Stow Lake Boathouse

We were lucky enough to come on such a beautiful day. We opted for the Pedal boat which cost us approximately around $ 28/​hr after tax, they also require a $ 5 deposit fee. The pedal boats are so slow. We should’ve opted for a row boat, which is cheaper. Stow lake is pretty. There’s lots of turtles and ducks everywhere. Overall, the place is nice. The only complaint I have is how slow the pedal boats. Would’ve been better to row around the lake faster and hit all spots within the hour. Make sure you keep an eye on the clock.

Stow Lake Boathouse is very nice! I have been here on two separate occasions, once I went paddle boarding and today I was just hiking the trails and decided to order food!
Paddle boarding was fun, the lake is kind of green lol, but really makes no difference at all! I love how cute all the ducks and birds are, some got close to us… just so adorable! I even saw one duck with a missing leg:(, but so nice to be able to experience the nature of the area up close! Don’t get the electric paddle board… you are going to have to put in the same effort as a normal one… trust me! Going under the bridges was so fun, overall I had a great time!
Today I ordered, If I remember correctly, The Sonora?! It was a turkey sandwich, with greens, goat cheese, tomato, and it came with fries, which I upgraded to garlic fries… uh yum! It came out to $ 14.00, but pretty good considering it was delicious and you’re in the Golden Gate Park! I am so small and am unable to eat a lot so I was upset I couldn’t even finish it although I wanted to so bad! I had to wait around 20 minutes until my food was ready, this was no biggie for me since I was in no hurry, but saw other customers visibly frustrated. Staff was friendly!
I will be visiting the park often, and will stop by again sometime for the sandwich and maybe go out on the boats again!

Such a great date spot on a sunny day!
A paddle boat is $ 25/​hour, and row boats are $ 20/​hour, and each requires a $ 5 cash deposit that you get back when you return the boat. The row boats are cheaper presumably because they’re less expensive to maintain, but they can be a little tricky to maneuver in the beginning if you’ve never done it before. Once you get the hang of it, you can go a lot faster than the paddle boats can.
I don’t think food or drinks are supposed to be allowed on the boat, but it doesn’t seem to be enforced. My boyfriend and I brought some snacks and wine for the ride, and an hour was a good amount of time to take in the scenery while doing one round around the lake.
Watch out for the logs and large branches during your ride! (Almost made my boyfriend hit his head on one ^_^;;)

Honestly using this review as an excuse to post a cute picture of my date.
The cashiers seemed like they were pretty miserable, but I’d be pretty miserable at the end of my shift working the cash registers here too.
We ordered garlic fries, and diet coke before our ride. They even gave us 2 cokes! (Probably on accident… That we were aware of. LOL) I couldn’t tell whether the food took forever or my girlfriend was being really impatient.
The people working the docks were sweet, and the ducks were really nice! The geese gave me mean looks though. There were also these weird reverse turkey looking birds that just chilled by the shores.
Keep an eye out for geese flying by at low altitudes!

I really enjoy this place. I have for years. Its a wonderful outdoor space. Im annoyed the tall kid gave me the wrong amount of change and I didn’t realised it until the next day. Enjoy my 5 dollars kid. Ill prolly go back and use my card or count my money to register.

Going to Stow Lake on a beautiful, sunny Saturday morning was perfect. I found the recommendation in a Thrillist article, recommending the top things to do in San Francisco.
We walked to the lake, through Golden Gate Park, where they had closed some of the roads for a «car-​free» weekend. So there were lots of people about and pedestrians can take over the street.
When we got to the lake it was not too packed, lots of familys. You go to the front desk, where they also sell food (a bit pricey though) and you order your boat. A paddle boat costs $ 25 an hour and the row boat costs $ 20 an hour. There are also life jackets included in that if you need them.
We the spent the time paddling around in the sun, under the bridges and looking at all the beautiful scenery. There was lots of wildlife to see. Overall was an amazing time!

