Stow Lake Waterfalls & Park

I stumbled upon Stow Lake when my friend and I were driving around Golden Gate Park looking for good photography locations. Neither of us knew about this peaceful spot before and decided to stop and walk around. It was a Saturday afternoon and plenty of people were out, also walking around the lake, riding paddle boats and enjoying the nice weather. There is a beautiful waterfall and so much nature you forget you’re in the middle of San Francisco. We had a blast and agreed to come back another time with a picnic lunch and extra time to try the paddle boats ourselves.

I went to stow lake as part of an eventful day for my boyfriend’s and I 5 year anniversary. It was a beautiful day which made the entire park even more beautiful then it already was. We did the motor boat and walked around the park so I will review them separately.
Motor boat:
First off the motor boat was just the paddle boat with a battery inside to run the motor. I like this convenience because when we were tired of peddling we just turned on the motor. Pricing wise was very decent for the amount of time they gave. The workers were very informative when we asked the difference between the various boats they provided. Which made it easier for us to decide what we wanted. I just wished they showed us how to use the steering and how to reverse the boat if needed. We were able to figure out on our own after messing around with the steering and knob. I enjoyed the ride and we saw a lot of frogs and birds during the ride.
Park:
The park had 2 beautiful bridges that connected the park together. The walk was short and in the middle was a man made waterfall that was beautifully made. There are stairs on both sides which allowed you to climb up and take some beautiful shots. There was also a beautiful small pagoda near the waterfall which was very inviting and had chairs and tables for you to sit and relax while watching the view.

What a wonderful and peaceful spot in the middle of the city.
A stroll around the lake can cure most ills I think. Or at least make you less mad that your boss is an ass.

Small Lake in Golden Gate Park with a Waterfall, Island and Beautiful Treed Walking Paths!
My mother and I visited Stow Lake in the Golden Gate Park during the afternoon of July 30^th.
Stow Lake is a small lake in the middle of Golden Gate Park. There was a hilly island in the middle of the lake, that was connected to the mainland on one side. On the island, my mother and I wandered through the treed walking paths and discovered a beautiful waterfall called Huntington Falls. Visiting Stow Lake was a relaxing and peaceful way to spend a portion of our afternoon.
There were paddle boats available to rent that people could use to paddle around the lake, however we did not do this.
Stow Lake was beautiful and natural, and it was hard to imagine that this was situated in the middle of the city! It was a great place to go for a relaxing and quiet walk in nature.

This is a gorgeous spot to walk around or sit and enjoy the beautiful weather. I’ve never tried the paddle boats but they look like a lot of fun. Parking is easy, even on weekends.

First of all– all the little parks inside Golden Gate Park are just awesome. Stow Lake is no exception, and you can rent paddle boats to ride around Strawberry Hill! There’s so much to see, and it’s a very relaxing area of the park to spend some time unwinding from sitting in traffic, or meetings, all day. If boating isn’t your cup of tea, you can cross one of the two bridges leading to the center of the lake and hike up Strawberry Hill. It’s a nice climb– not too difficult, but a good workout nonetheless– and take in some great views of the bay and San Francisco at the top.
There’s a man-​made waterfall that you can follow down, and lots of great photo ops along the way. Bring some bread crumbs and feed the many ducks, geese, and birds that congregate around the lake, or take a few minutes to read the inscription on the temple that was a gift of friendship to the people living in San Francisco about 100 years ago. So much history and beauty in this one section of the park, it’s definitely worth a visit!

Neat little diversion at Golden Gate park. $ 20/​hour for a rowboat or $ 25/​hour for a paddleboat. The lake itself isn’t too big but it’s got a few knickknacks like a waterfall and some ducks to look at.
Fellas, if you’re bringing a date here please, please make sure your girl is actually interested in you before doing so. I saw one boat where the dude was doing all the rowing while the chick was bored out of her mind and spent the whole time texting on her phone. I haven’t seen such a brutal date in my life.

This was a great way to spend a few hours in the city! The day we came, it happened to be nice and warm and we ended up renting a paddle boat for $ 25/​hour (+ a $ 5 deposit that you get back at the end of your rental). It took us about 45 minutes but we also stopped several times to just sit in the shade, eat our snacks, and people watch. We saw a good number of turtles, ducks, and geese. We even saw a random crawfish (?) when we walked around Strawberry Hill. You can see a nice waterfall on your trip around the lake.
Parking was surprisingly easy to find even though we came on a Sunday afternoon — we thought we’d have to park outside and then walk in. But if you drive to the lake, there’s a small parking lot behind the boathouse, but plenty more parking along the circular drive if you know how to parallel park.
Bring a hat and sunglasses! I think I got sunburned. And bring some snacks and drinks!

This place is just beautiful. It’s part of the Golden Gate Park. Came here one gloomy day with my boyfriend, didn’t mind the slight drizzling. We had lunch on a «log», and it was nice. They do have benches around as well. Tons of squirrels, of course.
The lake is big. You are able to row a boat or paddle. It’s definitely a must for families, or if you want to experience rowing with another person like a loved one or a friend. It seems super relaxing.
My boyfriend and I walked a bit. We somehow got to the top of the waterfall first. Took some great pics. We worked our way down. The views were very nice. At the bottom there was a little area of cracked rocks (?) right in front of the waterfall. So many photo opportunities.
The walk was lovely. I enjoyed it a lot. I would definitely come back again to row!

