled with plant life in recent times, so the open water view is at the other end at the time of this writing.
A charming stone wall edges the southwest end of the lake, and there are many enticing tree tunnels, a wooden foot bridge, and a choice between the path directly edging the lake or a parallel path that also leads back to the Fulton St. parking area, but has less of a lake view. The western side of the lake tends to have more raccoons out and about, partly due to people feeding them. Wild animals being enticed to interact with humans puts the animals in danger down the line.
North Lake makes for a nice short stroll, a scenic place to sit on a bench, or part of a larger walk exploring other parts of Golden Gate Park.
Those wishing to take a longer hike have plenty of options. Other hikes in this part of Golden Gate Park are noted in Bison, Fly Fishing and Horses-Golden Gate Park, Metson Lake-Golden Gate Park, Elk Glen Lake-Golden Gate Park, Mallard Lake-Golden Gate Park, Lloyd Lake-Golden Gate Park Stroll, Spreckels Lake-Golden Gate Park, Queen Wilhelmina Garden, Middle Lake-Golden Gate Park, Heroes Grove-Golden Gate Park and other Hike Notes under San Francisco in the Hike Search by Area page.
(North Lake-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “No Place Like Home” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop 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. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: North Lake is located along Chain of Lakes Drive between the junction with Fulton Street and the junction with John F. Kennedy Drive, in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Starting Point: North Lake is accessed most easily from the parking area near the intersection of Chain of Lakes Drive and Fulton St., or from the junction of Chain of Lakes Drive and John F Kennedy Drive.
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
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
Distance:
The North Lake loop trail is approximately half a mile, but there are many miles of trails available within Golden Gate Park to make for a longer walk.
Considerations:
• There is parking near the junction of Fulton Street and Chain of Lakes Drive, and along John F. Kennedy Drive on either side of Chain of Lakes Drive.
• Toilet facilities are available nearby at North Lake and also at the Fly Fishing Pond (Golden Gate Angling and Casting) clubhouse.
• For those using public transportation, check out https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• Golden Gate Park is in a large city, but it is also home to coyote, fox, hawks, and other wildlife. Raccoons and coyotes are quite common in this area. Heed signs about wildlife and other health and safety notices.
• There is no charge for visiting North Lake.
The trail:
North Lake is the largest of the three lakes along Chain of Lakes Drive at the western end of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. Middle Lake across John F Kennedy Drive to the south underwent a renovation in recent years and makes a good extension for those who want to extend their scenic park walk.
Visitors can start from the north end of North Lake, from the parking area near Fulton along Chain of Lakes Drive, or start from the stairway that leads down to the North Lake paved trail from JFK Drive near the junction with Chain of Lakes Drive. Either starting place takes walkers around the full loop of the lake, about a half mile walk.
A restoration quite a few years ago cleared a lot of marsh plant buildup in the water, but the plant growth has overtaken parts of the lake again so that the south end is more like a marshy enclave while the north end is still open water.
The northern end of North Lake features picnic tables and also a large grassy area off from the parking loop. Plant and tree growth blocks some of the view that was available in the past, but a short walk along the loop brings clear views of the open lake area again.
The east side of North Lake has a couple of stopping spots with short stairs leading to sandy landings for looking out at the lake. There are some magically sculptural trees along the east side of the lake, and walking along this side leads to the southern end of the lake, where there is a bench centered facing the lake. This end of the lake has been more filled with plant life in recent times, so the open water view is at the other end at the time of this writing.
A charming stone wall edges the southwest end of the lake, and there are many enticing tree tunnels, a wooden foot bridge, and a choice between the path directly edging the lake or a parallel path that also leads back to the Fulton St. parking area, but has less of a lake view. The western side of the lake tends to have more raccoons out and about, partly due to people feeding them. Wild animals being enticed to interact with humans puts the animals in danger down the line.
North Lake makes for a nice short stroll, a scenic place to sit on a bench, or part of a larger walk exploring other parts of Golden Gate Park.
Those wishing to take a longer hike have plenty of options. Other hikes in this part of Golden Gate Park are noted in Bison, Fly Fishing and Horses-Golden Gate Park, Metson Lake-Golden Gate Park, Elk Glen Lake-Golden Gate Park, Mallard Lake-Golden Gate Park, Lloyd Lake-Golden Gate Park Stroll, Spreckels Lake-Golden Gate Park, Queen Wilhelmina Garden, Middle Lake-Golden Gate Park, Heroes Grove-Golden Gate Park and other Hike Notes under San Francisco in the Hike Search by Area page.
(North Lake-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “No Place Like Home” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop 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. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, Twitter at @HikingAutism, Instagram at lisalouis777, and Bluesky @hikingautism.bsky.social
