From Haight, starting up on the west side of Buena Vista Park’s slightly elevated walkway: 1 thru 3
Other parks have coyote-awareness infosigns. This park has Don’t Feed the Coyotes signs.
Just before reaching the main paved trail on the SW side, an old wood stairway invited me to climb thru the tall grass into the forest: 4
The trail ended so scrambled up alongside a huge log, following dirt trails, a few more ancient wood stairways, more big logs, and a stand of wild fennel: 5 thru 10
This particular area reminded me of Mount Sutro Forest in its wilder days before all the trailwork when I’d lose a trail, step in holes, slide down steep parts, feel occasional spiderwebs brush across my face, and almost get “lost.“
In my perfect hiking-world, all parks would at least have certain areas that are untamed and on the “wild side” for both urban nature lovers and wild critters. Like Glen Canyon’s north trail (now up to Portola Dr.) before it was widened and the tree limb obstacle course eliminated, or the Balboa Natural Area on the south slope of Sutro Heights Park.
So very enjoyable wandering up here near BV’s summit on the south side, but above the paved trail where the main newer southside stairway starts.
Hope they don’t try to overly “tame” this part of the park with all its beautiful old trees and interesting off-trail spots that are excellent “hidden” areas for wildlife.
Could stand/sit/wander around, occasionally seeing others on the main trails and hearing their voices, but feeling nicely secluded while forest-bathing or eating lunch on one of the logs. And birds - lots of birds/birdsong.
Scrambling down to the top of the main stairway and E-W walkways. 171 steps total with 79 down to the firs6t landing and the best of the newer walkways. Various heights of low wood walls to sit on: 11 thru 26
Down to the foot at the street: 27, 28, 29, 30
Descnding on the east side for two supersteep blocks. No stairs on the south side until just below Divisadero, then 92 Du Boce sidewalk steps to Castro and a bus stop for the #24: Last three
Other parks have coyote-awareness infosigns. This park has Don’t Feed the Coyotes signs.
Just before reaching the main paved trail on the SW side, an old wood stairway invited me to climb thru the tall grass into the forest: 4
The trail ended so scrambled up alongside a huge log, following dirt trails, a few more ancient wood stairways, more big logs, and a stand of wild fennel: 5 thru 10
This particular area reminded me of Mount Sutro Forest in its wilder days before all the trailwork when I’d lose a trail, step in holes, slide down steep parts, feel occasional spiderwebs brush across my face, and almost get “lost.“
In my perfect hiking-world, all parks would at least have certain areas that are untamed and on the “wild side” for both urban nature lovers and wild critters. Like Glen Canyon’s north trail (now up to Portola Dr.) before it was widened and the tree limb obstacle course eliminated, or the Balboa Natural Area on the south slope of Sutro Heights Park.
So very enjoyable wandering up here near BV’s summit on the south side, but above the paved trail where the main newer southside stairway starts.
Hope they don’t try to overly “tame” this part of the park with all its beautiful old trees and interesting off-trail spots that are excellent “hidden” areas for wildlife.
Could stand/sit/wander around, occasionally seeing others on the main trails and hearing their voices, but feeling nicely secluded while forest-bathing or eating lunch on one of the logs. And birds - lots of birds/birdsong.
Scrambling down to the top of the main stairway and E-W walkways. 171 steps total with 79 down to the firs6t landing and the best of the newer walkways. Various heights of low wood walls to sit on: 11 thru 26
Down to the foot at the street: 27, 28, 29, 30
Descnding on the east side for two supersteep blocks. No stairs on the south side until just below Divisadero, then 92 Du Boce sidewalk steps to Castro and a bus stop for the #24: Last three
1 Haight St. entrance to the paek
2 Around the west side
3 Elevated walk all around the park
4 Up into the forest
5
6
7 Wild fennel
8
9
10
11 Top of the main south stairway
12 171 steps
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27 Now on the south side
28
29
30
31 Du Boce sidewalk sidewalk steps below Divisadero
32
33 Du Boce at Castro
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