Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, sign visible on John F. Kennedy Drive just east of 8th Avenue intersection.
Starting Point: The Rhododendron Dell is almost directly across JFK Drive from the 6th Avenue Skate Park, and is midway between the concourse that includes the California Academy of Sciences and M.H. de Young Museum to the west and the Conservatory of Flowers to the east.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (scroll down for maps) (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Distance:
The John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell is a small area in Golden Gate Park with the entrance marked by a sign on JFK Drive. The trails meld into the rest of the park without a clear demarcation. Visitors can choose between something as short as a simple bench stop to rest and look at flowers, or make a several-mile walk through other parts of Golden Gate Park.
Considerations:
• Toilet facilities are available at the nearby Conservatory of Flowers, and behind the bandstand in the music concourse.
• Some roads are closed to traffic in Golden Gate Park. See the Golden Gate Park by car link above for updates on road restrictions and parking.
• See the public transportation and free park shuttle links above for transportation options.
• Heed health and safety as well as wildlife (e.g. coyote) information signs.
The trail:
Living at the western end of San Francisco, when my family wants an easy weekend walk, Golden Gate Park is an easy choice. It’s a big park with many different areas to explore, and one part we hadn’t really walked around much until recently was the Rhododendron Dell.
Rhododendrons tend to bloom in late winter and early spring, and the colors are stunning when they are in full bloom. Some bushes feature pale pink, bright pink, reddish pink, orange, almost white, and mixtures of these. I’ve seen bigger, brighter, more concentrated patches of rhododendrons in other parts of the park, but a stroll through the Rhododendron Dell shows off a good variety of rhododendron colors, as well as other flowering trees like cherry, and plum, and magnolia.
We typically walk in from Fulton Street on the northern edge of the park and come in from behind the 6th Ave. Skate Park, where it’s always fun to watch people skating. Refurbished Doggie Diner heads now dot the car-free section of JFK Drive heading toward the Conservatory of Flowers. Across JFK from the skate park is a green sign marking the John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell.
There are rhododendron bushes and several benches right near the opening of the Rhododendron Dell. Hidden just up behind the bench area is a statue of John McLaren, long term superintendent of Golden Gate Park. He fought against statues being placed in the park at every turn, but now his own statue stands here. It is placed discreetly in a quiet place, flat to the ground as if he is there enjoying nature, rather than standing on a tall pedestal.
Trails from this opening circle can take walkers to the Lily Pond, to AIDS Memorial Grove, or to the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. The Conservatory of Flowers is in easy walking distance, and with a little more walking, visitors could visit the Oak Woodlands Trail, the Fuschia Dell, the Rose Garden, Stow Lake (Strawberry Hill and Stow Lake Pagoda, Stow Lake Outer Loop) or the Botanical Garden.
The paths heading toward the museum area feel like something from an Impressionist painting when the sun hits just right. Sunny or overcast, Golden Gate Park has a special charm.
Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll Hike Notes were originally paired with the “The Micro View” Insights post.
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area 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. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! 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: John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, CA, sign visible on John F. Kennedy Drive just east of 8th Avenue intersection.
Starting Point: The Rhododendron Dell is almost directly across JFK Drive from the 6th Avenue Skate Park, and is midway between the concourse that includes the California Academy of Sciences and M.H. de Young Museum to the west and the Conservatory of Flowers to the east.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Golden Gate Park info link (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/770/Golden-Gate-Park
Golden Gate Park Points of Interest (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1116/Golden-Gate-Park-Points-of-Interest
Golden Gate Park by car (scroll down for maps) (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1619/Public-Transportation-to-Golden-Gate-Par
Golden Gate Park public transportation (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1618/Getting-to-Golden-Gate-Park-by-Car
Golden Gate Park free shuttle (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/1617/Golden-Gate-Park-Free-Shuttle
Golden Gate Park visitors map (SF Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/DocumentCenter/View/7301/Golden-Gate-Park-Visitors-Map
Distance:
The John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell is a small area in Golden Gate Park with the entrance marked by a sign on JFK Drive. The trails meld into the rest of the park without a clear demarcation. Visitors can choose between something as short as a simple bench stop to rest and look at flowers, or make a several-mile walk through other parts of Golden Gate Park.
Considerations:
• Toilet facilities are available at the nearby Conservatory of Flowers, and behind the bandstand in the music concourse.
• Some roads are closed to traffic in Golden Gate Park. See the Golden Gate Park by car link above for updates on road restrictions and parking.
• See the public transportation and free park shuttle links above for transportation options.
• Heed health and safety as well as wildlife (e.g. coyote) information signs.
The trail:
Living at the western end of San Francisco, when my family wants an easy weekend walk, Golden Gate Park is an easy choice. It’s a big park with many different areas to explore, and one part we hadn’t really walked around much until recently was the Rhododendron Dell.
Rhododendrons tend to bloom in late winter and early spring, and the colors are stunning when they are in full bloom. Some bushes feature pale pink, bright pink, reddish pink, orange, almost white, and mixtures of these. I’ve seen bigger, brighter, more concentrated patches of rhododendrons in other parts of the park, but a stroll through the Rhododendron Dell shows off a good variety of rhododendron colors, as well as other flowering trees like cherry, and plum, and magnolia.
We typically walk in from Fulton Street on the northern edge of the park and come in from behind the 6th Ave. Skate Park, where it’s always fun to watch people skating. Refurbished Doggie Diner heads now dot the car-free section of JFK Drive heading toward the Conservatory of Flowers. Across JFK from the skate park is a green sign marking the John McLaren Memorial Rhododendron Dell.
There are rhododendron bushes and several benches right near the opening of the Rhododendron Dell. Hidden just up behind the bench area is a statue of John McLaren, long term superintendent of Golden Gate Park. He fought against statues being placed in the park at every turn, but now his own statue stands here. It is placed discreetly in a quiet place, flat to the ground as if he is there enjoying nature, rather than standing on a tall pedestal.
Trails from this opening circle can take walkers to the Lily Pond, to AIDS Memorial Grove, or to the California Academy of Sciences and de Young Museum. The Conservatory of Flowers is in easy walking distance, and with a little more walking, visitors could visit the Oak Woodlands Trail, the Fuschia Dell, the Rose Garden, Stow Lake (Strawberry Hill and Stow Lake Pagoda, Stow Lake Outer Loop) or the Botanical Garden.
The paths heading toward the museum area feel like something from an Impressionist painting when the sun hits just right. Sunny or overcast, Golden Gate Park has a special charm.
Rhododendron Dell Golden Gate Park Stroll Hike Notes were originally paired with the “The Micro View” Insights post.
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area 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. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
