One of the sweetest ways to spend a few hours is to rent a boat and cruise around circular Stow Lake, watching painters dab at canvasses, joggers pass along the grassy shoreline, ducks waddle around waiting to be fed, and turtles sunbathe on rocks and logs. At the center of Stow Lake sits 430-foot-high Strawberry Hill, an artificial island that’s the highest point in the park. It’s a perfect picnic spot, with a bird’s-eye view of San Francisco and the bay; it also has a waterfall and a peace pagoda. At the Stow Lake Boat House, you can rent rowboats ($22/hour), pedal boats ($28/hour), or electric boats ($38/hour); there’s a snack shop, too.
San Francisco› Attraction
Strawberry Hill/Stow Lake
50 Stow Lake Dr., Golden Gate Park
Our Rating
Hours
Daily, 10am–6pm, weather permitting.
Phone
415/702-1390
Web site
Strawberry Hill/Stow Lake

Map
50 Stow Lake Dr., Golden Gate Park San FranciscoNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.