Buena Vista Park

Very underwhelming honestly, best bet is to go to another park in the area if you want a good view since it's mostly obstructed here. If you just want some nature, it's still kind of mid, with trails that don't seem maintained and really nothing too notable.

This park is a beautiful green space right in the city, perfect for a relaxing stroll or a peaceful break. The views from the top are really nice, and I loved how quiet it felt even though it’s in the middle of SF. There are plenty of trails to explore, and it’s surrounded by charming old homes that add to the charm of the area. I’d definitely recommend stopping by.

Buena Vista Park offers an incredible hiking experience with a variety of trails that cater to different fitness levels. Nestled in the heart of San Francisco, this park is a peaceful escape from the city’s hustle and bustle. As you ascend the trails, you’ll be rewarded with stunning panoramic views of the city, including glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown skyscrapers, and even the Bay on a clear day. The trails wind through lush greenery, shaded by tall eucalyptus and pine trees, making it a great spot for nature lovers. Along the way, you’ll find benches where you can pause to take in the scenery or enjoy a quiet moment. The park is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your furry friend along for the adventure. For the best experience, wear sturdy shoes, as some trails can be steep and uneven. Bring water and a camera to capture the incredible views. Sunrise or sunset hikes are particularly magical, with the changing light adding an extra layer of beauty to the surroundings. Whether you’re a local looking for a quick getaway or a visitor wanting to explore San Francisco’s natural side, Buena Vista Park is a must-visit destination for hikers and sightseers alike.

Beautiful area with lots of trails. Really steep, but worth it to get to the top and (hopefully) see views of the city. Visited in mid August and enjoyed the wildflowers blooming. Parking exists from the bottom to the top of the park, so you can choose your own strenuous adventure. We parked closer to the top, then trailed down to Haight Street and enjoyed that area while walking to the Golden Gate Park. After our visit there, we took a driverless Waymo back to our car for a fabulous tour of SF.

Awesome park! This park is so beautiful and has such an amazing view. Loved the greenery and how clean it is. Good place for walking or for a jog and it is pet friendly too. I just want to read a book under the bright sun and enjoy the cool breeze in this park. Good times.

It's a pretty big park with a bit of elevation and at the top a spectacular view perfect for meditating while you breathe in the light smell of rosemary.

I had to walk 2.5 miles to get to it. I knew there would be a climb, and there was. But, worth every bit of it. Beautiful park on a cool, rainy-ish day. The neighborhood was really nice, the walk was pleasant. Lots to see, good views, not too crowded.

I hate this park. It is a nightmare to traverse. Realistically I’d probably give it a 3 or a 4 but I need to vent my frustrations. Do not go here if you are looking for anything other than a hike. I am so exhausted. The infrastructure is so bad, too. This park isn’t really a park at all, it’s just a hill with some annoying trails. I should have known that before coming here. Great view but I still hate it (as of right now). 1/5.

For sure Golden Gate Park is nice, but don't forget about this one in Haight-Ashbury. It has shit tons of long paths to climb to the top. Buena Vista Park is more vertical than anything. Go up and have a look. The climb is the worst thing but there's lots of scenery. An interesting thing is that it's San Francisco's oldest official park, how about that cool fact. It's been around here since 1867, if you can believe it. The park doesn't have a lot going on in it besides scenery. Basically it's walking up a long winding road. Walking up it gets you to the top. It's not a large park in area. This is on a hill and the way is up. It peaks at 575 feet. There's a few benches to sit on and you will use these because you'll likely be tired. Best way to look at the city. It's way up, and from up there you can see for miles. The park itself is great, but the best thing is the views.

