SF’s Lake Merced is Getting a New Trail + Picnic Area

San Francisco’s Lake Merced is getting a brand new trail and picnic area in late 2024.

We’ve started working on the northern part of the Lake Merced Trail Improvement Project. To accommodate construction, the trail along Skyline Boulevard is closed through late June. Pedestrians should follow the detour through Harding Park Golf Course, pictured in the map below. This detour is available from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

This project includes reconstructing the asphalt pathway from Harding Park Road to the Sunset Circle parking lot to make it ADA-compliant. The lot itself will receive six new ADA parking spaces. Additionally, the natural surface pathway will be repaved with softer soil that is more comfortable for runners and walkers. Existing fitness stations along this same stretch will be replaced with new adult exercise equipment.

Lake Merced, a large freshwater lake in San Francisco’s southwestern corner, is the heart of a 614-acre park that is popular with boaters, hikers, bicyclists, and birdwatchers. A 4.5-mile paved trail circles the lake’s perimeter; facilities include many picnic areas and a boathouse, fishing pier, and boat launch. The park is bounded by three golf courses, including City-owned Harding Park.

Lake Merced is major water, recreational, and natural resource for the City and County of San Francisco and the surrounding area. It is also an important stop for migratory birds on the Pacific Flyway. More than half of the park is managed by the Recreation and Parks Department’s Natural Areas Program, which works to restore and protect habitat for birds and other wildlife, as well as to maintain and improve trails.

Read more at San Francisco Recreation and Park Department