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: The western section of Golden Gate Park contains fewer celebrated attractions, but the meadows, paths, and lakes offer a greater chance to lose oneself in hidden pockets of idyllic scenery.
Then: This side of the park was apparently the most difficult to originally develop, because of the proximity to the ocean and the strong winds that uprooted anything planted in the sandy ground. The Dutch Windmill at the park's northwest edge was built in 1902 to power irrigation to the park from underground water sources.
How To Get There: The west side of Golden Gate Park has many access points. It's easy to park along Fulton Street in this area anad enter from the north. 41st Avenue in the Outer Sunset leads directly into the Chain of Lakes area from the south side. The west edge, with the Beach/Park Chalet and the Dutch Windmill, is also accessible by crossing the Great Highway from Ocean Beach (there is a parking lot on the beach side).
For much more information on Golden Gate Park, see Christopher Pollock's impeccably researched and beautifully written book, San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
Bordering the 36th Avenue entrance at its west edge, Spreckels is home to the model boat club. Lacking current from streams or waterfalls, the expanse of water is still as glass. The clubhouse is just opposite the lake, to the west. A little traffic island dividing JFK Drive and the 36th Avenue entrance is planted with Rhododendrons in season.

Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park, between JFK Drive and Fulton Street, near 36th Avenue

View over Spreckels Lake to the north, toward Fulton Street

Turtles at Spreckels Lake

Model boat at the shore of Spreckels Lake, near sign with incorrect spelling

Model Boat Club, just southwest of Spreckels Lake

Rhododendron Island, just south of Spreckels Lake
Named in 1918, this curved valley of a meadow catches luxurious amounts of shade in the late afternoon. Along with Speedway and Marx Meadows, this area is filled with thousands of people during summer and fall concert events.

Sign marking the edge of Lindley Meadow, on JFK Drive

The edge of JFK Drive at Lindley Meadow

Trees in Lindley Meadow

Lindley Meadow, between JFK Drive and Polo Field

The far west section of Lindley Meadow

West edge of Lindley Meadow, from the path near the Stables and Polo Field
Reportedly closed for repairs, the stable area adjacent to the Polo Fields has been abandoned for some time.

Shacks at the Golden Gate Park Stables, north of the Polo Field

From inside the courtyard at the closed Golden Gate Park Stables

Field in the closed Golden Gate Park Stables
Plans to build a larger and more elaborate stadium on this site came and went during the early 1900s. Used most often now for soccer, it's a vast reminder of what might have been. A par course wraps around the west and south edge of the Polo Field.

Trees off of walking path near Polo Field

Path along north edge of Polo Field

Polo Field (also known as Soccer Fields)

West side of the Polo Field

Soccer Fields, aka Polo Field

Entrance to the Polo Field on the west side

Dressage Ring, west of the Polo Field

Par Course near the Polo Field

Path near the Dressage Ring, west of the Polo Field
A walking path along the south edge of Golden Gate Park extends in segments all the way from the west edge of the park to 19th Avenue near the Breon Gate. It stretches through secluded wood areas between Lincoln Way outside the park and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive inside the park.

Entrance to Golden Gate Park at Sunset Boulevard

Path along Lincoln Way, east of Sunset Boulevard

Walking path along the south edge of Golden Gate Park
Pentaque is a French game played with metals balls on a hard surface, dating back to 1907. Like the Horseshoe Courts this field is a quaint relic of a park feature dedicated to an antiquated recreational activity.

Picnic Area near the Senior Center at Fulton Street and 37th Avenue

Entrance to the Pentaque Field

Pentaque Field, opposite the Dog Training Area
This dry, fenced-in area is reserved for off-leash dog play. This is one of only four areas in Golden Gate Park where dogs are allowed off leash. The other three are the Dog Run areas just west of Whiskey Hill, the one at the park's far northeast corner, north of the Horseshoe Courts, and the one between MLK Drive and Middle Drive West, just south of the Polo Field.

