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Buena Vista Park Summit Trail

The Summit Trail at Buena Vista Park in San Francisco, California is a moderate to difficult 0.9 mile out-and-back hike up to the top of the park's summit. The trail is fairly steep all the way to the top, but the main trail is also paved.

This recording starts at staircase next to the intersection of Haight and Baker St and follows the widest paved trail, staying left at most trail junctions to reach the summit. There are various ways you can reach the top and descent from it, but this track is more of an out-and-back hike that ends along Haight St and Buena Vista Ave West.

For a slightly easier hike up to the summit, you can hop on a trail near the intersection of Buena Vista Ave East and Upper Terrace Rd since the elevation at that trailhead is closer to the summit, but there's still some hill to climb.

Lookout Points: The easiest lookout point can be found at the top of the park. Just northeast of the summit, if you head back down the staircase, is a dirt trail that leads downhill, but gives more views of the surrounding area. The dirt trail eventually leads back to the main paved trail.

Staircases: there are various staircases along this trail to the top of the park. There is a wheelchair accessible way to get to the top, but this recording is not that way - both trailheads (beginning and end of this recording) have stairs and lead to more stairs.

Dogs are allowed, but biking is not.
Explore 30 trails near San Francisco, CA

Know Before You Go

  • The Summit Trail in Buena Vista Park is a 0.9-mile paved out-and-back hike considered moderate to difficult due to its steep incline.
  • The trail starts near Haight and Baker St, leading to the park's summit with an option for a slightly easier route starting near Buena Vista Ave East and Upper Terrace Rd.
  • The trail features lookout points near the summit, staircases, and allows dogs, but prohibits biking.
Interactive topographic map for Buena Vista Park Summit Trail located in San Francisco, CA. Click the "View Map" button to load GPS coordinates and trail markers.
Get directions
Distance
0.9 mi
Difficulty
Hard
Type
Out-and-Back
Est. Time
27 min
Elev. Gain
262'
Rating
0.0
Added
May 15, 2018
Updated
January 23, 2020

Weather Forecast

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Total Change
269'
Ascent
262'
Descent
251'
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Features

Vista / Lookout Point
Dogs

Points of interest

  1. Parking

    37.770773, -122.441026
  2. Main Trailhead

    37.770737, -122.440617
  3. View from the summit of the park

    37.767922, -122.441497
    View from the summit of the park
  4. View of downtown San Francisco

    37.769528, -122.440011
    View of downtown San Francisco

Safety information

For your own safety: plan ahead, let someone know where you'll be, and hike at your own risk.

Availability

All seasons

Surface type

Paved

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Popular categories

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