Been here since I was a kid, and I still find going around the lake magical and fun.
Pedal boats are $ 25 an hour, though I snagged a deal on Groupon for my most recent visit. The line at the cash register and the line for the boat were both long. Don’t be discouraged! This is a must-​try at least once in your life. I think they should offer life jackets as a safety precaution, even though it wasn’t mandatory. Staff was friendly overall.
Be careful of bumping into others out on the water. Also, watch out for all the random branches during your time on the lake.
There is some parking in the small lot, but you’ll probably want to look for parking a little bit before you hit their lot. Otherwise, there should be parking a little ways out of their lot as well. Make sure you use the bathroom before you begin! Bring cash for the refundable deposit, otherwise they ask that you leave a photo ID instead.

As you can imagine, there’s a long queue on a warm summer day. But there were also a surprising number of people out on row boats in the winter (on a clear, dry day, of course).
It’s $ 20 per hour for a row boat and $ 25 for pedal boat. The row boat is a bit more rigorous as I think it’s more chill to pedal around on a pedal boat. Luckily, it’s not really that rigorous and you only need an hour to get around the lake (slowly) — you can make it twice if you’re going quickly.
The line to rent can get long since the same person who is taking money for boats is also making cappuccinos at the food stand so don’t be too discouraged by the long line.

Going on a paddleboat at Stow Lake was a lot of fun. The main detractor was the wait. We arrived on a Sunday around 2 PM and had to wait about 20 minutes in two different lines– one line to buy a ticket and the second line for a boat to arrive. However if you go on a weekday, it would probably be less busy. The pricing for a boat is fairly reasonable if you’re sharing it with a group of people. It was $ 25 per hour for a boat with 2 paddle seats and 2 seats for passengers and $ 35 for a bigger boat with 4 paddle seats. I did not try any of the food at the café, but it seemed overpriced.
Actually paddling around the lake was a very pleasant experience and more work for my calves than I expected. Paddling around the entire lake at a regular pace does not even take a full hour. It took my group around 45 minutes to go around the entire lake. The water was very calm and clear and the views were wonderful. I would definitely recommend this activity for a sunny day.

#37 BRING FOOD. My bf and I were going to get boba before coming but we thought food was restricted. During our boat ride, we saw backpacks full of food, a bottle of alcohol, and someone even brought speakers! We were thirsty from all the peddling and the whole time we were regretting not bringing a drink.
-$ 5 CASH deposit that you get back after the ride
–1 hour time limit. Set a timer
–Dont wear nice shoes ’cause they might get wet
–Wear comfortable clothes. You may want to walk around the park after
–Theres a parking lot in the back. Just keep going down the road
–Use the restroom beforehand. Located inside the building
–Boats tend to be limited around 2:30pm so come early
–Make sure your phone is ready and fully charged. Lots of things to take pictures of
This is something that everyone should do at least once it their lifetime. Its also perfect for a date. My bf and I grabbed lunch and ate at the park after. In total, we spent about 4 hrs in Golden Gate Park.
Will be back soon to try the row boats!

This is a must try place at least once or a couple times in your life whether you’re a local or visitor. I came here with the boyfriend on a visit to SF. While I have been to Golden Gate Park many times before, I have never seen nor knew about this place. We found parking easily along the roads on a Saturday afternoon. You have the option to rent the peddle boat or row boat, but we chose to get the row boat for $ 20/​hr (although they don’t keep track of your time out there anyways). There’s also a $ 5 CASH deposit, which you just pick up when you’ve returned the rental. In my opinion, the row boat is so much cuter (kind of like something out of The Notebook) and it’s cheaper!
The views are gorgeous and it didn’t take us too long to get used to the row boat. We actually took turns rowing and exploring the lake that looped around Strawberry Hill in the middle. You can see little ducks and turtles and all types of animals hanging around the lake. It’s seriously so beautiful and perfect. Although we didn’t know at the time, you can even pack a lunch and some wine for your boat ride –how romantically serene.
P. S. Make sure you go check out Strawberry Hill before or afterwards!