Beautiful park - views, paved walkways and some stairs for a good workout. Mature trees and so much green space - a great escape if you live in a small apartment nearby. Its no secret that if you live in the city you likely don't have a yard or parking spot or any space. Good thing you can come here - or any of the countless parks nearby. This park covers a lot of area - its huge. It is easy to get escape once you explore a little and get away from the streets and cars around the perimeter. Not as popular as Golden Gate park - so you don't get the tourists. Mostly locals come here. There is also a small play structure for kids - so don't forget to bring them. Old tombstones can be spotted in this park along the walkways in the trenches that I think are for water control. I read that the bodies were transferred to Colma and the city utilized the old concrete to help build stairs. The tombstones are very subtle and you won't recognize them unless you are really looking for them. Lots of history here. Another odd fact I learned of is that when the park opened it had to pay squatters thousands of dollars to move. In the news I heard about squatters rights and I think in Seattle Washington the laws are most in favor of squatters - even on private land. Just an FYI.

Each visit to this grand & expansive park is wonderful. I love the meandering paths throughout and the gorgeous views. Lots of stairs which I love (bun busters!).

Buena Vista Park is one of my favorite spots to get a quick hike with beautiful views of the city. It's an easy hike of 20 minutes to the vista point from where you can soak in wonderful views of the city. Parking can be a tad difficult though especially during weekends.

Did you know Buena Vista is SF's oldest park? Well, now you do! But that's not the only reason to visit. This park has a variety of landscaping and topography that make it enjoyable for different kinds of recreation. On the north side, facing Haight, there is a nice sloping lawn, that's actually quite comfortable for lounging. But further in (heading south), there are cool trails that wind their way through (great for hiking). These will pay off too, with some great views of the city. Also at the east side of the park is a tennis court; not sure how busy it gets, but it can't be as bad as the GG courts, right? If you're in the neighborhood, check this park out!

Came back to Buena Vista Park via Duboce and we took steep hills and the steepest way to get up to the peak of Buena Vista Park. It's fun and nice to try. Try to go on a less steep area of the park. You may go by the park but not take the walk up the hill. It's surrounded by so much of the Haight district.

I still stand by my previous review for Buena Vista Park - I would not necessarily want to roam deep within Buena Vista Park - after dusk or before dawn. I would not recommend you do it either. But on a beautiful midday afternoon - Buena Vista Park is what's up. I particularly like to sit on the grassy slope, right by it's entrance, after a leisurely walk down Haight Street. Once seated - I put my headphones in and bliss out. Feeling the warmth of the sun's cascading rays - I like to just people watch. I could sit there for hours. Trust.

Plenty of free street parking around the park. Trails are well paved, smooth, and fine for regular sneakers. There is incline to the top so keep that in mind depending on your physical level. You do get great views of the entire city including both the ocean and bay as well as the Golden Gate. A great place to walk around for 30-60 min. Overall, a great little oasis in SF that is quiet and makes you forget that you're in the city.

Unclaimed Gold Rush era headstones were used to build the walls and gutters in Buena Vista Park. I found some of those headstones in gutters here this morning. ( pics ) History - In 1901 burials were banned in San Francisco , and by 1909 the city ordered most of the cemeteries to be moved. Though the bodies were relocated to Colma, the majority of headstones were not. The headstones of the rich , and those with living family who paid to have markers moved were relocated . Any unclaimed headstones were repurposed as building material for the city. Sweeping view of the city including Golden Gate Bridge. The fog was starting to roll in from the Pacific and covered most of the bridge except the suspension parts, very picturesque ( couldn't capture with my phone ). Along with Bernal Heights , this park is my favorite:-)

A 37 acre forest in the middle of the city? No wonder people call San Francisco the land of Oz, there are so many magical things to discover. I confess I've only walked around the edges of the park but I mean to venture up the steep paths for a good workout rewarded by spectacular city views including the Golden Gate Bridge. If you're going for sunset views, go in pairs or a group. There are some aggressive homeless and people who aren't quite in their right minds (that's why there are plenty of undercover officers near the park, especially on the Haight Street side, who are "holding." Yeah, they're holding alright: They're holding handcuffs and a shield and a gun! Overall very quiet, this neighborhood surrounding the park is one of my favorites in the city: Long, winding streets dotted with both single family homes and large 1920s apartment buildings and incredible mansions make you wistful you were one of the 1% though until 20 years ago, this was still a middle class neighborhood with pockets of wealth. And I wonder as I drive along the Buena Vista Terrace towards Upper Market if actor Danny Glover still lives here?

