Lake Merced

What a hidden gem! I've driven by this place countless times, and didn't think there was a public park here! With parking, BBQ pits, and that is dog friendly! Just found a new spot to meet with people (and their animal friends)!

The overall vibe is chill, and there's not too many people, which is great since my own dog is pretty reactive. Highly recommended!

This is a tough review....

Lake Merced, most of it a natural lake which are few and far between in the concrete jungle is though an oasis of water and trees and occasional sun is vastly underutilized. It once was a good urban fishery, but not any more. A gun range (which I only used one time) and probably does not belong is gone. And now the RVs by SFSU and WHATEVER goes on and gets dumped are at the least an eyesore. I avoid that stretch if I can-don't even like to drive by these hovels. But, it is a lake and there are some newer exercise facilities going up so perhaps like the crows, hope springs eternal.

Peaceful and serene spot overlooking the golf course across the water. Has a walking trail with a port-a-potty bathroom at the top/start of the trail next to the parking lot (which fits about 15 cars or so). Seems like it would be a nice spot to view the sunset, too.

Running around Lake Merced has been on my to do list for quite some time!!

More than a few of my running friends told me this was a great place to run, so you know I had to come see for myself and they weren't wrong!!

It's approximately 4.5 miles on the paved path around the exterior of the lake. At the southern end of the lake there's nice wide bridge. There are also some cool statues in multiple places here, a golf course, and multiple parking lots.

The SF Zoo is very close to the northwest part of this lake, and SF State University is right across the street from the eastern part of the lake.

There are some trails on the inner part, lots of good wildlife here also, but I only saw one restroom, but I'm sure there has to be more and I just missed them.

This lake is big, it's also very serene. I would say this lake is awesome!!! That's my take!!

Beautiful lake. Beautiful golf course.

The North Lake bridge is open now. It was closed during pandemic time.

There is only one public restroom nearby the parking lot of Harding park. So get prepared for this.

This is the largest lake in the city, nothing in Golden Gate Park compares, you really feel like you are in a different place away from it all. Lake Merced is serene and woodsy at certain points with some short trails. There is an abundance of birds, waterfowl, trees, and greenery. The best places for lake photos are the bridge on the southern section, the trails off from the northern parking lot, or the picnic area near the golf course.

I still can't figure out how you can boat here, the boathouse website doesn't have too much information. I thought you were able to bring a canoe, but it seems currently the only people that boat are rowing clubs from local high schools.

To walk around the circumference of the lake is 4.5 miles and most of that is along a paved sidewalk with cars swiftly whizzing by. Many sections have a fence that obstructs the view of the lake which takes away from the peaceful experience. I give the hike a 2.5-3 star because of this but it might not be as bad for running. I did this route once then decided to do a much shorter version where I could still enjoy the beauty of the lake. If you go from the North parking lot past the bridge to the golf course, then to the picnic area and loop around on Skyline Boulevard this is about 1.7 miles.

Great place for dogs and people alike! A nice run/walk around the lake with beautiful views- just keep an eye out for coyotes and raccoons who call this place home.

B. was willing to drive us to SF so I picked Lake Merced to do an easy 4.5 miles loop walk around the lake.

Free parking at Sunset Blvd & Lake Merced Blvd. there is 1 pit toilet there.

Walk around the lake was just ok. Saw Capitan Juan Bautista De Anza, some gulls, geese, coots by fishing dock, Penguin's Prayer sculpture. Those were the highlights.

Lots of bikes, runners, walkers.

I have to admit I'm confused by Lake Merced. Is it one lake or two? Or is it really just a trio of golf courses with big water hazards? Unfamiliar with the area, I drove over expecting to do a leisurely stroll around a pastoral lake. There was definitely a section of the smaller upper lake with a footbridge and flora with a lot of ducks, cormorants, and geese. There were people fishing, and it was all quite pleasant despite the Pacific chill in the air and the fear of an errant golf ball hitting my noggin. But then things started to get less attractive.

I realized I had to walk around the perimeter of the park when I was right next to the busy traffic on Skyline Blvd. I just felt closer to the oncoming traffic than the lake. When I turned the corner onto Lake Merced Blvd, I noticed the traffic would be a constant presence on my circuitous walk since the golf courses don't allow casual ambling back into the park. The locked chain-link fences were the dead giveaway. Instead of doing the full 4-1/2-mile circuit around the lake on sidewalks, I decided to turn around and pound the pavement back to my car.

RELATED - Up for a hike? Here's a collection of trails I've walked and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2OrC8nU

Fourteen years later, and I do come here more often than that younger, svelter, more passionate John S. did.

It's a gorgeous place to spend time, even if the regular kayakers and crew rowers are insane (more on that later).

I like to come in different seasons and see how it looks. San Francisco feels like it has a monoseason, but the plants definitely grow much faster in the spring, as you'll see when you notice that sculls and other boats stored on the shore near the parking lots are overgrown and hidden by weeds in just a few short weeks.

I want to walk on the balcony of the Lake Merced Boathouse, but it's always closed. The bathrooms are open rather late, however, and although they're not the cleanest, it's always nice to have someone to pee (legally) in a bind.

The picnic area is lovely, although watch your step if you're sitting at some of the tables, as moss and standing water seem to love that area.

The most recent time I came here just to look at the lake and ponder, I made sure to park my car one spot away from the boathouse, near where all these containers and Dumpsters and other stuff is blocking parking spaces. There's plenty of room throughout the lot, so I parked here strategically because I figured people would take the hint and park out in the open rather than next to me and my crammed-in car.

Well, what do you know? Someone parked in the single spot to my right, got out of his car, and starting putting on his wetsuit-rowing gear right next to my car. I laughed it off and tried not to pay attention to the nakedness, when some other lady parked on the other side of me, got out of her car, and started rummaging through her trunk for her gear. She also started talking very loudly to the guy who had just suited up, and both of them were leaning on the back of my car WHILE I WAS STILL SITTING IN IT. Mind you, these are the only three parking spaces here; there are dozens and dozens in much more open areas of the parking lot, but these two weirdos decided to park on either side of me like I wasn't even there.

I got out of my car and asked them politely to stop leaning on my car. They both immediately stopped leaning, but the guy looked askance at me, and I really didn't want to start anything, so I got back in my car, started the engine, had to honk to get them to stop standing behind my car, and parked along the fence by the golf course. Sure, my car was more likely to get hit by an errant golf ball, but I would have preferred that to the inane rudeness that was happening where I had originally parked.