Dog Training Area, near Fulton Street at 39th Avenue

Dog Training Area

Road just west of Spreckels Lake
Of the variety of animals housed in the park to entertain visitors in its early days, only these few bison (aka buffalo) remain. Introduced to the park in 1891 when their population was dangerously low, the bison are cared for by the staff of the San Francisco Zoo.

Sign at the front of the Bison Paddock

Bison Paddock, off of JFK Drive at about 38th Avenue

Bison inside the enclosure
Dedicated in 1938, these shallow concrete pools do not contain fish - only targets for fly casting practice. The accompanying Angler's Lodge also dates back to the depression era. 415-386-2630.

Fly Casting Pools, west of the Polo Fields

Angler's Lodge, at the Fly Casting Pools

Grassy meadow south of the Fly Casting Pools
Sculpted from existing natural marshes, the Chain of Lakes feature the tall grasses and willows native to the area. The North Lake is the largest of the three in the chain, with an irregular shape and small islands jutting from the shallow water. A walking path follows the lake shore all the way around, and blackberry bushes dominate the banks on the west side.

Path from Dutch Windmill splits to the left, toward the North Lake

Wooded area close to the North Lake

Path leading to the North Lake

Chain of Lakes, in the west section of Golden Gate Park

Part of North Lake, at the west edge of Chain of Lakes Drive

The North Lake, in the Chain of Lakes

Looking south across the North Lake

Looking south across the North Lake

Benches around the edge of the North Lake

Walking path around the North Lake

Clearing on the east side of the North Lake

Bridge on the west side of the North Lake

Stairway leading up to JFK Drive from the North Lake

JFK Drive, at the top of the steps leading up from the North Lake

Chain of Lakes Drive, where it crosses JFK Drive
Of the three lakes, the Middle Lake most resembles the original marshes that dominated this area. Its grassy west shore borders Chain of Lakes Drive, and paths follow its rough edges around the thick trees on the east side.

Middle Lake, part of the Chain of Lakes

Trees at Middle Lake

Bench near Middle Lake, in the Chain of Lakes
Bordering MLK Drive, the small South Lake has grassy slopes and benches along its shore. An elongated meadow sits between the Middle and South Lakes, bordered by trees on all sides.

Walking path along Chain of Lakes Drive, between Middle Lake and South Lake

The South Lake, from the north side

Intersection of JFK Drive and Chain of Lakes Drive

The South Lake, part of the Chain of Lakes

The banks of the South Lake at MLK Drive

Blossoms at South Lake in early spring

Path next to the South Lake, leading out to MLK Drive

Intersection of MLK Drive and 41st Avenue, near the South Lake

MLK Drive at 41st Avenue, near Chain of Lakes Drive
The premier spot in the park for running horses around in a circle. This fenced in ring of dry dirt is just west of Chain of Lakes Drive. No permit needed to bring horses into the park or ride on designated bridle paths.

Path from JFK Drive just southwest of the North Lake

Palms near pathway between JFK Drive and Bercut Equitation Field

Path just west of the Bercut Equitation Field

Bercut Equitation Field, near the Chain of Lakes

Bercut Equitation Field, from Chain of Lakes Drive

Wooded paths north of the Equitation Field
A flat field with a row of stuffed bales against a bushy incline. Use of this field is free, but you need to bring your own equipment, including targets. Just don't play in the bushes behind the bales.

The Archery Field, near Fulton and 47th Avenue

Trees in west side of Golden Gate Park near Chain of Lakes Drive

Wooded area north of the Golf Course and west of the North Lake
The official Golden Gate Park map and guide refers to this 9-hole course as "short but tricky". Dedicated in 1951, the course features a restaurant and is open every day. Reservations not required - availability is first come, first served. Adult Green Fee is $14 Monday through Thursday, and $19 Friday through Sunday. 415-751-8987. Website.

