I live quite close to here and I wish I didn't. Homeless hang out here all day with off leash dogs and obviously stolen bikes but nothing is ever done. Plus the bike path is full of Lance-tards hauling butt and weaving around slow walkers who really should be on the other path. One last thing. Shouldn't no smoking in parks mean no smoking of ANYTHING? read more

Dog, kid and homeless friendly. Other than when Bay to Breakers is happening (and a few days afterwards) the Panhandle is great. It has a nice jogging, walking, biking road, some basketball courts, a kids playground and plenty of green space. It also has a public bathroom which attracts homeless people. Just don't use the bathroom. It's gross. Note that dogs (and people) pee on the grass, so I would suggest a picnic blanket before sitting/laying on it. read more

My only wish for the panhandle is a closed-off dog play area. The cars on Oak and Fell go way too quickly for me to let my little guy off leash here. He's well trained, but it's terrifying! read more

As I exited Golden Gate Park and headed back in the direction of my hostel, I came across another expanse of park. A long skinny park bordered on either side by Fell St and Oak St. At first, it seemed to be a lovely park. There were people out bike riding, walking, running, children playing in the playground, young 20 somethings out enjoying the sunshine with picnic baskets, BBQs and volleyball nets in tow. In between them were a few bunches of more worn looking characters, one of whom invited me to have a swig of malt liquor with him. I politely declined the offer for the unknown cheer and wondered "where the heck am I?" A quick look at my phone revealed I had found myself in a park called The Panhandle. Wikipedia says a panhandle is a long skinny piece of geographic territory, kind of like the tip of Idaho. I had an altogether different first impression. I don't know that I'd voluntarily come this way again. At any rate, it seemed like everyone found a spot for themselves to enjoy a sunny Saturday afternoon. And it seemed the best spot for a BBQ was on the steps of the statue down at the Baker Street end of the park. read more

A 1.55 mile loop once around if you follow the bike/jogging path. The borders include the Baker Street sidewalk (east) and Stanyan (west, going up to touch the stoplight pole at the edge of the panhandle). Yes, I manually Google-Map-Pedometer'ed this. Perfect for people like me with low stamina. The loop between Baker and Masonic is 0.65 miles. read more

dear panhandle,how are you doing today? I hope this finds you in good spirits... How am I you ask? oh thanks for asking. I am in an allergic /hivey tizzy thanks to you. All it took was driving,not walking,not sitting in you,Driving with the window down twice on saturday and I have been fucked up.red ,splotchy,overdosing myself with allegra. EUCALYPTUS IS THE WORK OF THE DEVIL in other news I almost got arrested here for lighting off fireworks but that was cool read more

The panhandle is the Only place to play basketball in this town, IMO. Among other things it's good for: bike riding, roller blading, running, walking, jogging, cartwheels, backflips, picnicking, jumping mid-air high fiving, hugging friends, kissing lovers, doing it (I saw two people doing it under a blanket once & they seemed to be enjoying themselves, so why not?), etc. I would also recommend panhandling in the panhandle, because I've always appreciated the irony therein. read more

This narrow arm of Golden Gate Park is so nice, you may feel tempted to bring a sleeping bag and spend a night under the stars. And by "you" I mean "friendly homeless people" (the name Panhandle gets a whole new meaning). Amid the slumber party you'll find lots of dogs playing fetch, joggers, bikers, and even a couple of elderly thai-chi masters. Paved trails can get pretty puddly after the rain, inspiring killer jump-spin moves to keep dry (expect high-fives). One loop is about a mile and a half. read more

I got to take advantage of this park since I only live a couple blocks away. The lane for bikers and runners is the best invention ever. I feel like a speedster weaving in and out around people on my bike. I'm suprised I don't see a lot more bike accidents around that area (knocking on wood). I sometimes walk on the sidewalk of Fell St. if I don't want to worry about getting hit by a bike. read more

Isn't this what SF is all about? *frisbee*yoga*meditation*pot lucks*pot smokers* *runners*cyclists*runners run down by cyclists*runners tripping over the poorly maintained, root-lifted south sidewalk* *dog walkers*dogs walking their owners* *blinded by cyclist's headlamp approaching you on north sidewalk*straining to see the barely moonlit south sidewalk* *public bathrooms*public nudity* *gateway drug* gateway to Golden Gate Park* Such is the SF life. Such is The Panhandle. Be a part of it. read more

The Panhandle is just one of those things that makes SF great. I've always found it to be a great spot to go on an evening run - but you can also walk or ride your bike. It has a clearly defined bike lane on one side and a path for just walkers and joggers on the other, so it's easy to navigate. Once you reach the end, you're right at the entrance to Golden Gate Park, so there are a lot of great scenery and things to do. Once you get to Stanyan Street, try making a left and checking out Kezar Stadium - it has a track that is open every day. You can also turn around and head back through the Panhandle a few blocks and check out the basketball courts, playground, or go to Haight Street, which is only a few blocks away. read more

