Queen Wilhelmina Garden
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: John F Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, between 47th Ave. and Great Highway.
Starting Point: Parking is usually available within easy distance of the Queen Wilhelmina Garden (also referred to as “Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden”).
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden information link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/queen-wilhelmina-tulip-garden.html
Queen Wilhelmina Garden information link (SF Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/908/Golden-Gate-Park---Queen-Wilhelmina-Gard
Golden Gate Park Windmills and Tulips (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/windmills.html
Golden Gate Park info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com
Golden Gate Park FAQ info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/faq.html
Golden Gate Park link to assorted maps (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/category/maps
Distance:
Queen Wilhemina’s Garden offers a brief stroll around the flower gardens and down and around behind the historic windmill, but as a visit destination in and of itself, does not offer a significant walking distance. Those wanting a longer hike can make this a stop on a walk that includes Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, or even an uphill adventure to Sutro Baths and Lands End.
Considerations:
• Parking is usually available within easy walking distance of Queen Wilhelmina Garden. Weekends and busy soccer field days may be more crowded.
• Lock vehicle doors, and do not leave any items, even a jacket, in view in car interior to avoid vehicle break-ins.
• Queen Wilhelmina Garden offers a short stroll. For those who cannot use the main stairs in the front, use the ramped path to the left facing the windmill from JFK.
• There are toilet facilities on the first floor of the Beach Chalet across JFK Drive. Check out the exhibits on the first floor. There are also toilet facilities at the nearby soccer field.
• Pay attention to information signs, including those for urban wildlife, particularly coyotes.
The trail:
There are two windmills along the Great Highway at the western edge of Golden Gate Park. The windmill to the north at Queen Wilhelmina Garden is an authentic Dutch windmill that offers beautiful flower displays. The windmills, built in 1902, were originally the workhorses of an irrigation system to pump water to plants in Golden Gate Park. The park originated on sand dunes in the late 1800s, and water was needed to nourish the many older trees we see in Golden Gate Park today.
Park gardeners work hard to present seasonal flowers year round, but in spring the tulips are on display in full force. This is a lovely place to stroll, sit on a bench and soak up some sun (if not on one of our foggy days), and walk around to observe the authentic Dutch windmill up close. It is definitely a hot spot for photos when the tulips are in full bloom.
Those wishing to take a longer hike have plenty of options. Other nearby hikes to check out are noted in Ocean Beach-North End, Bison, Fly Fishing and Horses-Golden Gate Park, Metson Lake-Golden Gate Park, Sutro Heights, Sutro Baths and other Hike Notes under San Francisco in the Quick View Hike List.
(Queen Wilhelmina Garden Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Brothers” Insights post.)
(Click the Home page to get the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Click Hikes and browse the list or check the Quick View Hike List for a summary of hike listings. Follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
To receive hikingautism.com updates, click the HikingAutism Facebook page and click Like and/or Follow.)
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: John F Kennedy Drive, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, between 47th Ave. and Great Highway.
Starting Point: Parking is usually available within easy distance of the Queen Wilhelmina Garden (also referred to as “Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden”).
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden information link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/queen-wilhelmina-tulip-garden.html
Queen Wilhelmina Garden information link (SF Rec and Park):
https://sfrecpark.org/908/Golden-Gate-Park---Queen-Wilhelmina-Gard
Golden Gate Park Windmills and Tulips (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/windmills.html
Golden Gate Park info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com
Golden Gate Park FAQ info link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/faq.html
Golden Gate Park link to assorted maps (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/category/maps
Distance:
Queen Wilhemina’s Garden offers a brief stroll around the flower gardens and down and around behind the historic windmill, but as a visit destination in and of itself, does not offer a significant walking distance. Those wanting a longer hike can make this a stop on a walk that includes Ocean Beach, Golden Gate Park, or even an uphill adventure to Sutro Baths and Lands End.
Considerations:
• Parking is usually available within easy walking distance of Queen Wilhelmina Garden. Weekends and busy soccer field days may be more crowded.
• Lock vehicle doors, and do not leave any items, even a jacket, in view in car interior to avoid vehicle break-ins.
• Queen Wilhelmina Garden offers a short stroll. For those who cannot use the main stairs in the front, use the ramped path to the left facing the windmill from JFK.
• There are toilet facilities on the first floor of the Beach Chalet across JFK Drive. Check out the exhibits on the first floor. There are also toilet facilities at the nearby soccer field.
• Pay attention to information signs, including those for urban wildlife, particularly coyotes.
The trail:
There are two windmills along the Great Highway at the western edge of Golden Gate Park. The windmill to the north at Queen Wilhelmina Garden is an authentic Dutch windmill that offers beautiful flower displays. The windmills, built in 1902, were originally the workhorses of an irrigation system to pump water to plants in Golden Gate Park. The park originated on sand dunes in the late 1800s, and water was needed to nourish the many older trees we see in Golden Gate Park today.
Park gardeners work hard to present seasonal flowers year round, but in spring the tulips are on display in full force. This is a lovely place to stroll, sit on a bench and soak up some sun (if not on one of our foggy days), and walk around to observe the authentic Dutch windmill up close. It is definitely a hot spot for photos when the tulips are in full bloom.
Those wishing to take a longer hike have plenty of options. Other nearby hikes to check out are noted in Ocean Beach-North End, Bison, Fly Fishing and Horses-Golden Gate Park, Metson Lake-Golden Gate Park, Sutro Heights, Sutro Baths and other Hike Notes under San Francisco in the Quick View Hike List.
(Queen Wilhelmina Garden Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Brothers” Insights post.)
(Click the Home page to get the broader background story. Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Click Hikes and browse the list or check the Quick View Hike List for a summary of hike listings. Follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism
To receive hikingautism.com updates, click the HikingAutism Facebook page and click Like and/or Follow.)