Lake Merced Park

At the heart of the 614 acre Lake Merced Park in the southwest corner of San Francisco is Lake Merced itself, a freshwater lake popular for boating and birdwatching. A 4.5 mile paved path circles the lake, 2.5 miles of which is part of the Bay Area Ridge Trail and continues both north and south beyond Lake Merced Park. The park also features fishing piers, boat launch, multiple picnic areas, and more. Just across Skyline Boulevard along the Pacific Ocean is Fort Funston, part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, as well as the San Francisco Zoo. A free parking lot is located on Harding Road, and two more along Lake Merced Boulevard, near Sunset Boulevard and another just south of Brotherhood Way.