I'm not sure if it violates local drinking ordinances, but even if it does, the Panhandle Park is regardless a GREAT place to have a beer. I like coming here at night especially--usually pretty peaceful. Sometimes there will be funk, but I've noticed as the neighborhood has gentrified over the years, this has been less so. Great place to just sit quietly under a bench to read, reflect, or flirt. read more

Best place for public drunkenness near USF. The cops don't care what you do here. It is fun to watch the expression on joggers faces when they see a dozen drunken freshman sings "Stairway To Heaven." Grab a 40 and go "panhandling;" all the cool kids are doing it. read more

The Panhandle - Parks Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great place to incorporate into a run around and Francisco, nice basketball court, and plenty of space to play frisbee, have a picnic, or read on a bench and people watch. read more

Pocket Park extraordinaire! I did a fair amount of my grad work in urban planning specifically focusing on park/open space planning. I appreciate commuities' efforts to carve out open space and have well utilized park spaces. This is one of the reasons I love living in SF and why I am am a member of SF Parks Trust. If you love parks please look into this organization... www.sfpt.org Now the skinny. This park makes the absolute most of such a highly constrained place. As mentioned by prior users busy streets border the north and south. In between, the park is well stocked (plant-wise) w/ fragrant bushes and great mature trees. Also, the running/bike road path that loops around is well paved and wide enough for multiple users. Also what makes a park great is how well utilized it is. Any trip though one can spot a myriad of people doing different activities. The place is great for B-Ball, soccer practice, jogging, biking, picnicking, etc...often you'll see all that and more. The place is well kept as well. There only a couple spots in the paths that have mud put it is easily avoidable. Lastly, what makes a park great is its ability to provide connectivity and transitions. Amidst two major neighborhoods to the north and south it provides a well delineated marker as well a much needed breath of fresh air for a N--S trajectory. It also provides a great introduction to the the city's ultimate park or it provides a feeling of transition from the park back to urban-ness. Cheers to those who made this park possible and their foresight. read more

On sunny afternoons, when the light shines through the eucalyptus trees, there may not be a more perfect place for a run in the whole City. Foggy afternoons, when you can run in and out of the fog bank, are also pretty darn cool. But hey, Parks and Rec? Could you please fix the pedestrian path on the south side? It's pretty grotty! read more

I pass through the Panhandle several times a week, I'm a fan. It's a good place to have a picnic, lay in the sun, read a book, shoot some hoops or just stroll towards Golden Gate Park. Usually this is where the fog comes to meet you as you head west and it heads east, reminding you of why it's much better to live on the east side of SF. The only drawback to the Panhandle is the idiot joggers and other morons who don't look where they are walking or running. According to the law of Natural Selecton, sooner or later these folks will jog under a bus, so there's always that to look forward to. :) read more

This is a nice, low key park that's excellent for lounging. It's less crowded than Dolores and there's plenty of runners, bicyclists and benches. Also, if you're into basketball or you have kids, then this is the park for you. There' s something for everyone here. We saw some folks playing bocce ball. It's in a nice, central location not too far from the Haight. read more

Another classic SF scene -- nestled right in the Haight, perfect for a stroll, or lounging around.

It's hard to be sure whether this is a long, skinny extension to Golden Gate Park or a park unto itself, but it is a great spot. I love to walk through in the evenings on the way to the Haight or the Inner Sunset, or Cole Valley, and just smell the eucalyptus, watch the dogs run around, and avoid eye contact with the bums. A favorite memory is going on an impromptu picnic in the Panhandle on the 4th of July with boxed food from Bi-Rite, sitting on the grass, and pretending it was 20 degrees warmer than it actually was. read more

This is one of those places in San Francisco that become more memorable after your time in the city is over (i.e. you realize you are an adult and not some recent college graduate who is taking on the world to stamp it with an important mark). When I lived near Dolores Park I had two alternate natural areas that were quiet escapes from the "normal" world. One was Buena Vista Park, the other the Panhandle. Two things I particularly loved about the Panhandle: 1) it was nicely nestled among wall-to-wall houses, 2) the tall eucalyptus trees. The best time was mid-morning, when the fog was retreating and the sun was breaking through fluttering clouds overhead. That natural phenomenon was always magic for me. It reminded me that the world was a dynamic place and that an overcast sky was never permanent. The shifting light revealed a world with crisp shadows and a gorgeous blue sky. My brain would get energized for creative work. It also reassured me that if you just keep your eyes open you will find beauty all around. Okay, I admit it -- I'm a romantic aesthete who sees San Francisco as the nearly perfect city, with an ever-changing atmosphere and multi-layered geography. Don't take this place for granted. I hope you get at least a fraction of my own satisfaction in your experience. If you are able, visit it at different times of the day so that you know when it will be most hospitable: with the best light and the ideal temperature, and without the scourge of lost souls who should be trolling for charity somewhere else, like on a sidewalk along Haight Street. read more