Despite all the haunting stories about the lady who lost her baby here, Stow Lake is quite the gem.
My boyfriend surprised me on Valentine’s Day and brought be here on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. We rented a peddle boat and it was about $ 27 and a $ 5 cash deposit that you get back after you return the boat. We paid and waited in line, which was quite long, but moved really quickly and efficiently!
The lake goes in a loop so it’s really easy to see everything. There are hundreds of ducks and geese swimming around, and we saw tons of birds all throughout the trees. The trees themselves are beautiful and there are so many different kinds of trees that it felt almost magical. Along the way you go through romantic little tunnels, pass a cute waterfall, and see turtles sun bathing on logs.
We finished in about 45 minutes or so, and although our legs were a little tired, it was definitely worth it. I’d recommend this fun activity for couples, friends, families, and all!

This is an absolutely great thing to do with your kids, friends or significant other. Beautiful views, in a works famous location. I can’t believe I never went before today.
I definitely plan on returning when I have more time to paddle around the entire lake. My 6 year old daughter couldn’t get enough of the ducks and sea gulls. She must have taken 100 photos with her iPad.
Try to not bring your food with you, we did and we had sea gulls on board with us trying to eat my daughters grilled cheese. Ha ha

I’ve been here twice. The first time I used the paddle boat and my family (other than my dad) was dead weight HAHA. There were a lot of people when I came with them in the summer.
I visited this place again and chose to try the row boat. It is $ 20 for the row boat instead of $ 25 for a two person paddle boat. It is $ 34 for a family paddle boat and some amount for the electric boat. These prices are for per hour. There is a $ 5 CASH deposit that they will return to you after you are done.
It was just me and my friend when we came and so we had the whole lake to ourselves to splash the oars around and have a stare down with the birds. A lot of people walking the paths will look at you as you row by and so there was a bit of pressure not to fail at rowing. In the end, it didn’t matter because I accepted the fun and forgot about how I couldn’t navigate like an expert.
A few things to look out for:
— pagoda
— waterfalls
— bridges
— turtles
— birds, birds, birds.
The staff will help you board and will give you instructions on how to row if you haven’t done so before. I was a bit terrified at first because I can’t swim and because the last time I saw someone row a boat at this lake, they got stuck near the trees (they managed to get out safely). There is a number in the boat that you can call if you do need assistance and honestly, if you follow the rules you will have a good time. They require and provide life jackets for those 12 years of age and younger.
There is a restaurant next to where you rent the boats and restrooms across the parking lot.
It doesn’t take more than 1 hour unless you are going in circles or if you are taking it really slow. This is a very relaxing (less so for the rower/​paddler) and scenic ride that can be enjoyed by nearly everyone.

based on boat rentals:
we rented a pedal boat on a thursday afternoon and the weather was fantastic. the rental was $ 25 plus $ 5 deposit.
we were helped into the boat and sent off. there was plenty of room to move about. we did finish the entire lake in about 45 minutes though. there were quite a lot of people on the walking trails near the lake and it was beautiful.
it was a nice activity to do during our visit to the city and to waste a little time. but I don’t think I would pay to do it again.

I had a really great afternoon here. I would recommend getting the row boats rather than paddle boats if you’re on a date or with 4 people or less. The row boats are much more relaxing, paddling is easier, and you can even share the paddling duty with a friend or date.
The lake itself it beautiful, you pass waterfalls and lots of really beautiful birds, stone bridges, etc.
Great place to come on a date, or with visiting family. It’s my new favorite part of golden gate park.
Row boats are $ 20 per hour I think. A bit steep… But I thought it was worth it!

I come here quite often and every time I do this place does not disappoint. It’s one of those places in San Francisco that’s away from San Francisco. The sound of the ducks the birds the overgrown trees and just surrounded by wilderness it’s very calming. I can tell other people take pride in the park I see volunteers all the time cleaning. If you have not been Stow Lake at Goldengate Park it needs to be explored.