I had always seen this park while visiting Haight street as a teen and thought it was just the park where the wannabee hippies/homeless/druggies hung out on the grassy knoll. I didn't realize it was an actual open space area and expanded really far back up the hill with trails, lots of trees, and views. There are a lot of different views throughout the park of the Golden Gate Bridge, downtown, Sutro Tower, and the southern part of the city. It's not a destination viewpoint onto itself like Corona Heights or Tank Hill but it's nice to stroll along and admire different views throughout your walk. For a hike there is enough incline to get a work out and kick your butt yet it's not too long so if doable for a hike after work before it gets dark. Many paved and unpaved trails zigzag through the park so it depends on which trails you use but in general it's about 45 minutes-1 hour/1.5 miles to go around. For something longer it's best to add Corona Heights/ Vulcan stairs which are like 5 minutes away.

TL;DR - amazing views of the city. I love coming here because the parking is plentiful and the views are spectacular. However be careful. There are break ins often, don't leave any valuable things in view even if your windows are tinted. The park is near a ton of good food and snacks on Fillmore!

Of all the places that we stopped in San Francisco, this one was the biggest disappointment. The main issue was that there were no signs and we had no idea what direction to go in. I had initially chosen it because it came up on a list of dog parks and we had our two dogs with us and wanted to give them the opportunity to play. As it turns out, I don't think this was a traditional dog park, or at least we never found one. It seems that perhaps the entire park is considered a dog park but we didn't see a designated fenced-in area, which was even more concerning considering the signs around the park warning of coyotes. The park is very hilly, which isn't surprising in San Francisco, but be prepared for a hike. We climbed up to the top and hoped to see a view of the city but it was too foggy.

1 star off: The park seems to attract teenagers and hippies...nothing wrong with those groups themselves, but the ones who frequent this park tend to be loud, obnoxious, and profane. The trails in this park are pretty basic, but what I like the most about Buena Vista Park is actually walking/hiking on the periphery of the park. It gives you a great view of the city. You see rows of Victorian homes contrasting with downtown skyscrapers, which I think is more iconic San Francisco than the hippies are.

I went to Buena Vista Park during a run. There are great views of the city from the top! There are stairs with a lot of shade from the trees that lead you there. The park was really clean and not crowded at all. Great spot to walk around at!

Quiet forest in the city Buena Vista Park is a hidden oasis in San Francisco. On the map it's not huge, but in a city like SF it can easily be missed. When you're tired from walking and you decide to hike these trails, it's more tiring. But it doesn't take too long. It's unpaved paths, with manmade wooden steps. Dogs are welcome. There's even a playground in here too. It has a great view at the top, but since you're not that close, everything does seem small in perspective. It's well maintained. I see staff picking up garbage. I did notice a few tents in the park, most likely homeless people living there. But which part of SF doesn't have homeless people? It's not far from Haight Street and Golden Gate Park, but if you're searching for a short uphill hike, this is a great place.

This is one of my favorite parks to take my 1 year old husky. You're likely to see at least a pup or two off leash here on any given day. Often dog walkers bring their dogs here as well in fairly large batches but most are not looking to socialize and may have some "pack mentality". The top of the park though has a really cute patch of stone and grass (pictured) which dog owners do gather on top of on weekday mornings (typically before 8am) if you're looking for a fun play group for your pup. There's also a sandy dog run lower down in the park where dogs come to run. It isn't too far from the street though so make sure your dog is good with recall if you bring them. Plus, every now and then you'll see a coyote warning sign - I have yet to spot one myself but I've heard of other dog owners who have. Best to keep the smaller dogs on leash! If you're just looking for a nice walk, this park is for you, too! There are so many little trails and turns you can take that you can easily spend over an hour traipsing through it. And the view of the city at some points is just wonderful. I'm myself a big fan of how green and woodsy it feels. Still can't believe such a great cluster of trails and trees exists right in the middle of San Francisco!

