Saturday, April 7, 2018
View the entire Google Web Album
Hans Christian Andersen Park is a huge, beautiful park filled with large live oak trees. To enter, you drive through a castle arch! Then you come to the skate park which has cavernous half pipes that will challenge any skater! A small wooden playground is behind the skate park, which is handy if you have an older skater and a young child. Continue driving through the park and you come to a playground with tall slides in a grassy area . Climb a ladder to the third level and then slide down the curved tunnel slide. It’s a blast even for older kids! There’s a music-making station with well-tuned chimes, and a rock-climbing wall. Plenty of trees and picnic tables are scattered throughout the park, including a child-sized picnic table at the playground. *1
Day 1: This leisurely walk travels from the east end of Hans Christian Andersen Park to its west end with a detour up Skytt Mesa and a stroll around town.
Begin at the main entrance of the park and walk through the castle arch to the Hans Christian Andersen Park Trail.
Hans Christian Anderson Park is a 1.7 mile out and back trail located near Solvang, California. The trail is good for all skill levels and primarily used for walking and trail running. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on a leash.
Turn left at the trailhead and follow the trail along the east edge of the park.
The trail continues along the hillside past the tennis courts.
Wildflowers!
It winds through the oak woodland and connects to the main gravel road through the park.
Turn left and follow the trail to the rock climbing wall.
The trail comes to an end at the south gate off Hwy 246.
Turn around and retrace your steps back towards the pumping station. At the trail split, go left and follow the trail along the fenced perimeter of the overflow area.
Wildflowers!
Stay on the narrow trail as it returns northward along the west edge of the park.
The trail cuts across the open grassland to the Skytt Mesa junction.
Make a sharp left onto Skytt Mesa, it turns southwards for a gentle climb up to the top of the ridge.
U-turn and retrace the route back down to the Hans Christian Andersen Park Trail.
Turn left and follow the trail through the oak woodland towards the large covered picnic area.
Cross the creek and go through the parking lot to the main paved road.
Return on the dirt trail and exit the park.
Some city sights around Solvang, the Danish Capital of America along Copenhagen Dr, Alisal Rd and Mission Dr.
This is an easy leisurely walk through the park for the whole family with lots of activities for the kids. The city walk is filled with interesting architecture, windmills galore and plenty of places to shop, dine and explore.
*1 https://www.solvangusa.com/directory/hans-christian-andersen-park/
2 Miles with 150′ of elevation gain
Max elevation: 484′
Time: 1 hour
Hike: Easy
Facilities & water at Hans Christian Anderson Park, 633 Chalk Hill Rd, Solvang
Dog-friendly, leash only
Ride Chronicles 