Boats were a little dirty but a little dirt won’t hurt nobody. You can pay with card or cash for the boat rentals but there is a $ 5 security deposit (cash only) that will be given back to you after your boating experience. If you’re with a few people, the pedal boat would be your best bet. And if you’re short like me the row boat is your go to but if you’re up for a leg workout the pedal boat will do the job!

Amazing gem in GG park! You have to rent a boat and you have to climb to the top of the falls on the island. Everyone should visit this charming spot… but enjoy it because it’s not over-​run with people… surprisingly!
Been here twice and had a blast both times!
I also recommend crossing the street to check out Prayerbook Cross and Rainbow Falls which are also beautiful…

First time here and I’m an SF native :/​such shame. I came here to do a fun activity for a friend’s birthday in which we had a part of 8. We rented two peddle boats (4per boat) for the cost of $ 25 each boat — not bad. The boat was dirty which I think they should clean, especially the seats after each ride. The dried up waterfall was a sad site to see but the ride around was a workout and pretty relaxing. Too bad the water was so dirty :(people need to stop throwing coins in there too. Overall price was good and it was relaxing on a nice day, a few things to fix however but overall ok.

My husband brought me here as my birthday surprise. Really romantic idea, but make sure it’s going to be a sunny day b/​c that part of the GGP can get chilly. Bring a jacket and a scarf b/​c some parts of the lake are covered with trees and can get cold.
We went on a Thursday around lunch time, and we were the only ones there. A little later, I’d say about 5 boats were used. But, it wasn’t too crowded at all.
My husband took us to eat before we went to the lake, but I kind of wish we ate at the Boathouse. They have a lot of food — garlic fries, hot dogs, hamburgers, paninis, snacks, different kinds of coffee etc. Unfortunately, we never ate, but I’m told the hamburgers are good, and there are tables inside and outside to sit.

Gliding across the lake, whether by rowboat or paddleboat, is a delightful way to enjoy the park’s picturesque sights: rays of sunlight streaming through verdant trees, a short waterfall that isn’t short in beauty, and ducks… crapping.
The price is $ 20/​hour for row boating and $ 24/​hour for boat peddling. You’ll also have to pay a $ 5 refundable deposit. Don’t forget to keep track of time or else you’ll probably lose your deposit! My boyfriend and I personally took the entire hour to go around stream since we were taking lots of pictures, relaxing on the water, and enjoying the sights. I’d estimate most people can spend the hour going around 1−½ times, or two if you’re really trying to go fast!
As a former member of my college’s crew team, I’m a huge advocate for the least popular row boat over the peddle boat! It requires more technique than peddle boating, but that’s what makes it fun! The staff will give you a cursory overview of how to row if you’re new, but I’d recommend looking online beforehand if you really want to be prepared. I had to coach and demonstrate the perfect stroke for my boyfriend, who originally wanted to peddle boat instead, but he loved row boating much more in the end! Rowing oars is still a workout as well.
The glaring downside is that one person is doing nothing while the other is rowing, and that might not be fun to less lazy people. On the contrary, row boating involves both people actively working together! Since rowing involves moving backwards, the passenger is basically like the captain of the pirate ship, directing the rower where to go and what strokes to make. If you’re bossy or enjoy being in control, you’ll love this. (In crew, this was called a coxswain, and we usually yelled at our rowers, too!)
I’d say rowing is also more romantic for couples. It’s difficult to take selfies together when you’re sitting opposite of each other, but the solo pics look nice!
You’re also not supposed to switch seats, but honestly, it’s doable. Be careful! Have one person sit in the middle of the boat for balance, while the lighter person moves to the other side across the boat. My boyfriend and I took turns rowing this way.
Peddle boating looks fun, too! Just arguing my case for row boating since it was definitely the less popular option on the stream. Have fun!

