LEGEND:
West of Downtown

Buffalo Bayou Park

Buffalo Bayou Park is the 160-acre greenspace that lies just west of downtown Houston. Enhancement of the park was a collaboration of BBP, the Kinder Foundation, the City of Houston through Houston Parks & Recreation Department and Harris County Flood Control District. Buffalo Bayou Park includes beautiful gardens and native landscaping; hike and bike trails; paddle craft and bike rentals; the go-to dog park in the city; public art; a creative nature play area; two visitor centers; and gathering places for visitors to picnic, relax and enjoy outdoor activities. Buffalo Bayou Partnership maintains and operates the park with annual funding provided by the Downtown Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone (TIRZ) #3.
West of Downtown

Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern

Learn about the architecture of this unique space and the history of Houston’s water system during a guided or self-guided 30-minute art or history tour.
The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern is located at 105 Sabine Street.

Book Cistern Tours Now!
Downtown

Sabine Promenade

The 23-acre waterfront park features hike and bike trails linking western trails in Buffalo Bayou Park with Sesquicentennial Park in downtown, lush landscaping, unique lighting, boat launch and a pedestrian bridge. Buffalo Bayou Partnership served as the construction manager for this $12 million project.
Downtown

Sesquicentennial Park

Commemorating Houston’s 150th birthday in 1986, Sesquicentennial Park has become an urban oasis in the heart of Houston’s downtown Theater District.
Downtown

Allen’s Landing

Allen’s Landing is a historic park that truly defines our city. It was here in 1836 that August Chapman and John Kirby Allen stepped ashore and claimed Houston as their own. This site also became Houston’s first port, a thriving commercial hub and a symbol of our city’s entrepreneurial spirit. In 2016, Buffalo Bayou Partnership continued transformation of Allen's Landing into an active destination along downtown's waterfront by completing restoration of the historic Sunset Coffee Building.
East of Downtown

Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park

This unique 10-acre park, located near the Port of Houston Turning Basin, offers passive recreation and wildlife conservation.

Neighboring Parks

After passing the Barker Reservoir near Beltway 8, Buffalo Bayou runs through the 500-acre Terry Hershey Park and through the Memorial area to the Houston Arboretum and Memorial Park, and the River Oaks area. Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s jurisdiction officially begins when Buffalo Bayou hits Shepherd Drive and stretches to the Turning Basin of the Port of Houston. Enjoy exploring and discovering the numerous parks located along this waterway.

Trails

Trail Guide

The Buffalo Bayou Guide will guide you as you walk, run or cycle along the waterway and visit the many parks and historic sites.

Trail Closures

View trail closures here.

Safety Tips

Walkers/runners should:

  • Always keep to the right on trails to avoid faster moving traffic.
  • Do your best to anticipate the actions of other users and know the limits of your own abilities.
  • Keep pets on a short leash.

Bikers should:

  • Announce “passing on left” when trying to get around someone in front of you.
  • Look ahead and behind you before turning around on the trail.
  • Pull over to the right or completely off the trail when stopping for any reason.
  • ALWAYS wear a helmet.
  • Watch speeds on bicycles and keep at least a three-foot distance from pedestrians at all times.

Everyone:

  • Use of headphones is discouraged, but if you do, consider removing the device from one side so you are aware of the sounds around you.
  • Watch children carefully – don’t allow young children on trails without supervision.
  • When in a group, stay in a single file line.
  • Obey all traffic signals when crossing major intersections.  Never cross at an area without a designated pedestrian traffic signal.
  • Look both ways before crossing or merging with another trail.

Things to Do

  • Walk, jog and bike the trails (no bikes on the asphalt footpaths)
  • Rent a bicycle from Bayou Bike Rentals at The Water Works or Houston BCycle and ride along the hike and bike trails
  • Rent a canoe or kayak from Bayou City Adventures and paddle on Buffalo Bayou
  • Picnic, play frisbee or fly a kite
  • Have your child glide down the 30′ slide at the Barbara Fish Daniel Nature Play Area
  • Enjoy the downtown views at the Wortham Insurance Terrace of The Water Works
  • Hop aboard the pontoon boat for a private charter
  • Experience the sights and sounds of over 250,000 Mexican free-tailed bats at Waugh Drive Bridge
  • Catch a glimpse of the resident hawks, owls and other wildlife
  • Learn about the historic Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern during a guided tour
  • Let your pup off-leash at Johnny Steele Dog Park to freely run around and play
  • Play volleyball
  • Take a self-guided public art walk and look for works by artists Henry Moore, Mel Chin, John Runnels and more
  • Enjoy a guided walking tour to learn about the surrounding ecology, public art and best wellness practices

Parking

Buffalo Bayou Park

There are public parking areas available at Lost Lake, Eleanor Tinsley Park and The Water Works, as well as along Allen Parkway, Memorial Drive, and city streets surrounding Buffalo Bayou Park. When parking along city streets, please pay close attention to signage, be neighborly and use the pedestrian bridges to safely access the park. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle. Restricted & Temporary Parking Options:

  • City of Houston Lot H – Over 400 spaces available for public parking. Pricing may vary by day of the week. Buffalo Bayou Park trails can be accessed from Sabine Promenade.
  • Parking on Allen Parkway – Parking is available 9 am – 7 pm Monday-Sunday. There are 140 parking spots between Sabine and Taft streets with pricing at $1 per hour for a 3 hour max (including Saturday and Sunday).

Parking to view the Waugh Bridge Bat Colony

Because there is limited parking along Allen Parkway, we recommend parking along the Memorial Drive area at Jackson Hill and Scotland Street.  Please refer to the map here.

Once parked, walk to the pedestrian bridge over Memorial Drive and continue south towards Allen Parkway, over Buffalo Bayou. Then head east towards Waugh Drive Bridge.

Sunset Coffee Building

Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s administrative offices are located in downtown Houston at Sunset Coffee Building (1019 Commerce St. Houston, TX, 77002). There are metered spots along Commerce Street (free after 6pm) and a paid lot located at 915 Commerce Street. For a complete list of downtown parking options and rates, please visit Downtown Houston’s interactive parking map here.

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