Hernshead
Hernshead, a large rock outcrop that juts into the Lake’s west side, is a popular spot for relaxing and exploring.
It provides expansive views of the Ramble, the Lake, and the City’s skyline to the south. The surrounding landscape is planted with many spring blooming flowers, including azaleas, Virginia bluebells, Dutchman’s breeches, and daffodils.
One of many existing rock outcrops preserved as part of the design of the Park, the Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux chose to name this one “Hernshead,” using a British word for heron, because the shape of the rock reminded them of the bird’s head. Atop the outcrop sits the Ladies Pavilion, an elegant cast-iron structure that offers shaded seating. The nearby Hernshead Boat Landing is another structure intended to allow visitors a spot to rest and take in the views of one of the most scenic spots on the Lake.
