Lake Merced
Visit Lake Merced in SF
Lake Merced: Skyline Boulevard & Harding Road, San Francisco
Lake Merced is looked after by the San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission owns the land itself. Lake Merced is a trendy spot for runners, walkers and bikers! This beautiful lake has several entrances to start your adventure. There are many benches and picnic tables throughout the lake.
Lake Merced is a primary aquatic, recreational and natural resource for the city and county of San Francisco and the surrounding area. It is also an important stopover for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. More than half of the park is managed by the Recreation and Parks’ Natural Areas Program Department, which works to restore and protect habitat for birds and other wildlife and maintain and improve trails.
The History of Lake Merced
Lake Merced is a large dual-lake system that covers all other lakes in and around San Francisco. It is surrounded by a narrow fringe of parkland, forming an area of 740 acres designated as parkland, most of which is the surface of the lakes. Although it may look artificial, Lake Merced is a natural spring-fed freshwater lake system. Local groundwater plays a significant role in maintaining the lakes’ supply. Parks and Recreation acquired the area for public use in 1950. It became very popular for fishing, enhanced over the years by Fish and Game’s intensive rainbow trout stocking program. There are many trees to see around the lake.
Lake Merced at a Glance
Lake Merced’s problem since the 1980s has been three massive golf courses surrounding it and draining it dry by diverting groundwater for irrigation. Harding Municipal Golf Course, Olympic Country Club and San Francisco Golf Club surround and penetrate the lake landscape like a glove around the neck. As a result, the lake began to slowly “die” as the water level dropped and water quality declined. The lowest point was in 1994, when the lake reached a historical depth of 14 feet.
Services: This Lake Merced has restrooms, water, fishing, a bar and grill, a phone, a snack shop, picnic tables with a grill, bar and grill, and a boat house.
Fishing is permitted from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset from any of the docks located around the lake’s perimeter. Shore fishing is not allowed. A California State Fishing License is required for those 16 and older. Fishing is permitted on both North-South lakes.
Boats The general public is permitted to launch non-gas-powered personal boats only in North Lake Merced.
Dog play area: Lake Merced also has a play area for dogs for all the locals and tourists.This destination is unique because it offers visitors to bring their pets to the location and enjoy quality time with them.
Picnic area: It is also blessed with an ultimate picnic area. Anyone can visit it with family and enjoy their time out there. Other than that, the destination also provides a natural beauty that offers the essence of peace and freshness to the mind.
If you want to enjoy the park and lake without the tourist traffic, then Lake Merced is an excellent and quiet place to hide away. It’s not stunningly beautiful by any means, but it’s great for walking and running or just sitting with a journal and meditating. Public transportation is accessible from all around San Francisco. The city of Daly City is not too far away from the lake. You can also walk from the lake and go to Ocean Beach which is on the Great Highway.