I really enjoyed Stow Lake Waterfalls and Park! Located in the Golden Gate Park, this particular part of the park makes you forget that you’re in such an urban city! So peaceful and calm and it makes you forget that in less than a minute drive you’ll be out in the hustle and bustle of the city again!
I recommend renting a paddle boat. It seats 2 or 4 people and is $ 25 for one hour. One hour is plenty to enjoy the lake and nature. My boyfriend and I were actually done in about 50 minutes and we even stopped to take a few pictures along our way around the lake. There’s a waterfall, turtles, lots of birds and pretty trees along this lake. Highly recommended! You can also eat and drink on the boats if your heart desires.
There’s also a cute café here that sells food and drinks. They have the typical American food (burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, fries, soda, tea, coffee, etc). We ate lunch here and it was very reasonably priced — two chicken sandwiches that came with fries and an iced tea was about $ 20. Food was decent too. I’d eat here again in the future.
While at this park, you’re also about a 5 – 10 minute walk to the Tea Garden, Botanical Garden and Science Center. Make sure to just pack comfy walking shoes!
Parking here is free and there are lots of spaces around. We got here about 11:30am on a Sunday and found there to be ample parking, which is great in the city!
Come to this urban park and enjoy a quieter side of the wonderful city that is SF. This place won’t disappoint!
Cheers!

I was hoping to enjoy a nice and relaxing experience with my gf for her birthday. Don’t get me wrong, the pedal boating was fun. We spent the full hour touring the lake and observing the ducks swimming and wagging their tails. The scenery was beautiful, hands down.
Now comes the negative part. When we were finished with the boat ride, we went to get our $ 5 deposit so my gf waited in line to get assisted. A young blonde refused to help her and instead told her to wait in another line. That same young blonde turned around and decided to help a man who just simply stood there when his purpose WAS the same purpose as my gf’s!!! I mean, I don’t understand what her intention was, maybe she felt like badgering my gf, but if my gf’s dad received service from the exact same blonde, you start wondering whether this blonde just hates Asian females.
My gf called her out on her offense and I know she was embarrassed. I swear, such people should not be kept on payroll. If a person has a hateful agenda towards people of the same gender but of a different race that person should never be hired and instead be fired.
We will definitely come back next time, just hope to never see that racist blonde again.

Row your boat.
For kids:
For adults who still want to be kids: For $ 20 you can paddle a row boat for an hour on this peaceful and beautiful lake in the middle of Golden Gate Park.
Enthusiastic five stars from the kid in all of us.

My fiancé brought me here yesterday to scout good places for wedding pictures. I loved it! I have been to Golden Gate Park dozens of times before but never found this area. I was so glad he knew about it. There were hardly any people there and there are tons of fantastic, very picturesque places to snap photos. The walk is shaded and not too strenuous. They have little pedal boats to rent. There are birds, ducks, turtles, etc. The waterfall is gorgeous! I would recommend this spot to anyone.

I went twice within 48 hours. We came when the sun was setting so we couldn’t see anything. The bridge and the waterfall was what I really wanted to see. It’s so pretty in pictures. Ended up coming again right before my flight was about to leave. It’s better to come in the mornings! lol. I don’t like the dark! It was foggy but I still like how my pictures turned out. It’s very relaxing and peaceful here. It’s a new favorite spot for me in the city.

Admittedly, I originally came to practice my photography in a different venue, but Stow Lake proved to be more interesting than just another scenic venue to San Francisco.
The one caveat to Stow Lake in general though is that everything is man-​made. Certain areas of the lake are at a standstill. It’s also murky and green and depending on the wind, has the foul stench of hundreds of waterfowl. That said though, it still has this weird charm to it. Many animals call Stow Lake home from common waterfowl all the way to rarer sights like eagles and owls. There are also a variety of activities to do at/​around Stow Lake. You can rent boats, bikes, or segways to explore all that this lake and Golden Gate Park has to offer. Or you can hike. Strawberry Hill is fun to explore and culminates with an electrically operated waterfall that is still a sight to behold. If that’s not for you, the edge of the lake is also paved making hiking or even jogging a very doable activity. Or you can simply picnic.

Echt nett, ein riesiger Park mitten in der großen Stadt. Obacht, nicht unterschätzen, er ist echt lang. Der kleine See mit Insel ist zwar gut bescuht, aber nicht überlaufen und so kann man sich ein bisschen vom Großstadtrummel erholen, spazieren, Bötchen mieten oder einfach nur rumsitzen. Den Hügel auf der Insel kann man auch erklimmen. Leider gips oben wegen des Baumbestandes nur bedingt schicken Ausblick, aber ist trotzdem nett zum Durchatmen. Alles gepflegt und auch gar nicht so vertrocknet, wie man das erwarten oder befürchten würde angescihts des trockenen Klimas drumherum, man wässert und hegt das Naherholungsgebiet, und das merkt man.

