Golden Gate's Blue Heron

Row or pedal-boat around Lake Heron in Golden Gate Park

05.08.2024
San Francisco
Dog Friendly, Water, Relaxing

If you’re prone to poetic moments in nature, you’re going to love paddling the waters of Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake. This popular spot is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco.

Rent a rowboat or a peddle boat at Blue Heron Boat House and get out on the water for scenery worthy of a soliloquy. (BONUS: Blue Heron Boat House also offers a tasty food menu for dockside dining).

Row or pedal a big loop around the 400-foot-tall center island, Strawberry Hill. Pass under Rustic Bridge (made out of sharp, bulky stone) and Roman Bridge (one of the oldest surviving concrete bridges). You’ll cruise past camouflaged turtles sunning themselves on giant rocks.

You’ll also get some classic scenery of the shoreline pathways: folks feeding the birds, and visitors with selfie sticks. Just row with it!

Blue Heron Lake is in Golden Gate Park off John F. Kennedy Dr., just west of the de Young Museum. Rent your boat at Blue Heron Boat House. The area around the lake is dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking down the stairs overlooking the ocean on the Coastal Trail in San Francisco

    America's Best Urban Hike

    Long ago we dubbed it the “Grand Walk” and said it was one of the most scenic and stunning trails in the West. We were wrong. This is the most scenic urban hike in America!

    View

  2. Hike or Bike the Skyline

    A new section of the Bay Area Ridge Trail is open for biking, hiking, or horseback riding along the 12-mile (out-and-back) Skyline Watershed Ridge Trail.

    View
  3. Woman riding a bike on the the Vine Trail in Napa Valley

    Through the Grapevine

    Cycle California’s most famous wine valley on the car-free Vine Trail, an ambitious project going through the heart of Napa Valley. Park your car and ride 6 miles from Napa to Yountville for lunch.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Stars, Steaks, and Strange Brews

    Forget Michelin stars. Deep in Oregon's high desert, legendary Cowboy Dinner Tree is destination dining at its most deliciously down-to-earth, well worth the required reservation and desert drive to reach it.

    View

  2. Outback to the Future

    Some must-see destinations are written in the stars. Deep in Oregon's remote southern high desert lies the largest certified International Dark Sky Sanctuary on the planet. With 2.5 million acres of protected dark skies, you get the best of the celestial out here in what's known as the Oregon Outback, including geothermal soaks and an incredible playa that's a hidden gem.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Extra-Celestial Central Oregon

    Some trips promise you the moon and the stars. And this one delivers in a big way, plus throws in some extra planets for your viewing pleasure. From Bend, Sunriver, and Sisters to Antelope Basecamp in the remote high desert.

    View