I’ll admit that I can be stubborn. Today’s walk was an illustration of that character trait. My daughter and I were determined to find the elusive Mountain Lake while walking the trail system at the San Francisco Presidio this afternoon. It is not as easy as it sounds. What started out as a short walk in the woods became a 5.45 mile trek.
The Presidio is a 2.4 sq mi (6 km2) or 1,480 acre site that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and managed primarily by the Presidio Trust (the NPS manages the coastal areas). There is a developed system of walking trails with view points and maps throughout the property. The site is on a hillside with some of the trails skirting the location’s golf course. Housing and commercial buildings are also a part of the mix. So the trail system is not as straight forward as one would imagine.
With determination we persevered on foot and found Mountain Lake. If your in a hurry, it’s actually quicker to get to the lake via car, bus, or bicycle and the Mountain Lake Park Playground in the Richmond District. According to park signage, the lake is one of San Francisco’s last remaining natural lakes. It’s not a large lake but is a charming site adjacent to Mountain Lake Park. It’s a lovely picnic spot that has a lot of history. The Ohlone were its first residents and you can see the tule that was used in basketry and mat making growing along one side of the lake.
Enjoy my pics! #iluvtowalk #mountainlake #presidio #sanfrancisco
Can’t escape Covid 
Cooper’s Tail Hawk? 
Golf course 
Cool library partnership 
Tule growing at Mountain Lake
Perspectives From My Trail 