Want a beautiful scenery!
From the drive in to Golden Gate Park to the boat ride, it’s beautiful! The trees and plants are gorgeous! If an event is going on the same time you are visiting the boathouse, grab a parking spot when you can. There is parking closer to the boathouse but if it’s a busy day chances are slim to none of you finding a parking.
The hour long boat ride is more than enough time to go around the entire lake. The staff was friendly and helped ensure that were were able to maneuver the row boat. We went 2 hours before closing and the lighting was beautiful. Would highly recommend to couples for a nice evening out.

I grew up in the city so Stow Lake will always hold a special place in my heart. My family used to have several picnics a year at Stow Lake when I was a kiddo. We’ve rented and rowed many different boats throughout the years and it’s always been a great time. The lake isn’t very clean and I definitely wouldn’t want to fall in but the view is gorgeous and it’s a great time for the whole family.
This past weekend, we brought our son to Stow Lake for the first time and he had the best time. We rented a paddle boat which seats about 4 and he loved it! My husband and I paddle the boat and it took us about 35 to 40 minutes to paddle leisurely around the entire lake. It’s about $ 25 an hour to rent a paddle boat and $ 20 to rent a row boat.
Since our little guy is only 4, he was able to sit in between us and take in the view.
Also, you will need to put a $ 5 cash deposit on your boat rental, which you will get back at the end. All you will need to show is a copy of your receipt and let them know what time last name of the credit card is. We loved paddling to the waterfall area and took that in and just enjoyed the gorgeous view.
I’ll never forget seeing the joy on my son’s. For all the beautiful memories this place has given me, I am giving it 5 stars. It’s a wonderful place to enjoy a day out in the city.

Wow! super awesome!
Pedal boat was $ 25 an hour for a two seater. The lake is actually kind big and takes about 30 – 45 min to go around. We went in the daytime on an overcast day during the week, and it was just a really great experience. Peaceful, scenic, not too hot, not crowded, and super fun. We brought drinks and were able to chill out and drift around. We almost bumped into a couple boats, and bumped into several trees. Was silly and awesome.
In comparison, we tried going Kayaking in the bay. That was much more expensive and not as scenic.

Finally did it, we paddled Stow Lake on our 1 month anniversary of being married. Yay!!! This was our romantic reward to ourselves for our mini milestone. We already knew that parking in Golden Gate park is a major headache. Instead we took a bus that drops you off in front of the Academy of Sciences and walked to Stow Lake. There was a line to purchase our ticket at $ 25 and they ask for a cash $ 5 deposit, which you get back after your ride. *Tip* be sure to use the bathroom before you go on, last chance for about an hour. Again you wait in another line for the next available boat. Hurray! It’s finally our chance to get onto the boat. Takes a little bit of a learning curve to guide the boat, but not rocket science.
Once you are out on the lake, you separate from reality and become this person with an imagination. Find places to peddle to, check out, spy on the birds. Look at your loved one and give them a kiss. Stow Lake is just to beautiful, built in 1893 and has stood the test of time. I’ve experienced paddle boats before, but never like this.

Love this place!
We have been twice in the past couple months. Yes, downside is it’s a little pricey. $ 20 for an hour with a rowboat but it is so worth it! You’re in gorgeous Golden Gate Park. It seems like it can be overcast everywhere else but once you get to this location in the park the sun seems to want to shine.
For the record they also make you give a $ 5 deposit for no reason. We figured it’s just another way to get some extra money because chances are you are going to forget about your deposit after your hour on the lake.
Either way, it’s a SUPER FUN activity that gets you outdoors. Our daughter loves to see the turtles and throws goldfish crackers at all of the birds.
My only other concern is for the price, the boats are really dirty. Spray them out every morning maybe? The one we got the first time had some old trash in it and was filled with lots of bird poop and feathers. I mean I know we are in a row boat outdoors but it seemed like they put little to no effort into the maintenance of the boats.
All in all though we love coming here and will be back for many more memories in the future.

