Golden Gate Park

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Location

Golden Gate Park extends through much of San Francisco's Northwest side. Entrances are abundant, but the following are best starting locations. Parking may be restricted or rare, as many events occur in the park, including sporting events (like youth soccer), concerts, and races (like Bay to Breakers).

Stanyan and Haight Street. For directions, use Mapquest's Map of Stanyan St & Haight St San Francisco, CA 94117, US.

Fell Street and Baker Street (two blocks West of Divisadero Street and Fell St). For directions, use Mapquest's Map of Fell St & Baker St San Francisco, CA 94117, US.

John F Kennedy Drive and Transverse Drive. For directions, use Mapquest's Map of John F Kennedy Dr & Transverse Dr San Francisco, CA 94122, US.

Ocean Beach and John F Kennedy Drive (off of the Great Highway) - for doing some of the routes below backwards. For directions, use Mapquest's Map of John F Kennedy Dr & Great Hwy San Francisco, CA 94121, US.

Attractions:

A huge park in a huge city!
The park includes the De Young Art Museum, Asian Tea Gardens, Tennis Courts, Science Museum and Aquarium, playing fields, carousel, and much more! See the SFGate.com article link below for a complete description.
Most trails are wide and paved.
Trails near potential obstacles like stairs are marked to indicate paths for handicapped (and hence stroller) use, so its hard to get stuck here.
There are many park amenities including benches, meadows, picnic areas with barbeques, playgrounds, and bathrooms.
Snacks can be purchased inside the park or at adjacent businesses.
The park is adjacent to the popular Haight Ashbury Area, complete with Amoeba Records, great pizza by the slice, and lots of people watching.
Dogs and bikes allowed!
On weekends this park bustles with activity, and the sounds of a drum circle resound.
The landscape ranges from well manucured to quite natural and native, to mildly neglected.
Expecially in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, the park hosts special events which are often free to the public. The famous Bay to Breakers 12K runs through the park.
The park ends at the ocean - visit Ocean Beach!
Wild animals include squirrels and birds. Domestic animals include dogs and cats aplenty(usually on leash).
Some of the streets in the park are closed to traffic on weekends, making it a very nice place to play!
The San Francisco Zoo is just a hop, skip, and a jump down the Great Highway from Ocean Beach (across the road). See SF Zoo Page for more information.

Limitations:

Like any park in a city, vagrants can amass, particularly in the shady corners or edges of the park, where they beg for change or food. Avoid the park at night or when it is sparsely populated.
As the park is just West of the ocean, fog and wind can occur. Dress and plan accordingly.

Season:

Year round. Avoid the park at night or during storms, when few visitors will be there, other than "resident undesirables."

Fees:

None, but be prepared to pay a meter if you can't find free parking.

Maps & More Information:

SFGate.com's very nice article about the park and all it offers.
SFGate's map of the park with 41 numbered features
San Francisco Government's Webpage for the Park includes garden information, events, and park highlights.
San Francisco Government's map of the park with features pointed out
The Turkey (of SF Turkey Trot Fame) Website with all things San Francisco and Running has superb wisdom about running in SF, suggested eats, and cool trivia and Tees
Golden Gate Transit Website
San Francisco Muni (Bus) Website

Handicapped Access:

The park is handicapped accessible, and in several locations metal signs embedded in the sidewalk point the direction for handicapped trails, when there may be obstacles nearby (like stairs).

Recommended routes:

Stanyan & Haight to the Coast: Icon Legend
Park near Haight Street for easy access to businesses and people watching, then walk into the park. Follow any number of paved and fine gravel trails that meander by meadows with people picnicing, kids playing soccer, people drumming, children playing in playgrounds, the sounds of a carousel, the scent of flowers blooming, and people busily walking to any number of the park's more formal attractions such as botanical gardens or museums. If you're using a stroller, keep an eye out for golden arrows in the paved path, indicating your best route for wheeled access, when stairs are close. The path ends at the beach - enjoy sand between your toes before returning. Total hike may range, depending on how you choose to meander, so bring a map with you; expect to walk a round trip of at least 6 miles, but you can hop on a bus or in a cab to return if you grow weary of walking.

JFK 5K Loop: Icon Legend
Note: This is a classic 5K course that used to be raced a lot in San Francisco.
Since this is a loop, you can start anywhere along it, but it's easiest to start at the corner of JFK Drive and Transverse Drive. From here, run down John F Kennedy Drive, passing Lloyd Lake, Spreckels Lake, the Equestrian Stadium (Polo Field), and Middle Lake. Turn sharply to the left to follow Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, then slightly left to follow Middle Drive West. Veer left to follow Overlook Drive, then turn left to return to your starting point. Total distance is just shy of 5 Kilometers.

Hook and Ladder Official 10K: Icon Legend
Note: This is an official 10K circuit used for racing. It comes out a little short if you start and stop at the same point, so add a little on either end if you're trying to get a full 10K workout.
Begin at the corner of John F. Kennedy Drive and Stow Lake Drive. Move along John F. Kennedy Drive East, turning right onto Middle Drive East. Veer Right onto Bowling Green Drive, then turn right onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive (also known as South Drive). Skip the first entrance to Stow Lake Drive, but take the second entrance to the right (to go around the left side of the lake). You will reach your starting point at the end of this street - turn left to follow John F. Kennedy Drive. Pass Lloyd Lake, Spreckels Lake, the Polo Field, and Middle Lake, then turn sharply left to follow Martin Luther King Jr Drive. Veer left to follow Middle Drive West, ending at Transverse Drive (this is the official end). To return to where you started, turn left on Transverse Drive, then right on JFK Drive. Total distance is about 10 Kilometers.

Golden Gate Portion of Bay to Breakers: Icon Legend
Note:This is part of the official Bay to Breakers Route. Bay to Breakers is a 12 K Fun Race run for almost a century, from the Embaracadero to Ocean Beach.
Park near Fell and Divisadero, and begin in the grassy panhandle park, there. Walk West along the paved paths and cross busy traffic to enter Golden Gate Park past Stanyan Street. Move down Kezar Drive then turn right onto JFK Jr Drive. Follow JFK Jr Drive its full length (there is a right turn to continue at the very end) until the Great Highway. Cross the Highway to reach Ocean Beach. Turn back the way you came. Total distance is about 9 miles round trip.