Golden Gate Park (Middle)


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For a summary of park features with point-by-point locations, see the Golden Gate Park guide map. See also Historic Images and Postcards.

Now: Lakes, meadows, and wooded paths stretching over a good portion of Golden Gate Park's length, the middle section has some of the most tranquil and secluded areas in the park.

Then: Most of the lakes in the park, including the lush Stow Lake, did not exist at all before the creation of the park. The entrace way columns of a Nob Hill residence destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire were transported to the park as the Portals of the Past monument, at Lloyd Lake.

How To Get There: The middle section is accessible directly via 19th Avenue, which intersects with MLK Drive on the south side and Cross Over Drive on the north. 25th Avenue also has traffic entrances on both the north and south sides. Parking along Fulton Street is easy along the middle Avenues.

For much more information on Golden Gate Park, see Christopher Pollock's impeccably researched and beautifully written book, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.


Tranquil grove of coastal redwoods, surrounding a granite rock inscribed with the names of local casualties of World War I. Paths lead from the Rose Garden through this wooded area to the Music Concourse entrance at 10th Avenue. The grove was dedicated in 1919, and the memorial rock was added in 1932. The entrances are easy to miss, and most visitors pass by on JFK Drive without noticing this part of the park.

  • Redwoods in the Heroes Grove, near Fulton and 12th Avenue

  • Gold Star Mothers Rock, at Heroes Grove

  • Wooded area west of the monument in Heroes Grove


Dating to 1894, this garden's current beautiful state belies a turbulent political history. The Hagiwara family, original caretakers of the garden, were evicted and sent to an internment camp during World War II. Until 1952, the garden was called Oriental Tea Garden, removing the reference to its Japanese origin. Open daily 9:00am to 6:00pm (March-October), 9:00am to 4:45pm (November-February). $5 adult admission. Free entry before 10am Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 415-666-3232. Website.

  • Crossing from the Music Stand to the entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden

  • Entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden

  • Inside the Japanese Tea Garden

  • Japanese Tea Garden

  • Lake and bridge inside Japanese Tea Garden

  • Stone pathway across a pond in the Japanese Tea Garden

  • Walking path in the Japanese Tea Garden

  • Path from Tea Garden Drive to MLK Drive

  • Intersection of MLK Drive and Tea Garden Drive

  • MLK Drive at Tea Garden Drive, facing east

  • Crossing Music Concourse Drive at MLK Drive


This vast 55-acre collection of geographically themed gardens offers the opportunity to see (and learn the names of) plant specimens from all over the world. It also features some of the most charming walking paths and grassy picnic areas in all of Golden Gate Park. Gates are open 8:00am to 4:30pm weekdays, 10:00am to 5:00pm weekends. Free admission. Free guided walks daily at 1:30pm. 415-661-1316. Website.

  • Entrance to Golden Gate Park at 9th Street and Lincoln Way

  • County Fair Building, near the entrance to the Botanical Garden at 9th Avenue, in Golden Gate Park