The only time I’ve gone pedal boating in the Bay Area is at Lake Chabot in Castro Valley — I like this place so much more! It’s not as massive but there’s more shade and interesting things to look at as you’re boating around. Think waterfalls, bridges and a lot more birds.
There were a lot of people on the day we went but they seem to have an endless supply of pedal boats and a good amount of rowboats.
The boathouse closes at 6pm which means everyone will be rushing back at that time to get their $ 5 cash deposit back. What irked me was that one of the employees went on his «lunch» break at this time so there was only one employee to do all the cash deposits and take food orders. It was pretty chaotic.
When you’re driving here, make sure you turn onto Stow Lake Drive to look for parking because you can get really close to the boathouse. We parked on MLK Dr. thinking there wouldn’t be any more spaces and ended up walking quite a ways to get to the boathouse.

What a workout!
Pedaling around stow lake — check! I am happy that I got a chance to do this. I’ve seen people hop on these boats every time I come here, and it always looks really fun. We spent $ 35 for 6 people for an entire hour which is really cheap in my opinion.
And as I said^, you definitely get to work out your legs and glutes. It is exhausting and looks so much easier than it really is!
I advise bringing some type of sunhat or bringing sunscreen if you happen to do this during a nice day in SF. The sun was beating down on us making this work out even more tiring.

The older I get, I realize I can’t do alcohol like I used to.
If I turn up…
I must turn wayyyyyyy the fuck down the next day.
So…on our turn down (and I mean turn all the way down), we decided to do something light. We heard about pedal boating at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park.
Say no more. We on it.
Funny on the ride over, the guy in our taxi wanted to mention the fact that Stow Lake was/​is haunted. Okay. As long Bertha the Ghost (or whatever her name is) stayed on chill mode, we were cool. Besides, I know a few people I’d like to haunt before crossing over. I understand, Bertha.
Nice idea to do this here, Unilocal!I mean… The pedal boats don’t move that fast when you pedal, the water is green, and at any moment, a bird can shit right on top of your head… but on the flip side, it’s fun, you get in a little exercise, the air is clear, and the water is only 4 feet deep, so you can’t drown! Plus they have a waterfall and a beautiful pagoda/​tea house looking structure around the lake.
I say if you have some time to kill in SF and want something fun to do, why not come here?

It is totally worth the $ 20-​$ 25 to burn some calories here while taking in nature’s beautiful sights. You’ll get to see the water fall, along with animals such as turtles, ducks, and seagulls.
You can choose either a rowboat or a pedal boat. I recommend the pedal boat because I personally think it’s easier. I rode the pedal boat today with 3 others, but have seen up to 6 people climb into them, so families are welcome.
I think I am out of shape because by the end of the hour, I was pretty worn out. Definitely enjoyed it though, and I would come back.

Great staff. Boats are very sturdy and advertised as unsinkable! Felt really safe in the boats.
Great place for dates and family time. Relatively cheap to rent boats. 34/​hr for electric boats.
The only bad thing is the murky green water.
Overall: Will return.

Un lugar hay para disfrutar en familia
Y olvidarte de los problemas contemplado
Tanta naturaleza.

Rowing a boat here had me feeling like Ryan Gosling in «The Notebook.»
I can definitely see myself coming back to Stow Lake and renting the row boats again because I had a blast doing it the first time. To rent a row boat for an hour, it costs $ 20. If you want to rent a paddle boat, it’s $ 25. They ask that you put $ 5 in cash as a deposit which they will return back to you after you have returned the boats. I personally recommend the row boat because it’s much easier than the paddle boats, even though it doesn’t seem like it.
Stow Lake is a small small lake, so in an hour, you can get a good sweat on and enjoy all the wonderful views of the area and be swimming with the ducks. The lake itself is very shallow, so even if you were to fall (chances of that happening are slim to none unless you were standing up on the boat rocking it back and fourth), you’ll be fine.