Spreckels Lake

Golden Gate Park has a lot of lakes. It has this one which was man made and is one of the oldest. Spreckels Lake is known for the boating among other stuff found here. Also the bison are on the west side of this. The shore is one of the most popular points to get views.

A lot to do around. It's an artificial, clay lined reservoir. This lies behind an earthen dam that's on the western side. A concrete walkway replaced the earthen one when the lake was upgraded in the 1930s and improvements have continued. On the west side of the lake is the Bison Paddock. Boating is the main thing to do here. This is the only lake in San Francisco that allows model boating without a permit. It's home to the San Francisco Model Yacht Club. This organization was founded in 1902 and construction of the lake began the next year. Also serves a purpose to firefighters. The water is used in emergencies by tapping into a few hydrants on Fulton Street.

Has a lot of features to appreciate even if not on a boat and just on the edge looking at it. It's a very popular location for boating and gets crowds of onlookers. This may seem to be one of the park's many natural features but it's man made though.

A nice refuge from all the noise in the city. Easy to get to off of 36th and lots of parking. It seems that pollution is running off what's left of the wildlife. Sad.

"My, she was yar." That was how Katharine Hepburn described the model yacht designed by her ex-husband Cary Grant in the 1940 classic, "The Philadelphia Story". In her trademark haughty tone, Kate explained that "yar" meant "easy to handle, quick to the helm, fast, right." This artificial lake was apparently built specifically for model yachts that strive to be yar, and I've seen a few such boats powered by electric motors on the lake. Central Park in NYC has a similar cement pond, Conservatory Water, with the same intent, model yacht sailing, so I guess it's a long-standing hobby among people I sure don't know. However, the most dominant inhabitants of Spreckels Lake are all the geese and ducks that parade in and out of the water.

RELATED - Exploring Golden Gate Park? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/37IV1wZ

Spreckels Lake is a concrete lake located in Golden Gate Park.

It probably takes about 20 minutes or so to walk around. And there are almost always plenty of birds here, along with people operating their remote control mini boats and yachts in the water.

This is one of those scenic places where you just want to sit back and take it all in. It seems to be a place people gravitate to when walking through the park.

For years, this was the starting line for the 2nd Half of the SF Marathon, so I got to know this lake pretty well.

Another great Golden Gate Park landmark!!

I grabbed some food from the neighborhood, wandered off to the park and ended up at Spreckels Lake.

A simple, man-made lake within the park. There are plenty of well-spaced benches and tables around the lake, which was exactly what I was looking for.

The walk around the lake post-meal was also really nice and peaceful. It's easy to appreciate the nature around you...I even ran into a mama goose and her baby gooselings!

Had a great experience with my first visit to this lake, looking forward to my next take-out meal in the area!

"...But despite their differences, they had one important thing in common... they were crazy about each other." - The Notebook

Location: Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA.

Spreckels Lake aka "my second favorite lake" in Golden Gate Park. Of course, Stow Lake (the Lady in the Lake lore) is my all time park favorite. And although I don't feel like Noah serenading Allie at Spreckels... it still has it's own romantic charm.

Spreckels Lake not as handsome and with the lack of wandering ghosts stories still has a spot in my heart. What it lacks in Stow Lake lore it sure makes it up with a perfect paved walking path and abundance of green wooden benches. I do enjoy watching the "On Golden Pond" crowd and the Russian grandpas talking war stories at the picnic tables. You can also admire the Tai Chi club in the mornings or catch the Yacht Model club sailing a Grace 1935 in the late afternoons. Yet, maybe my fav pastime is just laying on the grass doing nada.

In the end, I recommend Spreckels Lake to anyone visiting Golden Gate Park. She's a solid 4.5-stars, so bring a camera. Again, first check Stow Lake and discover the story of the Lady in the Lake - a true lake with rowboats. Hey, you might not find Allie Hamilton at Spreckels, but I promise you a smile, turtle sightings, and a chance to fall in love...

Where the Richmond district natives at?!
Anyone else grow up thinking Spreckles Lake was actually Stow Lake until middle school? I remember going to check out the bison at GGP and reading on a map that Spreckles lake was around the corner...first mind blown at 12 years old.

Anyways, I love this lake. It's a super nostalgic place for me. Used to walk around here (and dare I say roller skate? 90s baby!) as a kid, used to feed the birds (because I didn't know any better, don't do it now folks.. it's not good for them!), and used to watch duo matches of elderly, but youthful senior citizens play board games and people with mini remote control boats take their toys out for a spin on the lake.

Fast forward to 2021.. everything is pretty much the same! How cool is that. Even the green "monkey bar" polls are just where I left 'em, some odd 20+ years ago. The main change is no duo board games of chess or checkers because of covid, but the nostalgia is still real.
The birds seem to have never left either . The ducks, the geese, the -every kind of bird- seem to be here! They're just chillin', waiting for someone to throw 'em sourdough bread crumbs or a child to drop their bag of Cheerios.

Looking for a nice photo opp at golden hour? This is perfect. The way the sun hits the lake, the tall trees, and with barely that many people around--it's a good spot.

Parking galore, a couple of picnic tables, and many seated benches along the lake in case you need to take all the breaks. Still, a very easy stroll and an access point to the rest of the GGP.

Don't forget to get that fresh air! Just a lap or 2 around Spreckles will do wonders.

I have been to Spreckels at Golden Gate Park quite a bit. People visit and it's for old people who like to play with toy boats in the lake. It's a fake park lake, but it's cute. This year at Hardly Strictly..I stepped out of the festival and wandered by the park and sat at the bench. They have an entrance near Spreckels Lake..is that like German(Spreckels)? HAH

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claus_Spreckels

Claus Spreckels was a German immigrant who built his fortune with the sugar trade!

It is easier to spend time in the more eastern areas of Golden Gate Park. Everyone goes there. The more western part has fewer people and more foliage. We were off, unsuccessfully, to see the baby bison in the padfocks and started our walk maybe around 40th street and Fulton. We walked through nice forested areas, some even felt like you were in a leaf tunnel. We saw someone carrying a large 2-3 foot toy sailboat but as we passed Spreckles Lake, only saw people like us, out for a nice walk. Continue your walk and you will pass waterfalls and babbling brooks. Obviously you can keep walking but we exited the park at Park Presidio and took Muni 5. All in all a good day without dodging hordes of people.

Nice place for a stroll! Great place to stop by while you're in Golden Gate Park. There are a lot of geese and turtles to see. It's best to come here on a sunny day!