Buena Vista Park

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · Fall Colors · Lake · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers · Wildlife

For local residents, this is a nice little getaway, as this loop trail is nestled into the hills along Melrose and Sycamore Ave in Vista. This trail can act as an easy introduction to running with beautiful views and a creek crossing, with minimal ascending and descending terrain. This mostly flat trail makes pushing a stroller a breeze, wide dirt trails for children riding bikes as well.
If you have never been out to the Buena Vista Park, I think that you'll find it is quite a hidden treasure here in vista. Enjoy!

City Park, note closing times as the gate is locked nightly.

Large park offering a tranquil duck pond, fields, a running/walking trail and other features.

It's a very large wide trail so strollers shouldn't have any problems. Water/Mud will stand on the trails just after a rain as the trails are flat and do not drain well..

This loop trailhead starts in the Buena Vista park, you'll park at the duck pond and run south to the trailhead which changes from concrete to a double-wide dirt trail. This 2 1/2 mile run offers a flat, easily marked path with a heavy bird population. The first 200 meters of trail is open with no shade and slowly turns to covered/shaded tree tunnels. Best to stay on the path at all times as this area is thick with Poison Oak mainly along the creek.

You'll approach and run under an overpass (South Melrose Dr.) and continue to follow the path along the creek. At the halfway point there is a nice wooden bridge to get you across the creek to the south side and headed back to the starting point.

Running this trail at different times of the year will offer different experiences including the changing flora and animal sightings. Be sure to fill up your water bottle at the parking area as there is no water out on the trail. Have fun!