A beautiful park that makes you forget you are in the city. There's some hiking trails and steps that can take you to the top of the park and get a nice panorama view of the city. A bit of a workout going up but the hike is quite short and maybe takes only 15 minutes. Truthfully, the harder part is going back down the steps since the steps are so wide. At the top, it is a very tranquil spot and a wonderful place to just sit and enjoy the wonders of Mother Nature. There's not many tourists here and a lot of locals bring their dogs here to run around the paths. There is a small children's playground in the park.

It's the park that changes personality the further you go in. First of all, if you look at the address you will note that it's very near Haight-Ashbury, so you'd expect that it's crawling with spillover tourists and/or other looky-lous. But reading through the reviews, you'll find that not always do the locals even realize it's here. At the bottom along Haight, however, you do notice some spillover from Haight-Ashbury, but it's the hippie type. I mean, there were A LOT of people parked there at the bottom of the steps and at the corner, rolling their joints and otherwise administering their freshly obtained Mary Jane. If you only have a couple of minutes, just take the drive around the road that borders the park and connects you back to Haight. You'll see the personality change along the way. From the legalize crowd, you'll quickly ascend to a cleaner-cut crew of beautiful homes across from a more wooded park. In fact, Buena Vista is kind of a jungle of trees and walkways on the exterior, with nice (but not ostentatious) homes along the exterior. When you get to the top, you'll see the other Buena Vista. The dog-walking, people bustling, amazing views of the city and of the Golden Gate Bridge version. This seems like the kind of park that you should at least plan to see if you're in the neighborhood. Tourists, listen up--grab a meal to go and come picnic here. Locals, make it a weekly routine and take a different stroll through/around/near the park once a week and see what's new, and also how it changes. Ya, it's super steep as it's carved into the hillside, but you'll get some sexy calf muscles along the way. Me? It's the kind of place where what I really want to do is grab a small box of varied chocolates, take a walk into the deep wooded interior, find a small patch of grass or bench or two rocks to sit on, and sit and share the chocolates and plan the rest of my afternoon.

As a Bay Area native, I am embarrassed to admit that I had never walked into Buena Vista Park before last weekend. Like most people who don't live in the immediate vicinity, my default choices for bucolic frolicking have been Golden Gate Park, the Presidio or Dolores Park where spaces are more wide open. But if you like a little more elevation (575 feet high) in a condensed forest, then Buena Vista does the trick, all 37 acres of it. Jamie W. and I just happened upon it because we were at the Castro MUNI station, and out of sheer randomness, I suggested we go north on Castro versus our usual route of going into the Castro. Jamie was a good sport, and we trudged our significant arses up 15th Street and then Park Hill Avenue where we were greeted by a large rat only to find a long flight of steps beckoning us. From there, it was just a quick stroll to the summit where there were already a herd of camera-wielding European tourists and a couple of dog walkers, all of them taking in what we could see of the view through the trees. The best view from here is toward the Golden Gate Bridge, but you have to position yourself just right for your obligatory photo op. We then descended down toward the west where there is a genuinely nice view of St. Ignatius Church and the NOPA neighborhood. You eventually find yourself on Haight where the grassy area is festooned with what looks like the remnants of Woodstock or at least Burning Man with a lot of hippie types in all sorts of horizontal positions. The smell of weed was thick, and if it were better quality, we would have stayed. But no, it was time to leave the park.

Steep hills and they were hard to climb up. My mom is handy cap they did not provide anything for handy cap people

Don't let this park fool you: this shit is STEEP. The views of the city from the top are amazing, but it's a nice workout to get up there. Beware of people having sex in the bushes, needles and spooky homeless people. I'm not saying it's a dangerous park, I'm just saying it's not a walk in the park. Wait, that didn't make sense. Seriously, go while the sun is out unless you're into Senator Craig-type antics.

