Stow Lake

Stow Lake
5.0
3 Reviews
Stow Lake
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Romantic
Family Friendly
Bathrooms
Easy Parking
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About this place

Added by Jennifer Heifferon

Chill in a rowboat. On a lake. In SF.Perfect for families, couples, and anybody else.A really fun, outdoorsy date idea.Duration: 1-2 hours

Not too many people know that you can rent a rowboat at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, but you can. And you should! This is one of my favorite ways to spend a few hours on a beautiful day in San Francisco.

Grab your loved one, your favorite bottle of wine, some snacks, and hop in a rowboat. You’ll float under a couple of bridges, past the waterfall on Strawberry Hill, and along shore where you’ll see turtles and other wildlife. It’s a fun little adventure that’s exciting, romantic, and scenic.

Boats are available for rent at Stow Lake, from the Stow Lake Boathouse . You have the option of renting pedal boats and electric boats, but I prefer the classic rowboat. Besides, it’s fun and challenging to figure out how to row backwards without hitting anything.

When you’re done on the water, unfurl a blanket for a picnic in the park, or head over to the California Academy of Sciences, which is a quick 10-minute walk away.

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Leave No Trace

Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and be sure to follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly.
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Angela Dair
2/28/2023
Paddle here
Go paddling here. Ducks are aplenty. It’s a really cute area for a date. There is parking but best way to get into GG park is with a bike!
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Brian Heifferon
Club
8/4/2015
Looking for a fun/alternative date idea? You can't really go wrong renting a row boat on Stow Lake. You'll have a blast goofing around ...
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Tony DeAngelo
5/25/2015
A great romantic place to take the girlfriend. The lake is a pretty good size so you can easily spend a few hours paddling ...
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