  • Main entrance to the Botanical Garden, near 9th Avenue

  • Bookstore at the main entrance to the Botanical Garden

  • Inside the Botanical Garden

  • Walking paths inside the Botanical Garden, near the east entrance

  • Looking back toward the main entrance from inside the Botanical Garden

  • Walkway and pagoda in the Garden of Fragrance area of the Botanical Garden

  • Statue of Junipero Serra, in the Garden of Fragrance at the Botanical Garden

  • Mexican Bell, made in 1847 and brought from Mexico

  • Steps leading up a hill at the Garden of Fragrance

  • View of walking paths from hill in the Botanical Garden

  • Lawns in the east section of the Botanical Garden

  • Information about plant types in the Botanical Garden

  • Wooden walkway in the north section of the Botanical Garden

  • Botanical Garden map on display near the Friend Gate on the north side

  • The Friend Gate entrance to the Botanical Garden, from MLK Drive

  • Inside the Botanical Garden, near the Friend Gate

  • The Succulent Garden inside the Botanical Garden

  • Clearing west of the Moon Viewing Garden

  • Bridge near the Moon Viewing Garden inside the Botanical Garden

  • The Moon Viewing Garden, inside the Botanical Garden

  • Path near California Natives section inside Botanical Garden

  • California Redwoods inside the Botanical Garden

  • Redwood Nature Trail, inside the Botanical Garden

  • Bamboo grove near south edge of Botanical Garden

  • Carved inscriptions on Bamboo stalks

  • Trees at the edge of MLK Drive near the Botanical Garden's Friend Gate

  • Lawn adjacent to MLK Drive, near the Japanese Tea Garden

  • MLK Drive in Golden Gate Park, facing west


Developed in 1961, this garden is situated between the Park Presidio Boulevard Entrance at Fulton Street and JFK Drive, just west of the Music Concourse. Roses in red, pink, yellow, and orange manage to survive despite the park's frequent foggy days, and are in full bloom during late summer.

  • The Rose Garden, just west of the museum

  • The Rose Garden

  • Inside the Rose Garden

  • Path in the Rose Garden

  • Roses in the garden

  • Clearing west of the Rose Garden

  • The Rose Garden, looking south toward JFK Drive

  • Roses near the Fulton Street entrance to the Rose Garden

  • Rose Garden entrance at Fulton Street


The meadow adjacent to this grove and the Doughboy Statue with laurel wreath are easy to notice while passing by on JFK Drive, but the redwood grove itself is visited less often. The trees were planted in 1930 in honor of war casualties, and have since grown enough to create a dense, shady grove.

  • Doughboy Statue at the Redwood Memorial Grove

  • Inside the Redwood Memorial Grove, on the north side of JFK Drive from the Colonial Historic Trees

  • In the Redwood Memorial Grove


Planted in 1896, this grove includes a tree for each of the 13 Colonies. Each tree is a different type, native to the area it represents. The gently sloping meadow and ring of trees create a tempting vista when you're passing by on JFK Drive. The bizarre Pioneer Mother Statue also tends to call attention, and is rumored to be a creepy sight on foggy nights.

  • Colonial Historic Trees, just south of JFK Drive and north of Stow Lake

  • The grove of Colonial Historic Trees

  • Lawn at the Colonial Historic Trees

  • West view from under one of the trees in the Colonial Historic grove

  • Boulder and plaque at the Colonial Historic Trees

  • Bench at the Colonial Historic Trees, facing east

  • Pioneer Mother statue, from the Colonial Historic Trees

  • Pioneer Mother Statue, the work of Charles Grafly, 1915

  • Detail of the Pioneer Mother statue


Constructed in 1911 from redwood logs (floated down in the form of a raft down the coast from Humboldt County), to honor the pioneer women of California. The cabin now houses the Permits Division of the Park Department.

  • Path leading to the Pioneer Log Cabin

  • Pioneer Log Cabin, north of Stow Lake, just south of JFK Drive

  • East side of the Pioneer Log Cabin


Named for the colored lights that originally framed the falls at their dedication in 1930, this is the second of two artificial waterfall systems created in Golden Gate Park (the other being Huntington Falls in Stow Lake). Water is pumped from nearby Lloyd Lake, and circulated in the trench stream along JFK Drive. The very top of the falls is enclosed by fences, so no vantage point looking down over the cascade is possible. The Prayerbook Cross near the top of the falls is another 1894 relic, and may be reached via a trail up the hill. The cross is just barely visible from street level.

  • Rainbow Falls, looking up toward Prayer Book Cross, at JFK Drive near Crossover Drive

  • Prayerbook Cross, at the top of Rainbow Falls near JFK Drive

  • Stream running along edge of JFK drive, near Rainbow Falls


Renamed in 1967, this was formerly called Main Drive. The Sunday traffic closures also began in 1967, allowing walkers, skaters and bikers to take over the road between Kezar Drive and Transverse Drive. This is the only road that extends (without a name change) all the way from the east end of the park to the west.

