Dahlia Garden-Golden Gate Park
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Slightly east and down the stairs from the Conservatory of Flowers, northeast end of Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco 94118
Starting Point: Near Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, south of the intersection of Arguello and Fulton, west of McClaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Dahlia Dell information link (Dahlia Society of California)
https://www.dahliadell.org
Conservatory of Flowers info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org
Conservatory of Flowers visiting info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org/visit/
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com
Golden Gate Park map link:
https://goldengatepark.com/map.html
Distance:
Visiting the Dahlia Garden next to the Conservatory of Flowers does not make for a significant walk in itself, but since the John F. Kennedy Drive is closed to cars, there will be some walking required whether visiting by car or public transportation. Visitors can plan as long or short a walk as they wish, with the entirety of Golden Gate Park available to walk or bike through as part of an outing including a Dahlia Garden visit. It’s also fine to have a quiet day with minimal walking and just a short visit to a special feature area like the Dahlia Garden.
Considerations:
• See trail map for official parking areas, or use street parking (pay attention to street signs to avoid tickets). This stretch of the park is car-free, so parking may be at a moderate distance.
• Public toilet facilities are available outside the Conservatory of Flowers.
• For those using public transportation, MUNI bus lines 5 and 33 run near this part of Golden Gate Park. Check the MUNI web site for more transportation options (https://www.sfmta.com/muni).
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• There is no charge for visiting the Dahlia Garden.
The trail:
The Dahlia Garden is a planted area at the bottom of the stairs at the east side of the Conservatory of Flowers that puts on an impressive show when the dahlias are in season. The Dahlia Society of California’s website states that over 700 varieties of dahlia are featured in this spot in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park.
With the road closed along this stretch of John F. Kennedy Drive, visitors either have to park at a distance or walk a short distance if using public transportation. Toilet facilities are to the left when facing the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Dahlia Garden is down the stairs to the right when facing the Conservatory of Flowers.
The Dahlia Garden consists of an oval planting area and an additional hillside planting area. When the dahlias are in bloom, visitors are treated to a stunning array of blooms that vary so greatly in shape and size that one wonders what makes a dahlia a dahlia. Some look like pom-poms in perfect geometrical patterns, some look like overgrown daisies, and many look like technicolor sea anemones but in flower form. Best blooming season is July, August and September according to the Dahlia Society web site.
The photo gallery for this Dahlia Garden post is larger than usual in order to show the areas around the actual Dahlia Garden, as well as several of the amazing varieties of dahlia on display.
This area of Golden Gate Park has numerous special areas that can be added to a visit to the Dahlia Garden to make for a longer walk in whatever combination suits visitors. Check out the Hike Notes for the Conservatory of Flowers, Lily Pond-Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden Stroll, Oak Woodlands Trail-Golden Gate Park, AIDS Memorial Grove-Golden Gate Park, Fuchsia Dell-Golden Gate Park, Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll, Rose Garden-Golden Gate Park, and Shakespeare Garden-Golden Gate Park.
(Dahlia Garden-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Late Discoveries” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Slightly east and down the stairs from the Conservatory of Flowers, northeast end of Golden Gate Park, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, San Francisco 94118
Starting Point: Near Conservatory of Flowers, 100 John F. Kennedy Drive, south of the intersection of Arguello and Fulton, west of McClaren Lodge, Golden Gate Park
Info/Links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Dahlia Dell information link (Dahlia Society of California)
https://www.dahliadell.org
Conservatory of Flowers info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org
Conservatory of Flowers visiting info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://conservatoryofflowers.org/visit/
Golden Gate Park info link (San Francisco Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/parks-open-spaces/golden-gate-park-guide/
Golden Gate Park info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com
Golden Gate Park map link:
https://goldengatepark.com/map.html
Distance:
Visiting the Dahlia Garden next to the Conservatory of Flowers does not make for a significant walk in itself, but since the John F. Kennedy Drive is closed to cars, there will be some walking required whether visiting by car or public transportation. Visitors can plan as long or short a walk as they wish, with the entirety of Golden Gate Park available to walk or bike through as part of an outing including a Dahlia Garden visit. It’s also fine to have a quiet day with minimal walking and just a short visit to a special feature area like the Dahlia Garden.
Considerations:
• See trail map for official parking areas, or use street parking (pay attention to street signs to avoid tickets). This stretch of the park is car-free, so parking may be at a moderate distance.
• Public toilet facilities are available outside the Conservatory of Flowers.
• For those using public transportation, MUNI bus lines 5 and 33 run near this part of Golden Gate Park. Check the MUNI web site for more transportation options (https://www.sfmta.com/muni).
• San Francisco’s weather ranges between chilly fog and hot sun, often in the same day. Wear layers.
• There is no charge for visiting the Dahlia Garden.
The trail:
The Dahlia Garden is a planted area at the bottom of the stairs at the east side of the Conservatory of Flowers that puts on an impressive show when the dahlias are in season. The Dahlia Society of California’s website states that over 700 varieties of dahlia are featured in this spot in the northeast corner of Golden Gate Park.
With the road closed along this stretch of John F. Kennedy Drive, visitors either have to park at a distance or walk a short distance if using public transportation. Toilet facilities are to the left when facing the Conservatory of Flowers, and the Dahlia Garden is down the stairs to the right when facing the Conservatory of Flowers.
The Dahlia Garden consists of an oval planting area and an additional hillside planting area. When the dahlias are in bloom, visitors are treated to a stunning array of blooms that vary so greatly in shape and size that one wonders what makes a dahlia a dahlia. Some look like pom-poms in perfect geometrical patterns, some look like overgrown daisies, and many look like technicolor sea anemones but in flower form. Best blooming season is July, August and September according to the Dahlia Society web site.
The photo gallery for this Dahlia Garden post is larger than usual in order to show the areas around the actual Dahlia Garden, as well as several of the amazing varieties of dahlia on display.
This area of Golden Gate Park has numerous special areas that can be added to a visit to the Dahlia Garden to make for a longer walk in whatever combination suits visitors. Check out the Hike Notes for the Conservatory of Flowers, Lily Pond-Golden Gate Park, Japanese Tea Garden Stroll, Oak Woodlands Trail-Golden Gate Park, AIDS Memorial Grove-Golden Gate Park, Fuchsia Dell-Golden Gate Park, Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll, Rose Garden-Golden Gate Park, and Shakespeare Garden-Golden Gate Park.
(Dahlia Garden-Golden Gate Park Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Late Discoveries” Insights post.)
Check the Home page for the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page, and scroll to the bottom of each hike page to see full photo galleries.
If you’d like to support HikingAutism, check out the Support/Shop page! Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links. Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