Entrance to the Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Inside the Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Restaurant in the Golden Gate Park Golf Course

Golf Course, from the south side, facing north

Cypress trees in the Golf Course
Completed in 1908, this was meant to be a bigger sequel to the already successful Dutch Windmill. Apparently an oustanding example of turn-of-the-century mechanical ingenuity, its sails were the longest in the world for this type of windmill. The site has been under renovation since 2000, and reports indicate that the top portion of the windmaill has been restored and shipped back from the Netherlands as of late 2009. The nearby playground is a little ocean-themed oasis bordering Lincoln Way and 45th Avenue.

Path off of MLK Drive, just west of Chain of Lakes Drive

Walking path leading from MLK Drive toward the West Playground

Path leading from the West Playground to Lincoln Way at 45th Avenue

Picnic Area and Playground near Lincoln Way and 46th Avenue, near the west end of Golden Gate Park

Playground near Lincoln Way and 46th Avenue

Murphy Windmill (aka South Windmill) under renovation
These vast fields, bordering the tree-lined western edge of Golden Gate Park, are available free by reservation for soccer. New fields may be added in the torn-up area south of the existing ones, where a water treatment facility used to be. Free, reservations required. 415-831-5510.

Entrance to the Beach Chalet Soccer Fields, from the west stretch of JFK Drive

Soccer Fields from the entrance and parking lot on the west side

Looking north across the Soccer Fields

Beach Chalet Soccer Fields, from the west side

Wooded path along the far west edge of Golden Gate Park

Section of the park under development, between the soccer fields and Murphy Windmill
The current building housing the Beach Chalet and Park Chalet opened in 1925. The visitors center on the ground floor is decorated with 1930s frescoes painted by Lucien Laboudt, depicting scenes and local personalities of the era. The Park Chalet has an indoor bar area, and outdoor lawn seating. 415-386-8439. Website.

Front of the Beach Chalet

Looking toward the Ocean from the front of the Beach Chalet

Roald Amundsen Memorial, next to the Beach Chalet

Visitors Center, inside the Beach Chalet

1930s Lucien Laboudt fresco paintings in the Visitors Center

Frescoes inside the Beach Chalet Visitors Center

Elevator doorway leading to the Park Chalet from the Visitors Center

Inside the Park Chalet

In the back area of the Park Chalet

The Park Chalet at the west edge of Golden Gate Park, on a weekday

The Park Chalet on a Sunday afternoon

Park Chalet Garden, just east of the Chalet
Designed to pump fresh water from below ground to irrigate the park, this windmill began operating in 1903. Electric pumps began to be used over the next decade, and both this windmill and its southern counterpart (the Murphy Windmill) fell to disuse and disrepair. A restoration of the Dutch Windmill was completed in 1981, and it is a purely decorative icon now. The Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden features a blanket of tulips in bloom during February and March.

The Dutch Windmill

The Dutch Windmill and garden

Visitors to the Dutch Windmill and Queen Wilhemina Tulip Garden

People taking pictures at the Dutch Windmill and Tulip Gardens

Sign at the entrance to the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden

The Tulip Garden, looking south from the Windmill

Directly underneath the base of the Dutch Windmill

Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Gardens, at the foot of the Dutch Windmill

The Dutch Windmill, from a southeast vantage point

The Dutch Windmill, from behind

Tree grove just south of the Dutch Windmill

Path on the south side of the Dutch Windmill and Tulip Garden

Further on the path, behind the Dutch Windmill

Crossing 47th Avenue on the path from the Dutch Windmill
Inscribed boulder marking the west entrance to Golden Gate Park at the edge of the Great Highway and Pacific Ocean. This is steps away from the Beach Chalet, and across the Great Highway from the Pacific Ocean.

The west end of JFK Drive, and Golden Gate Park, at the Pacific Ocean

West entrance to Golden Gate Park, at the Great Highway

Looking across the Great Highway to the Pacific Ocean, from the west entrance to Golden Gate Park