Dear Panhandle Park, I visit you multiple times a day with my dogs. I like you. alot, actually. You're nothing fancy. No sweeping views of the city, No landmark victorian houses or breathtaking landscaping. But you're functional and friendly and convenient. I've yet to break my bicycle out on your paths, but that's next on my list. Currently you are the destination in the multiple potty break adventures of our boston terrier and chihuahua mix. We promise to always pick up after our dogs if you promise to keep growing those little bitty white flowers that make me smile everytime I see them. Love, (your neighbor) Melissa read more

The Panhandle is a great little park to run/jog, bike or stroll through. The paved flat path that goes around the perimeter of the park is great for interval training and should especially be appreciated by both novice and injured runners. There are plenty of shady and sunny spots depending on the time of day and it's quiet enough to allow for undistracted reading. There's a small gated playground and the park overall seems to be quite popular with families and various individuals alike. Generally, the Panhandle is very pleasant and safe during the day. read more

This park/side roadway is awesome for bikers and others that stroll to get to the park. It's like a freeway. We need more of these type of roadways in the city. It's very practical and relaxing. Go check this place out. I think it's a mere 3-4 blocks long. I'm not sure how many blocks because I ride my bike fast. It begins were DMV starts and ends on Stanyan.( or vise versa) read more

OK bathrooms? Eh.. no they reek. But, what do you expect from public ones frequented by transients. I'm biased about the panhandle because I live in the "NOPA" neighborhood. I've never played basketball here but the courts seem lively. I frequently jog through here on the way to Golden Gate Park or stop and do some P90x with my headphones on. A SF Bike Party event actually began here once which was pretty cool. On a hot day it's a decent place to have a few drinks and throw the frisbee around. read more

While I do live a mere two blocks from the phandle, I realized today that I miss it a little. During the summer, you can usually find me and between 2 and 20 friends there on both Saturday and Sunday. It ranges from my boyfriend and I playing a quiet game of cribbage to a few of us drinking beers to a full on cornhole tourney / bbq / drinkathon. For me, variety is the spice of life!! And in the panhandle, variety is there, in abundance. You'll see a little bit of everything, and for me, it just feels like home. Sure, theres the occasional weirdo, the dickhead on a bike or the awful dog-owner. But come on, without these people, where would we get all of our hilarious, no-way-that-didnt-happen stories? And riding my bike on that shaded path on a hot summer Sunday, headed to a closed down GG Park to watch the rollerbladers just makes my weekend :) read more

Such a lovely park in-between two lovely neighborhoods. The Panhandle is an extension of Golden Gate Park, which is the best park in town. North is NoPa, south is Haight-Ashbury. So many hippies here, turning into hipsters. Let's all have fun! Drum circles, trees, let's go to the park. read more

I view the GGP and Panhandle as two separate entities - sure, the panhandle is the gateway to the park but the two are in fact quite different. The panhandle, although not as secluded or natural as the park by any means, is a place to read, eat, play catch, relax, drink, and smoke among honking cars, dogs and bike riders. The grass can sometimes be worn-down and even non-existent in the Handle. Bring a blanket! For a more quaint and peaceful experience simply walk west down the panhandle into Golden Gate Park. read more

So close to where I live and is just wonderful for a stroll through the park or tourist crashing. I don't feel safe letting my dog off here, but sometimes we stroll here with him on a leash. I enjoy getting a coffee from a local place and strolling past all the morning joggers and life happening here. My roommate always runs into friend;y neighbors here and plays ball on the courts. The Panhandle sits right smack dab in the middle of the city. read more

Great place to throw the football with friends. Just watch out for the land mines.

The best place to walk off your gigantic Pork Store breakfast on the weekends. Filled with cuties (aka dogs), kids playing, athletic people jogging (bless them) and on sunny days, women tanning themselves and people barbecuing. It ends at the hateful DMV and starts at one of the most horrible intersections in the city, so my driving ego doesn't like it; my teacher taught me how to change lanes driving around the Panhandle (so if I cut you off, sorry!) . I would not walk around here at night as it is very poorly lit, but during the day I've always felt fairly safe. That homeless people hang out here is a fact of SF life and homeless people hang out in parks in every major city - would you prefer it if parks started charging admission? read more