We need to cut down those trees at the peak so that we humans could enjoy the view of the city - the human creation made of steel and wood. Oh wait, that would defeat the purpose of having nature friendly parks. But seriously, I was expecting a better view from the top of a park named Buena Vista, but 30 yard radius grass platform at the peak is nice for a picnic, but trees blocked majority of the view. Far better unblocked view of the city could be found at Corona Heights (http://www.yelp.com/biz/tGCFC0PTjLbU5m7Euw2NJg?hrid=r9ks4E3Hngro7vrktND4Mg) next to Buena Vista Park. There is good number of free street parking on Buena Vista Avenue. While there are several paths up the hill, if you would like to minimize the climb, park at a higher altitude location, perhaps around corner of Buena Vista Ave & Upper Terrace. From there, there is a paved road (not accessible via car) that is not a steep climb that leads you to the top.

By far the best park I have ever been to. It's literally a forest in the middle of a big city. So beautiful, definitely will come back. There's a coyote alert so beware

Note: Not sure what Utopia some people think San Francisco parks are supposed to be, but each and every park here will have an unsavory aspect. You will always come across, at some point or another, the leftovers/remnants of homeless, alcoholics, drug addicts, partying teens, careless dog owners/walkers, and people who just don't give a shit. With that note aside, for a city park, this is one of my favorites, outside of Glen Canyon, and the Presidio. Many paths to walk, stairs for the avid athletic, tennis courts, a small playground for children (probably best for children ages 3-8), a picnic spot with grass at the very top. There are park benches throughout that offer peace and quiet resting spots. I've always come across park attendants tending to the maintenance of the park. VIEWS: you HAVE to hike to specific locations; the pinnacles of this park, which are often sought out by those unfamiliar with the area, offer poor lookouts and leave those who hiked the popular route, dissatisfied with what they see. The less common trails will provide you better glimpses of downtown SF, Haight, Laurel Heights, Presidio and the Golden Gate Bridge, but you have to "take the road less traveled". DOGS: This is a dog friendly park, BUT just like most of San Francisco parks outside of GGNRA zones, leash laws apply. HOWEVER, and this is a BIG however, you WILL come across those who don't obey them. There IS a specified off leash dog zone on the Southwest Side, please be a responsible dog owner and take your dog here for off leash romps and only unleash them once you are at the location. Some people have dogs that are sensitive to other dogs, so no matter how friendly YOUR dog is, these folks would like to enjoy their walk disruption free. They have just as much of a right to enjoy their walks as you do.

Most INCREDIBLE park in San Francisco!!! I've lived in San Francisco for 10+ years and always loved dropping by Buena Vista Park when I had the chance. Now I live only a few blocks from the park and I go every single morning :) I feel so lucky and in love with life when I get to spend every morning engrossed in the beautiful trees and nature of the park. You almost feel like you can't be in a city at all. Once you reach the very top of the park (which I choose to run the wooden stairs up) - the views are spectacular - you can see the entire downtown, the ocean, bay and Golden Gate Bridge. If you've never been to this park, I highly recommend you give it a try, and push yourself to make it all the way to the top!!! I promise it's worth it!!! I literally do yoga at the top for a cool down, while I look out at the GG Bridge, I feel I must be in heaven every morning :) It's that good!

Beautiful park with breath-taking views! Be prepared to go walk up and down a ton of steps so dress properly. When my boyfriend and I went here, it was kind of foggy so we weren't able to see the best view. Definitely will love to come back here again.

My friend and I wanted to hit our Fitbit 10,000 steps, so we decided to hike the hill of Haight Street. We stumbled upon this park after seeing a guy walking his dog up the hill. We saw the walking paths with a few steps to the top, so we decided to check it out. What a nice, peaceful park with beautiful, majestic trees. If I lived in San Francisco, I would walk my dog here all the time. There is the nice garden at the top of the park, with some great views of the city. Perfect place for a sunrise morning walk, or even to sit in meditation and reflection.

