Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross-Golden Gate Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross are on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park a short walk east of the of intersection of JFK Drive with Transverse Drive (21st Ave.) and Crossover Drive.
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 Points of Interest info link (San Francisco Recreation and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Recreation and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park Shuttle info link (SFMTA):
https://www.sfmta.com/blog/golden-gate-park-shuttle-back-and-better-ever
Other suggested links on Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross:
https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2023/08/04/looking-back-rainbow-falls/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/prayer-book-cross-golden-gate-park
https://theclio.com/entry/93780
https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2019/08/30/gg-parks-hidden-history-treasure-quietly-turns-125/
Distance:
Rainbow Falls is a short walk east of Transverse Drive on the JFK Promenade, part of JFK Drive which is closed to automobile traffic. The Prayer Book Cross, which is largely hidden behind trees on the hill behind the falls, can be reached by a short walk up a trail that starts on the east end of the Rainbow Falls pond area. For those wishing to have a longer walk, there are many other areas in Golden Gate Park to explore and add distance to your outing. (Click Hike Search by Area and look in the San Francisco section for other Golden Gate Park walks.)
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Parking rules in Golden Gate Park have changed over time. Read parking rules, or take public transportation (https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/routes-stops).
• The closest public toilets to Rainbow Falls are at the Heron Lake Boathouse, the 14th Ave East Picnic Meadow, and the Hellman Hollow Picnic Area.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Golden Gate Park weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
With part of JFK Drive closed to cars under the current park traffic rules, we often park our car near the intersection of JFK Drive and Transverse Drive, and then walk under the bridge which carries Crossover Drive traffic to walk on the pedestrian section called JFK Promenade.
Starting from this point, it is a fairly short walk along JFK Promenade (the equivalent of two or three city blocks) heading east to reach Rainbow Falls. Visitors will notice the green water running quickly along the path on the north side of JFK Promenade. Walking east along this babbling creek will bring visitors to Rainbow Falls. Distinct layers of chert are visible where trees stand at the edge of areas where land has eroded, exposing the ancient geological structure.
A 100-foot-long sea serpent sculpture has recently appeared in the water under Rainbow Falls. The sea serpent is a sculpture originally created for Burning Man. Some may prefer to just see the falls with a pond in front, but the sculpture does rise dramatically from the water and brings smiles to visitors.
Hidden up above the halls behind tree coverage is the Prayer Book Cross, sometimes referred to as the Sir Francis Drake Cross. This large stone Celtic cross sculpture was erected in 1894 as a gift from the Church of England to commemorate services read by Sir Francis Drake’s chaplain. It was built on a high point in Golden Gate Park with the intention of being visible from the sea, but is now hidden to all but those who know to look for it.
It is a short uphill walk to reach the Prayer Book Cross and also see the start of the waterfall. There is a smaller trail that leads back down the hill for those who wish to walk a small loop.
See the suggested additional links above to read about the history of Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross.
There are many options for exploring Golden Gate Park on longer walks. For other Golden Gate Park walks, check out HikingAutism’s San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area.
Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Just for Fun” 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: Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross are on JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park a short walk east of the of intersection of JFK Drive with Transverse Drive (21st Ave.) and Crossover Drive.
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 Points of Interest info link (San Francisco Recreation and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Recreation and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park Shuttle info link (SFMTA):
https://www.sfmta.com/blog/golden-gate-park-shuttle-back-and-better-ever
Other suggested links on Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross:
https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2023/08/04/looking-back-rainbow-falls/
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/prayer-book-cross-golden-gate-park
https://theclio.com/entry/93780
https://richmondsunsetnews.com/2019/08/30/gg-parks-hidden-history-treasure-quietly-turns-125/
Distance:
Rainbow Falls is a short walk east of Transverse Drive on the JFK Promenade, part of JFK Drive which is closed to automobile traffic. The Prayer Book Cross, which is largely hidden behind trees on the hill behind the falls, can be reached by a short walk up a trail that starts on the east end of the Rainbow Falls pond area. For those wishing to have a longer walk, there are many other areas in Golden Gate Park to explore and add distance to your outing. (Click Hike Search by Area and look in the San Francisco section for other Golden Gate Park walks.)
Considerations:
General note: All information is subject to change based on current health and safety guidelines.
• Parking rules in Golden Gate Park have changed over time. Read parking rules, or take public transportation (https://www.sfmta.com/getting-around/muni/routes-stops).
• The closest public toilets to Rainbow Falls are at the Heron Lake Boathouse, the 14th Ave East Picnic Meadow, and the Hellman Hollow Picnic Area.
• Heed health and safety notices, including wildlife alerts.
• Golden Gate Park weather can switch between chilly and foggy and warm and sunny in the blink of an eye. We always bring layers.
The trail:
With part of JFK Drive closed to cars under the current park traffic rules, we often park our car near the intersection of JFK Drive and Transverse Drive, and then walk under the bridge which carries Crossover Drive traffic to walk on the pedestrian section called JFK Promenade.
Starting from this point, it is a fairly short walk along JFK Promenade (the equivalent of two or three city blocks) heading east to reach Rainbow Falls. Visitors will notice the green water running quickly along the path on the north side of JFK Promenade. Walking east along this babbling creek will bring visitors to Rainbow Falls. Distinct layers of chert are visible where trees stand at the edge of areas where land has eroded, exposing the ancient geological structure.
A 100-foot-long sea serpent sculpture has recently appeared in the water under Rainbow Falls. The sea serpent is a sculpture originally created for Burning Man. Some may prefer to just see the falls with a pond in front, but the sculpture does rise dramatically from the water and brings smiles to visitors.
Hidden up above the halls behind tree coverage is the Prayer Book Cross, sometimes referred to as the Sir Francis Drake Cross. This large stone Celtic cross sculpture was erected in 1894 as a gift from the Church of England to commemorate services read by Sir Francis Drake’s chaplain. It was built on a high point in Golden Gate Park with the intention of being visible from the sea, but is now hidden to all but those who know to look for it.
It is a short uphill walk to reach the Prayer Book Cross and also see the start of the waterfall. There is a smaller trail that leads back down the hill for those who wish to walk a small loop.
See the suggested additional links above to read about the history of Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross.
There are many options for exploring Golden Gate Park on longer walks. For other Golden Gate Park walks, check out HikingAutism’s San Francisco section under Hike Search by Area.
Rainbow Falls and Prayer Book Cross-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Just for Fun” 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