This is long, and in my most self righteously indignant tone, I'll claim that I deserve it. Read on. This is where I go running several times a week since it's in the hood (and by "the" I mean "my"). I was tempted to subtract a star for lack of hills, but second guessed that decision as unfair. So I'll stick with things that can actually be controlled and subtract stars for those instead. I love the panhandle. It's usually sunnier than the rest of the park, and you see cool things like badminton matches taking place next to a troupe of madly hula hooping pregnant women. Pickup basketball in the park is a plus (though I don't play...unless there's a game specificially for those under 5'2", in which case, call me, yo!), lots of runners, bikers...you're never alone, so even running early in the morning feels safe. EXCEPT that one time. That one time: I was running, by myself, in broad daylight, mid-afternoon, when a man jumped onto the pedestrian path directly in my way. I tried dodging him left and right, but he blocked me wherever I turned. I started yelling at him. "What are you doing?" "Let me go!" "Ok, PLEASE let me go!" But he would not get his patchouli stankin' beard out of my face. His face was about 1/2 an inch away from mine, and to this day I can still smell him. ***insert heebie jeebie shivers here*** Finally I tried to butt him out of my way using my body weight, but he butted me back harder, nearly knocking me to the ground. He was finally out of my way, but I stood there as he looked on, completely stunned after having been some weird variation on attacked in the park. Now, I can more readily forgive the cracked out dude responsible than the many runners and bikers who passed right by the incident and merely glanced at us before continuing on their merry way. I know they saw it, and I know they chose to ignore my yelling. My plea to you, fellow San Franciscans, is to come to the aid of those who are being victimized or otherwise in need. I truly hope someone else would do the same for you. But back to the Panhandle itself: I love guerrilla warnings about "Death Monsters Ahead" spray painted on the bike path, the random Burning Man public art pieces that mysteriously pop up and just as mysteriously disappear, and the overall chill vibe to that stretch of the park. More hills would be cool, fewer streets intersecting the park would be great, drivers who actually look for runners and bikers crossing from one span to another would be ginormously wonderful (so one star subtracted for those drivers), but given what we have to work with, I'll say the panhandle is a pretty excellent place. But were there a ballot initiative, I'd favor a ban on patchouli in the panhandle. read more

I visited my friends and their beautiful apartment today and developed a new-found respect for the Pandhandle. The Panhandle is an objectively wonderful location. First of all, there are so many trees and pretty Victorian architecture, not to mention that the park is gorgeous and usable. The area has proximity to many great shops, restaurants, and supermarkets. And, it is between some excellent neighborhoods and Golden Gate Park. However, I wish there were a MUNI train or BART a little bit closer. read more

The strip of park that leads you to Golden Gate Park is a great place to exercise, picnic and play. Although it's surrounded by two busy throughways you are surrounded by lots of big trees and green grass. There are two paths that go the length of the panhandle. The bicyclist path is closer to Fell and the pedestrian path is closer to Oak. It's a very mixed use space. There are lots of joggers, walkers and bicyclists. On nice days, the panhandle fills with groups of people barbequing or having picnics. There is plenty of room to spread out and find your own space. On Bay to Breakers day it becomes one big party here, people bring music, lots of booze and some food. Within a few blocks is Haight where you can find lots of food and shopping. If you do want to have a picnic and you need supplies, The Haight Street Market is a great option or you can go to Whole Foods if you want to spend more. Overall a great place to hangout. There are some shady characters, but just keep walking and most of them will leave you alone. read more

Beautiful park with lots of pups running around. Great way to spend and afternoon and just watch the Eucalyptus Trees swaying in the breeze. Great for a bike ride. read more

A decent basketball court, its a big full court. On a saturday afternoon there were enough people to play 5's for a few hours. The competition was decent. No one horrible, and also no one dunking from the freethrow line. Overall one of the better pickup basketball courts I've found in SF. read more

A lovely park to just sit under eucalyptuses and have lunch from nearby cafe. It's a silent place where my daughter can sleep and recover before long walk in the Golden Gate Park. read more

Despite the alarming number of homeless people here, if you run fast enough, they usually won't bother you... too much. It's a nice track though, and it's close to my house. I especially like slowing it to a jog when I pass the basketball courts. Lots of cute boys on bikes too. read more

I don't come by this neighborhood nearly enough! The air is so fragrant and fresh in this a wonderful park, which is by far my favorite in SF. With a cup of coffee from Bread and Butter, it is so relaxing even with the high density of bikers. Love the real real neighborhood feel. Park benches are plenty, and the tall, old trees make me feel like I've escaped the Bay Area for a while. read more

On days when I don't feel like running hills, I want to get in a quick run before work, or GG Park seems too daunting, I default to the Panhandle. I actually like the muddy trails (good for practicing my ninja, jumping-over-puddles moves). I also appreciate the stretching and catching my breath pause that Masonic provides when you hit the traffic light right. read more