Stow Lake is a nice place to visit in Golden Gate Park, there’s also a «Boathouse» that rents out boats for people to use by the hour.
They have paddle boats you use foot peddles to power, which I think looks fun and less strenuous. They have row boats, which looks like it could be a bit of work and maybe potentially tiring if not frustrating. They also have electric boats, which are easy, but seem to maybe be too easy, so less of a challenge.
It’s a nice place to walk around, it goes a full circle and I think it feels like about a 1 mile loop around, so you can walk, jog or run around it.
As kids, we used to come here and bring bread to feed the ducks (now there’s a lot more pigeons and sea gulls ‘tho which are a tad less cute and way more aggressive)
As teens, we’d walk around and pick the berries and eat them (not sure if that’s safe anymore). You can also sometimes see guppies in the water too feeding around the perimeter of the lake.
Parking is very easy here, or at least when I came here it was.
Oh, here’s a famous urban legend about Stow Lake and «The Lady of the Lake» too, which I found on the internet…
The famous ghost story and legend of Stow Lake has been circulating for nearly 100 years, and it goes something like this: Once upon a time at Stow Lake, in Golden Gate Park, there was a lady who was walking her baby in a stroller. After a while, this lady got tired and rested on the bench next to the lake, with the stroller right next to her. While she was sitting, another lady came to sit down next to her and they started talking. While they were conversing, the stroller rolled away unnoticed. The stroller with the baby fell in the lake. After the two women finished talking, the lady noticed her baby was gone and panicked right away. She then walked around Stow Lake and asked people, «Have you seen my baby?» She spent all day and all night asking everyone. When the night was over, the last place she checked was the lake. She went into the lake looking for her baby and ever since, she hasn’t been seen again.
It is rumored that if someone goes to Stow Lake at night, weird occurrences take place. Stories have been told that the lady comes up from the lake, or the statue in her honor comes to life, or she will come up to you and ask, «Have you seen my baby?» Other reports say if you drive there with your friends in a group of cars, all the cars will stall at the same time. Another rumor is said that, if someone says «White lady, white lady, I have your baby» three times, the lady will appear. She’ll ask you, «Have you seen my baby?» If you say yes, she’ll haunt you and if you say no, she’ll kill you.
So if you decide to walk around Stow Lake some night, beware of the White Lady. And if you walk through the street at night this All Hallows Eve and feel your hair stand on end, you might just be in the presence of one of the other ghosts of San Francisco.

To me GG park is the soul of San Fran (strong words from a 5^th gen San Francisco resident).
Yes we have many other places but GG has iconic places like Stow lake and strawberry hill which in the midst of a busy city (think Central park) is mind blowing.
If you are a tourist… just do it! You wont regret it.
If you live here and have never done it… got off your azz and check it out… you’ll like it
oh yeah this place is just awesome for little kids (and old ones like me!)

I know that I went to Stow Lake when I was little but I don’t remember the details. I have also gone by the lake a couple times running local 5Ks, but I never truly appreciated it. But yesterday, well yesterday this just so happened to be our destination for a run with friends who live near Golden Gate Park.
The weather was perfect. The other people were not great in number, quiet and considerate. We ran up to and around Stow Lake and then made our way to the top of Strawberry Hill to take in the gorgeous views.
This is truly a gem, to be enjoyed by both tourists and locals.

PEACEFUL SPOT IN THE CITY.
GREAT DATE SPOT. I think I came here on a date with someone a long long time ago. We rowed in a boat on the lake. It was so romantic in a cheesy kind of way. We stopped to see the ducks. We got really close to the waterfall. I sat there while he rowed, but I can’t remember who it was with.
Fast forward to this past weekend. My son wanted to ride the paddle boats but the boathouse closed at 4pm! So we went geocaching around the lake and jumped on to the island and climbed to the top of the hill overlooking Huntington Falls (kind of like Tom Sawyer Island at Disneyland but everything is real!) and it brought back some of those magical memories from long ago. But I still don’t remember who it was with. My husband says it was him, so we’ll just go with that.

Stow Lake is definitely one of my favorite spots in the city. It’s so pretty here and serene too!
When I was a wee little one, my parents would rent the paddle boats occasionally during the weekends and afterwards go take me to play in the playground area that’s nearby. There are paddle boats, rowboats, & bikes (?) that people can rent to use for their enjoyment. Paddle boats are fun since like everyone get to put in effort to make the boat move. Haha. whereas the rowboat is more. a romantic type of boat experience. ;)
I’ve done the rowboat once while I was on a date years & years ago (Okay, not that long long ago | about 5yrs ago actually so it’s not like super ages ago!)… Lol and of course, the dude did all the rowing while I sat there & looked pretty. Hehe. that’s what all girls should do right? Unless you’re the type of girl who wants to show off your muscle power to a guy to prove that girls can do what guys can do type of dealio. Then more power to you.
The last few times that I was at Stow Lake was for photosessions which is perfect setting for pictures. You got the serene lake, beautiful stone bridges, waterfall, Oriental Pavilion, and the interesting trees. I would definitely love to come back sometime in the future to do the boats again…