Bike Ride JFK Drive in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Rock and Roll Golden Gate

Bike, Roller Skate, Paddle Boat and Picnic in Golden Gate Park

09.09.2020
Golden Gate Park San Francisco

Golden Gate Park—the heartbeat of the city and San Francisco's largest park—features slow streets, creating more open space for outdoor exercise along part of JFK Drive. Walkers, bike riders, and roller skaters, have at it! Bonus Spring 2023: Join We Players for a whimsical adventure through Golden Gate Park as part of their "Adventures With Alice" live performance.

Travel alongside looking-glass creatures and queens as you follow the heroine through a wonderland (Golden Gate Park!) and meet favorite Carrollean characters like the Mad Hatter, the Tweedles, and others.

The wide-open grassland and outdoor areas are mostly open, as is the Japanese tea garden (though you’ll need to reserve a space to visit). Grab your bike, roller skates, or walking shoes and enjoy a couple of hours in this beautiful park without contending with cars. You can rent a bike along JFK Drive. A few must-visit highlights:

Skatin’ Place: This might be the happiest place in the park. Just try not to crack a smile while disco skating in the park—fresh air, good tunes, and fun people. And it’s free. Whether you want to join in the rolling party and just chill out and watch, it’s a good time. The Skatin’ Place is at JFK Drive just west of the Conservatory of Flowers. It’s open every day. Organized skates happen Sunday from 12 – 5 p.m., Wednesday from 3 – 5 p.m., and Saturday from 1 – 5 p.m.

Skating at Golden Gate Park

Stow Lake: Golden Gate Park’s boathouse is open. Rent a rowboat or pedal boat to explore the little human-made lake that dates back to 1893. Or just have a picnic on the shore of the lake watching birds and boats pass by. There’s a nice loop hike around the lake, and up to Strawberry Hill if you’re so inclined, and includes passing by a waterfall highlight.

LISTEN TO THE PODCAST: In the episode "Post-apocalyptic Pandemic Edition" Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss their explorations of Golden Gate Park.

JFK Dr. in Golden Gate Park (from Kezar to Transverse) is currently closed to cars seven days a week. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Bikers and walkers on the Bay Area Ridge Trail with the Golden Gate Bridge behind them

    National Park City Walk

    See San Francisco the way locals do by hiking the Presidio, a national park right in the city! Wooded trails, secluded beaches, and epic views of the Golden Gate Bridge feature on this 5.5-mile out-and-back on the Bay Area Ridge Trail. It’s a lovely slice of the City by the Bay.

    View

  3. Bucks Up!

    Come on in, the water is beautiful. Whether you like swimming, kayaking, stand-up paddling, or heading out on a bigger boat, Bucks Lake is a high mountain haven that’s easy to access, blissfully uncrowded, and surrounded by sandy beaches, picnic areas, pines, and aspens.

    View
  4. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Bear Hug

    This 5.5-mile loop through Coyote Lake-Harvey Bear Ranch County Park explores one of the newest segments of the acclaimed Bay Area Ridge Trail, one redolent with trees ranging from madrone and manzanita to buckeye and blue elderberry (with a bubbly post-hike bonus).

    View
  2. Two kayakers on Upper Klamath Basin on tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures

    Zen & the Art of Kayaking

    It’s the most meditative and relaxing experience you’ll ever have on a kayak. Yes, you read that right, a Zen experience on a kayak. It all happens in beautiful Klamath County when you head out on a guided tour with Sky Lakes Wilderness Adventures.

    View

  3. A Rose in the Pines

    A crackling fire, a bottle of wine, a bubbling Jacuzzi tub with a waterfall … now the big question: Marvin Gaye tunes or not? In the morning (ahem) it's breakfast in bed and a leis

    View
  4. Alex Villicana, Villicana Winery and Re:Find Distillery

    Locals' Feature: Alex Villicana

    Tech booms, AI revolutions, okay that’s all fine, but you wanna know what else is really cool? Being a pioneer in a world-famous industry that—in Paso Robles—remains solidly down to earth. When Alex Villicana established Villicana Winery in 1993, he clearly had grape expectations...

    View