GOLDEN GATE PARK OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH HIKE ON JULY 4th

GOLDEN GATE PARK OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH HIKE ON JULY 4th

Hike Date:  Saturday, July 4, 2026

Leader:  Gary Weiss | gary@sfhiking.com | 415 279-5570

SF Carpooling Meeting Location: Whole Foods: 2001 Market St. @ Dolores (on the Dolores St. side); parking on the street or below. 
East Bay Meeting Location: Rockridge BART, bottom of escalator.

Please only show up at Whole Foods if you've arranged to meet your ride or driver there.

Meeting Times: 9:30 AM from SF, departing shortly afterwards; 9:15 AM from Rockridge BART, bottom of escalator.
(I'M ADDING 15 MINUTES TO THE DRIVING TIME TO TRY AND FIND PARKING WHICH MAY BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT - COME EARLY!)
PLEASE CARPOOL OR TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT. 

Rating: Level 3

Mileage:  6.75 miles

Elevation Gain: 400'

Description: Despite the number of times I've been to Golden Gate Park,  I somehow find new odd but wonderful areas to explore each time I visit.  We'll meet behind the boat rental building at the northwest corner of Blue Heron Lake (in front of the bathrooms).  From there we'll visit - I believe - 9 lakes, 2 windmills, the enormous dragon in Rainbow Falls and oddball spots and trails that are far from the crowds along the way.  We'll walk along the fantastic, newly redesigned Middle Lake which just reopened last year. If the weather behaves we can have lunch near Ocean Beach.  

Bring / Wear:  Please bring water, lunch, snacks, comfortable walking shoes, layers suitable for western SF weather. And chocolate!

Weather Policy:  Check with hikeleader in the event of questionable weather.

Trailhead Meeting Place:  We'll meet on Blue Heron Lake Drive, near the restrooms which are across the road from the back of the boat rental building.  Park anywhere along the road, although some areas only allow parking on one side.  As you drive west on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, about .3 miles past the Japanese Tea Garden and Botanical Gardens, you'll come to a road on the right that is out only.  Around the bend is the road that you take into the Blue Heron Lake area.  After a minute or so you'll see the only buildings along that road - for the boat rental.  Google Maps Link

Trailhead Meeting Time:  10:00 AM

Trailhead Departure Time: 10:15 AM

Total driving distance, there and back: 6 miles from SF; 33 from Rockridge.

Passenger Carpool Fees from SF:  $0  From Rockridge BART: $7

(I will inform you of carpooling arrangements by late Thursday or early Friday.)