You’ve got to hand it to this city for setting aside so much lucrative real estate for green spaces that are enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. Even in an urban area remarkable for how densely packed it is, there’s always an escape close by. Of course everyone knows and loves Golden Gate Park, but Buena Vista Park and Corona Heights Park—both favorites of mine—are a bit more under the radar. 
Buena Vista Park isn’t far from Golden Gate Park (it’s located between the Upper and Lower Haight neighborhoods). Established in 1867, this is the oldest officially designated park in the city. Back then there was nothing but a bare hill. Today it’s still a hill, but a concerted tree-planting effort led by Golden Gate Park superintendent John McLaren transformed Buena Vista into one of San Francisco’s most wooded areas.

A crisscrossing network of paved walking paths and wooden steps offers various ways of hiking to the top. The summit is nothing but an oval of grass; natural beauty is this park’s attraction.

Although you’ll be huffing and puffing up the steep hill, the trails are shady. Sculpted trees provide interesting photo subjects. Buena Vista is a popular spot for city dwellers to walk their dogs, but it never seems to be crowded.

The views are beautiful but always framed (even partially obscured) by trees. So while there’s a peek of the Golden Gate Bridge here and a glimpse of San Francisco Bay there, you won’t be treated to any wide-open panoramas. What I like most about this park is that you’re in the middle of the city and at the same time apart from it.

For those who can’t or don’t want to take on the somewhat arduous hike to the top, there’s a stairway built into the hill from the street that leads to a point close to the summit, and a mid-slope trail meets Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility requirements. Look for signage pointing the way to these features. If you have an hour in your day to spare, Buena Vista is a quiet and relaxing escape from San Francisco’s hustle and bustle.   

Nearby Corona Heights Park, meanwhile, is proof that all parks aren’t lush green spaces. It’s also a hill, but instead of being cloaked in trees most of the slope is bare and rocky. A trail winds around the hill to the top, where there are rocks you can carefully clamber up and sit on. The hilltop consists of Franciscan chert bedrock (thank you Wikipedia) that is a distinctive terra cotta red in color.

In contrast to Buena Vista Park, the view from the top of Corona Heights is completely unobstructed— a 360-degree panorama that takes in the downtown skyline, the San Francisco Bay Bridge, Twin Peaks, the Potrero Hills and the Castro-Noe Valley and Haight-Ashbury neighborhoods.

You can see practically every one of San Francisco’s landmarks, and on a clear day it’s a really spectacular sight. I always head for the rocks at the very top, where I have a couple of favorite spots to perch and just gaze out over the city.

Either I’m lucky or this is a place that hasn’t yet been discovered by tourists, because—like Buena Vista—it never seems to be very crowded. The great thing about Corona Heights is that you can survey the city without the distraction of city noise. The last time I was here the only sounds were the wind and a solo acoustic guitar jam courtesy of a guy sitting cross-legged on a rock below me.

And while in no way, shape or form am I a morning person, it is totally worth it to get up very early—on a day that doesn’t start out cloudy or foggy, of course—head to this park, hike to the top of the hill and observe the light as the sun comes up. I speak from amazed experience.  

Buena Vista Park is bounded by Haight Street, Buena Vista Avenue West and Buena Vista Avenue East. Muni bus lines 6, 7 and 71L run by the north end of the park along Haight Street. Corona Heights Park is off upper Market Street; take Castro Street north to 16th Street, turn left and continue to Museum Way.

Other San Francisco blog posts that may be of interest are:

• An Afternoon in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park
• San Francisco’s Valencia Street: Hip Hangout
• San Francisco Lunch Spots
• Alcatraz Abloom