A great local place to take a short hike without crowds of people. It is a bit of a workout making it to the top. From the entrance, you'll already have a beautiful view of the city (though obscured a bit by trees). **Views from the top are obscured by trees as well, but if that doesn't bother you as much then it's still a nice place for a stroll. You'll make your way up a couple of hills and then a series of stairs. There's actually two "tops" so to speak, both with great views of the city. You'll think you've reached the top when you see a bench facing the city (as seen in one of my photos), but it actually goes up a bit higher, and the top-top has more seating area. PARKING: street, plenty; didn't have any problems finding a spot

Such a beautiful and picturesque park! One Sunday morning, I wanted to go on a walk from Castro to Haight and came back via Buena Vista Park. The greenery makes you forget about being in such a huge city. There's plenty of paths to take with minimal tourists here. I would definitely take out-of-town visitors here to this San Francisco gem - now one of my favorite parks in the city!

I thought this park was just for scoring drugs or having sex with men in the bushes. I've done neither of those things here, but the rumors were enough to keep me away. Not because I was repulsed...mainly due to laziness. Are these reasons to bother with walking up that damn hill? No. And then my roommate wanted to walk through the park when we were house-sitting for a friend who lives adjacent to it. I thought, what the fuck. Why not? I really wanted to see the tombstones I'd heard so much about. Sure enough, they are all over the place! I have uploaded a couple pictures of them for your viewing pleasure. We talked to a groundskeeper named Hugh who was very passionate for the park, and a total wealth of knowledge. He explained the tombstone story a little more thoroughly, and ID'd some trees for us (Cypress, Monterrey Pine). This is also the oldest park in San Francisco and Mayor Sutro wanted it to be an escape from urban life for those who couldn't afford to travel. What a nice man! I'm glad he got a tower and some baths named after him. I've since come back a couple of times and really enjoyed the rich stillness of the park. For me, it's a great big wooded cathedral. I saw no evidence of shenanigans going on and thought maybe the rumors were just rumors. AND THEN I read the Yelp reviews--most of which mention all sorts of sex going on in the bushes. And now I worry that when I go for walks through here, the good and decent citizens also strolling through the park might think that I am cruising. Which I'm not. No, really. Maybe I should stop wearing daisy dukes and mesh tank tops when I go for my walks. Wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong idea!

I have been here twice: Once after eating a large brunch with my friend to walk it off and see the city from a great height, and once to specifically watch men fornicate in the bushes. What happened between the two events was a result of the first: Upon ascending the upward spiral to what one might deliriously conclude would be the upper floors of the Tower of Babel, I was wrenching my stomach in pain and asking to go slow. We made it to the top, breathed in some fog and looked into the windows of a hospital, and started our descent. I stopped at a tree to determine if I had to return any of my brunch to the earth from which it came, and there was a man hiding behind the trunk. Taken by surprise, I started to see other men flitting from tree stump to tree stump, like an old rifle gallery game at an arcade. And that's when I realized that the park was a vast cruising ground. I confess that I've read it before in writing, but just then did I make the connection. Despite the rest of my collection of reviews, I have not yet visited this park with the intent of fornicating with a stranger. Something about the Craigslist ads that invite a reader to approach the man bent over the bar with leather chaps and an exposed bum at midnight by the moonlight has me thinking that I may be stabbed or otherwise injected with an unknown substance merely by bumping into a man behind a tree. As titillating as the possibility of seeing a virtual Roman orgy in the great outdoors may be, I think the American sensibility of cruising may be a bit more of a mixed bag containing needles and knives than that of the public parks in the summer in Europe. Too much disco leather era fantasy fiction on my part, perhaps. And the men do not cease when it is close to raining, or so foggy that one cannot see the owls or brambles before him. To me, this is a spiral mountain at which to gather at night with gloves and scarves to wander about with friends, to have a tingling feeling in the gut that you may never find each other again once you have started that game of hide and seek, to unearth the night creatures and ghosts in the fog, before returning to the urbania surrounding.

