Buena Vista Dog Park
Haight-Ashbury
Photo: 2007
2007
2007Photos taken in 2007 on our original visits. Tap a photo to see it full size.
Founded in 1867, Buena Vista Park is the oldest park in San Francisco. It was once a bare hill that mirrored the original dune and brush landscape of the western half of the city, but thanks to a concerted tree-planting effort by John McLaren, the famous superintendent of Golden Gate Park, it's now one of the most wooded spots in San Francisco. From the occasional lookouts and windows through the canopy you can see how the park got its name. The view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the top is worth the climb, and the view of St. Ignatius Church from the western rim, perched on its hill with the Marin Headlands behind it, reminds you how San Francisco earned its reputation as the most European of American cities.
Buena Vista is a great choice if you and your dog both want a workout. There are no big open spaces for dogs to pack up and roam, but steep paved and dirt paths and winding wooden stairs are everywhere. Within steps of any entrance you're surrounded by a cathedral-like canopy, your dog a few paces ahead: you have entered the temple of dog.
Wind your way up the central ridge from the Haight Street entrance at Buena Vista Avenue East and take a much-needed rest at the first lookout. From the bench you can look northeast to the dog packs of Alamo Square and beyond to the East Bay. From there it's a quick walk to the highest lookout and one of the few small grassy areas where dogs congregate. Many trails circle back down the hill, which makes this a park you'll want to visit often. Off-leash play is limited to the designated dog play area, so check the posted signs.
- Where
- Buena Vista Ave & Haight St
- Neighborhood
- Haight-Ashbury
- Fenced
- Check posted signs
- Hours
- Most SF parks are open 5 a.m. to midnight; confirm on the official page
- Managed by
- SF Recreation & Park Department
- Official page
- sfrecpark.org
Getting there
Buena Vista Park sits between the Lower and Upper Haight, a few blocks south of the eastern tip of the Panhandle. Haight Street forms its northern boundary, and it's ringed by Buena Vista Avenue East and West. There's no parking lot, and parking around the perimeter gets difficult later in the day and on weekends. You'll have better luck on Buena Vista Avenue the farther up the hill you go.
Bring your own bags, and keep a close eye on your dog if it's not the herding type: the thick underbrush and winding trails have separated more than a few dogs from their owners.
Rules here
- Off-leash only inside the marked dog play area; leash everywhere else in the park.
- No dogs on athletic fields, courts or children's play areas.
- Pick up and remove waste, and don't leave your dog unattended.
- Control excessive barking and digging; keep vaccinations and license current.
- Dog walkers: no more than eight dogs per person.
Closures for turf recovery, repairs and wildlife happen often. Check the official page or posted signs before you go.
What to bring
- Long training leash (15 to 30 ft): Practice recall before you trust a big open space.
- Collapsible water bowl: Fountains aren't always working. Clips to a leash.
- Poop bag dispenser: Park dispensers are often empty. Bring your own.
- LED collar light: Fog and early sunsets make dogs hard to spot.
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Nearby dog parks
- Alamo Square (Alamo Square / Western Addition)
- Mission Dolores Park (Mission)
- Corona Heights (Corona Heights / Castro)
- Duboce Park (Duboce Triangle)