  • Trees along walking paths near JFK Drive

  • JFK Drive and stream from the Transverse Drive intersection

  • Clearing between Overlook Drive and JFK Drive at Transverse Drive

  • Transverse Drive, south of Overlook Drive

  • JFK Drive, from Overlook Drive, near Crossover Drive

  • Crossover Drive, from the walking path connecting JFK Drive with Stow Lake


A landscaping masterpiece, it's very hard to believe that this lake was built from nothing. Finished in 1893, this quintessential feature of Golden Gate Park was a featured part of the 1894 Midwinter Fair. The lake itself forms a ring around Strawberry Hill, with three smaller islands in the lake for wildlife habitation. Two bridges connect the outside shore of the lake to Strawberry Hill. The plain Roman Bridge and the rocky Rustic Bridge both date to 1893. At the northwest corner of Stow Lake, boat rentals are available at the front entrance, bicycles and surreys at the back. 415-752-0347.

  • Steps leading up to Stow Lake from MLK Drive

  • Path around the outer bank of Stow Lake

  • Strawberry Hill and the Chinese Pavilion from the edge of Stow Lake

  • Stow Lake and Chinese Pavilion

  • Chinese Pavilion and Huntington Falls, seen from the outer banks of Stow Lake

  • Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill, from the south shore

  • Stow Lake, looking south toward Strawberry Hill

  • Stow Lake and Rustic Bridge, near Martin Luther King Jr Drive and Crossover Drive

  • The Rustic Bridge

  • Stow Lake, near Rustic Bridge

  • Boats on Stow Lake

  • Island in Stow Lake

  • View of the Boat Dock at Stow Lake

  • Snack Bar and Boat Rentals on the north side of Stow Lake

  • Empty Pedal Boats at Stow Lake

  • Bike and Surry Rentals, at the back of the Boat House on the north side of Stow Lake

  • Front of Surrey Quadricycle at rental area

  • Picnic Area at the northwest side of Stow Lake, near the Bike Rental area


The island hill, the highest point in Golden Gate Park, is surrounded by Stow Lake. Paths lead around the perimeter of the hill, and steps lead up the west and east sides. Sweeney Observatory, a castle-like concrete structure sat atop the hill from 1891 to 1906, when it was ruined in the earthquake. Huntington Falls was inspired by a visit by John McLaren to the Sierras with naturalist John Muir. The sculpted rocks around the falls look a little theme park-ish, but it's no less scenic when you're climbing the adjacent stairs.

  • Strawberry Hill, from the west side of Stow Lake

  • Chinese Pavilion at the foot of Strawberry Hill

  • Bridge near Chinese Pavilion near the edge of Strawberry Hill and Stow Lake

  • Huntington Falls, from the bottom of Strawberry Hill

  • The Roman Bridge, connecting Strawberry Hill with the Stow Lake perimeter

  • Steps leading up to the top of Strawberry Hill

  • Looking down over the top of Huntington Falls at Strawberry Hill

  • Huntington Falls, from a rock near the top

  • Rock with inscription at the top of Huntinton Falls

  • Reservoir at the top of Strawberry Hill

  • Path at the top of Strawberry Hill, facing east

  • View to the north, from the top of Strawberry Hill

  • Looking down at Stow Lake from the top of Strawberry Hill

  • The top of Strawberry Hill

  • Possibly part of the foundation of Sweeney Observatory, at the top of Strawberry Hill


It's hard to miss this meadow from MLK Drive, as it's a strikingly large patch of relatively flat grass. There are trees around the perimeter, but the lawn itself is wide open. A playground sits in the back, and paths on the east and west side connect with Stow Lake.

  • Path leading to Mothers Meadow and Playground from MLK Drive

  • Mothers Meadow at MLK Drive near 18th Avenue

  • Playground in Mothers Meadow


This is the reservoir for the water pumped up its adjacent hill to Rainbow Falls. The water is circulated via the JFK Drive stream, and pours back into the lake in a cascade at its southwest corner. A trail entrance from Transverse Drive leads up the hill overlooking the water. The lake itself has a placid, dreamlike quality due in part to the stately presence of the Portals of the Past.

