Rainbow Falls 5K

The Rainbow Falls 5K is a December 5K held in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. The start and finish line are located at JFK/Kennedy Drive, near Transverse Drive. The 5K race begins at 9:00am, with race-day check-in starting at 8:00am. This event proceeds regardless of weather conditions. A free half-mile Kids Run is offered for children 12 and under, utilizing the same start and finish area once the 5K concludes. The 5K course is largely flat and circles through the park. Runners head east on Kennedy Drive, take a brief uphill turn onto Stow Lake Drive, and continue towards McLaren Lodge and Kezar Drive before looping back via East Conservatory Drive. This is a low-key community race, not a large-scale event. All finishers receive a ribbon, and the top five overall male, female, and nonbinary runners are awarded place ribbons. Parking is typically available for free along Kennedy and Transverse Drives, simplifying access to the start area for participants and their families.