Tree Fern Dell (Mescaline Grove)

What you need to know

What Makes It Worth It

The ferns are ancient species. Some grow over 15 feet tall, with fronds unfurling from thick, hairy trunks. The dell is damp, shaded, and quiet, a sharp contrast to the open meadows and busy paths just a few hundred feet away. Maidenhair ferns, Boston ferns, and bracken varieties fill the undergrowth between the tree ferns.

The grove earned its counterculture nickname in the 1960s, and the name stuck. Today it’s a peaceful spot where joggers pass through and occasional birdwatchers stop. No signage, no benches, no interpretation. Just a dense grove of prehistoric plants in the middle of a city park.

A 2-minute walk-through at most. Best combined with other Golden Gate Park stops. Not a destination on its own unless you’re specifically interested in ferns.

Visiting

Address: Near the eastern end of Golden Gate Park, close to the Conservatory of Flowers

Hours: Dawn to dusk

Cost: Free

Best time to go: Morning, when dew sits on the fronds and the light filters through the canopy.

What to know: There’s no sign marking the grove. Look for the dense cluster of tree ferns between JFK Drive and the Conservatory of Flowers.

Getting There

Transit: Muni 5-Fulton or 21-Hayes to the park’s eastern entrance at Fell and Stanyan.

Parking: Free parking along JFK Drive.

Walking: Steps from the Conservatory of Flowers, the Dahlia Garden, and the park’s main meadows.