  • Lloyd Lake from the hill between Transverse Drive and the lake

  • Overlooking the waterfall on the east side of Lloyd Lake

  • Waterfall at Lloyd Lake

  • View toward the waterfall from the east side of Lloyd Lake

  • Lloyd Lake and the waterfall

  • JFK Drive and Speedway Meadow, from the south shore of Lloyd Lake


Part of the entrance for a Nob Hill Mansion destroyed in the 1906 earthquake. The columns, left standing after the collapse of the house, were transported to the park and installed in 1909 as a memorial.

  • Portals of the Past from the hill above Lloyd Lake

  • Portals of the Past, at Lloyd Lake

  • Lloyd Lake and Portals of the Past


Part of the vast "chain of meadows" in this middle section of Golden Gate Park, Marx Meadow is located near Fulton Street and the 25th Avenue park entrance. It's a sloping bowl of lawn bordered on two sides by the Disc Golf Course. The meadow is named for a Napa resident who left a donation to the park.

  • North edge of Marx Meadow

  • Marx Meadow, north of Speedway Meadow, between JFK Drive and Fulton Street (near 25th Avenue)

  • Marx Meadow, from a wooded area above


A recent addition to the park, this course opened in 2007 near 25th Avenue at Fulton. Players aim frisbees toward sequentially placed baskets in the wooded area. Website.

  • Map for the Disc Golf Course, near 25th Avenue and Fulton Street

  • Disc Golf Course Bakset

  • Disc Golf Course


The site of this meadow actually was a speedway in the late 1800s, where carriage races took place. This expansive stretch of grass, along with the adjacent Lindley and Marx Meadows are now the location for large scale events in the summer and fall months, including Outside Lands and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass.

  • East edge of Speedway Meadow in Golden Gate Park

  • Speedway Meadow, west toward Polo Field

  • Picnic Area at Speedway Meadow

  • Speedway Meadow, from the wooded area between Middle Drive West and the meadow

  • Speedway Meadow, from a wooded ridge above

  • Path near Middle Drive West


Created in 1936, this lake is adorned by plum and cherry trees on its east side, and surrounded by wild grasses that grow high in the early spring. Its location deep in the middle of Golden Gate Park, and the fact that no major road passes its shore, makes this one of the most hidden and seldom-visited features of the park.

  • Cherry Trees on the east side of Elk Glen Lake

  • Looking west over Elk Glen Lake

  • The shore of Elk Glen Lake

  • Willows at Elk Glen Lake

  • Fruit tree at the shore of Elk Glen Lake

  • Tree near Elk Glen Lake

  • Elk Glen Lake, off of MLK Drive

  • Elk Glen Lake, from the south shore

  • Grassy hillside on the north shore of Elk Glen Lake

  • Path near the Urban Forestry Center and Elk Glen Lake

  • Meadow west of Crossover Drive (19th Avenue) and Lincoln Way, near the Herbert Hoover Tree

  • Trees along the south edge of MLK Drive, near the 25th Avenue entrance

  • North of the Picnic Area and Redwood Trees

  • Picnic Area near 25th Avenue and Lincoln Way, south of Elk Glen Lake

  • Walking path near Lincoln Way and 25th Avenue


So easy to pass by, especially driving on MLK, this little gem of a lake features a shady stream on its east shore. This is apparently a natural, pre-existing lake.

  • Picnic Area between Middle Drive West and MLK Drive, just north of Mallard Lake

  • Mallard Lake, from the walking path on the south side

  • Mallard Lake

  • Wooded area between Lincoln Way and Mallard Lake, near 25th Avenue

  • Mallard Lake, near south edge of Golden Gate Park, at about 27th Avenue

  • Mallard Lake and flowers

  • The stream at Mallard Lake

  • Mallard Lake and stream

  • Flowers near Mallard Lake


Just southeast of Speedway Meadow and the Polo Field, this lake is lined with wild blackberry bushes around its edge. It was constructed in 1908.

  • Metson Lake, south of Speedway Meadow, at about 30th Avenue

  • Looking west across Metson Lake

  • Metson Lake, from the south shore

  • Benches on the south side of Metson Lake

  • Looking south across Metson Lake