Apparently there were no trees on this hill when white settlers showed up in the nineteenth century, but locals began planting them in the 1880s. Then a comprehensive planting effort was overseen by SF parks godfather John McLaren. From the 1970s through today, periodic small-scale replanting has occurred, giving us the lovely wooded hill that we have today. Want a brief but vigorous hike? Want to see some great views of the city? Want something peaceful to do after the sensory cacophony of Haight Street? Buena Vista Park is for you. Thanks to the trees at the crown, the vistas are not quite as buena as one might hope, but I don't begrudge the trees their existence. You can get some great sights of downtown, but to the west is mostly obscured. There are even a little playground and two tennis courts.

Overall - a gem in the city. Admittedly, I'm biased when it comes to this one...it's my neighborhood park, and I am exceptionally grateful to have it right outside my door. Buena Vista Park is a little bit of one of those great finds that you keep missing even though it's right in front of you. I had seen it plenty of times as I passed between upper and lower haight and not even given it a second look. It wasn't til I moved into the neighborhood that I discovered what a great (large) park it is. With its hilly terrain and being nearly covered w mature trees, BV park can almost make you forget you're in the city. The forest-y aspect of it sets it apart from most of the City's other green spaces that tend to be wide open spaces. The paved trails, ample dog owners walking their pets and the peek a boo views of the city remind you that you are in the middle of the city, but park is a lovely sanctuary from the rest of the concrete jungle of SF. The trails are numerous, there are tennis courts tucked away on the southeast side and if a grassy knoll is more your style, there's one of those on the north, Haight Street side...admittedly with an interesting representation of SF residents. There used to be a view of the bridge that was framed with trees such that they looked like a heart, but either the trees have grown and so it doesn't look like that anymore or I just haven't found the right look out point. Only downside to this park - there are some resident coyotes. No threat to humans, but you should probably keep your dog on its leash if it's small.

This is a very nice park in the middle of the city. I know that a lot of parks in San Francisco can get a bit busy with people but I never found that to be a problem here. It's nice, quiet and relaxing. Sure, there's people out on a jog or people walking their dogs and that's about it. The path to the top is really not difficult. There are some nice easy paths and there are stairs, all of which are shaded by the trees. Although there are some very nice views from the top, there are lots of trees in the way. Howver, this park can be enjoyed on its own terms and not just for the views.

180 degree panoramics and a nice uphill stroll. Inner peace can be found somewhere up here...

I hiked up here in the mild rain one afternoon. Much do prefer this park over say.. Bernal Heights'. Here, there's also the Saturn Steps and the Vulcan Stairway to ooh and aaah over---not to mention the great houses to enjoy. Randall Museum is just a hop/skip away, and all the plethora of cool eats just down the hill. Driving up Levant Street was a trip! Brilliantly located park in the center of it all... lovely trail... more 'character' to this park perched atop a hill.

This park is like a rainforest in the middle of the city without the humidity, monkeys or giant spiders (I've trekked through the Amazon--I know of what I speak). The foliage is really dense in certain parts and even when you're walking along clearly paved trails, you feel a hush in the air that's partly due to all the surrounding vegetation. Bonus: blackberry bushes. Lots and lots of blackberry bushes. When you get to the top, the view is stunning with the added bonus of being able to see even higher peaks like Corona Heights Park not too far away.

You see a rock, you've seen them all, right? Same with trees, views, moments...I don't think so~! Who can take a star away from Mother Nature? My boo is all about sappy moments, so we just had to go here (we're running out of cute spots to visit in SF btw, so can anyone give us any new ideas??). So we randomly landed on Haight Street and had an adventure there, but my boo kept bugging me to go to the park already. He couldn't miss the sunset, so I put some pants on (under my dress, it was cold out!) and went on a mini hike with him. It's the typical scene-annoying couples like us wanting to capture each moment, bikers getting miffed at people who won't get out of their way, awkward groups...jk, there's a ton of picturesque sights to see, random people to greet, and look for the sign that says "today is the first day of the rest of your life" (although it's bombarded with trash cans, probably so the fans will stay off its radar). So if that's the case, I'm going to start living up every first day for the rest of MY life. Since that's the case, I'll need some more sappy places to check out. Anything to make my boo happy.

