Golden Gate Park

Golden Gate Park is a large urban park in San Francisco, California, covering about 1,017 acres and containing lakes, meadows, gardens, and recreational areas between Ocean Beach and the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. Visitors find museums, sports facilities, playgrounds, and botanical collections, all connected by a network of paths and roads.

Work began in 1870 on an area of sand dunes that was stabilized by planting thousands of trees. Landscape architect William Hammond Hall designed the original plan, while John McLaren directed the planting for decades and transformed the site into a green space.

The name refers to the nearby Golden Gate Strait and was chosen when the park was founded. Joggers, cyclists, and families use the meadows and paths daily, while musicians and dancers often perform in front of the music pavilion on Sundays.

A free shuttle runs through the grounds on weekends and holidays, connecting the main attractions. Bike rental stations are located at the eastern entrance and along the main paths, which offer wide routes without steep grades.

A paddock in the western part of the park has housed a small herd of American bison since the 1890s. The animals live in an open area that walkers can observe from the fence, and they are among the oldest residents of the grounds.

Location: San Francisco

Inception: 1870

Architects: William Hammond Hall, John McLaren, Calvert Vaux

Official opening: 1870

Website: https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park

GPS coordinates: 37.76972,-122.47694

Latest update: December 15, 2025 00:22