Really? I must have came on a clean day. Friendly people about, not a speck of litter, a few characters but that's to be expected. It was a gorgeous hike to the top and well worth it. (It's really not that steep, just enough to keep you healthy.) I would love coming here all the time if I lived close. Perfectly serene at the top, isolated from the hustle of the city, panoramic views showcasing the Golden Gate and beyond. Fun little paths that you never know where you'll end up.

I've spent many summer afternoons watching the fog roll over the city from a park bench on the north side of the park. It's surreal, like the Blob from outer space. The difficulty of the climb and the stillness of the views make this a great picnic destination. But beware off-leash dogs who may try to steal your sandwich when they give up on chasing squirrels.

Not sure why BV Park gets as high ratings as it does. The views from the top are negligible. The views from a bit below the summit on the north (Haight St side) are better but still not as good as other locales. Maybe it's the large grassy area adjacent to Haight St? I dunno but if this park hadn't been on my hiking route down to Haight St I would have been disappointed. I guess I'm glad I've been there and delete from my list of places to visit. Go elsewhere for views of SF.

This park is even creepier than Sutro Heights Park at night. Located in the Haight, you get a central view of the city. There's lots of vegetation, but it's cool getting glimpses of the skyline through the trees--it's part of the mystique of this place. There's also plenty of wildlife; you'd be remiss if you couldn't catch a glimpse of at least one squirrel during your visit. One even posed long enough for a picture. For another spectacular (and less obstructive) view, climb up nearby Corona Heights.

very nice place. dog friendly. I went there at around 9am on Sunday and i was able to find a parking space easily around the tennis court. there are a bunch of trees so you won't be exposed to being under the sun which is really nice. But what's bad is that it doesn't have sign everywhere to tell you where this road takes u too.

I grew up in the bay area, and never knew this place existed! Me and the BF took a short trip to the bay, and I took him to Golden Gate Park. I thought we could take the bus to Haight-Ashbury, and walk from there to the park. On our way, we spotted this fancy grand staircase that looked like it led to someplace magical. We were curious, so we made our way up the stairs. It seems there's a couple pathways once you get up there. They all went upwards. So we continued to climb up. On and on we went, and we could begin to make out a view of the bay. It was slightly foggy that day, so we could only see glimpses of the Golden Gate Bridge. We continued to climb all the way to the top, and it was a pretty awesome view from up there. I wish there weren't so many trees so that you could overlook the whole city. There's a little bench up there, and it's pretty romantic. I wish we had a dog to bring with us. There's a little dog run somewhere in this park where you can let them run around and play.

Buena Vista Park is a park in the Haight-Ashbury and Buena Vista Heights neighborhoods of San Francisco, California, United States. It is the oldest official park in San Francisco, established in 1867 as Hill Park and renamed Buena Vista in 1894. It is bounded by Haight Street to the north, and by Buena Vista Avenue West and Buena Vista Avenue East. The park is on a steep hill that peaks at 575 feet (175 m), and covers 37 acres (150,000 m). The lowest section is the north end along Haight. Muni bus lines 6, 71, and 71L pass Buena Vista park on its north end along Haight St. The 37 line passes along the south end of the park. The 24 and 33 come within three blocks. The N Judah runs through the Sunset Tunnel, which is directly below the park. it's great place to take pics. and walk your dog.

Great place to get a little taste of nature here in the city. The trails are awesome and steep. Coming here will give you a good workout and the view from the top is phenomenal!!

This is my favorite park in the city. It's one of the only ones where you walk in and really feel like you're in the woods. The city noise fades fast when you walk in, and there are plenty of places to go. The walk to the top is a bit of a workout, and the trails can be a bit confusing to follow, but I rather like it. The view up there is mostly obscured by trees, but there are a few spots where you can still get some pretty wide views of the city. The park is better suited to walking around and exploring rather than sitting and chilling. I like it a lot and can't think of a better place to wander around.