Trails & Destinations
Trails &
Destinations
Our work weaves together wide-open parks and tree-lined trails with repurposed buildings and reimagined industrial relics that serve as welcoming public spaces for art and play, as well as waterfront portals to Houston’s diverse history and neighborhoods.
explore all of our spaces.
Here, you will find the Wortham Insurance Visitor Center with restrooms, bike rentals, and staff available to answer your questions and provide directions. Visitors can also enjoy food trucks, stunning views of the downtown skyline from The Brown Foundation Lawn, and frequent performances and events at the Hobby Family Pavilion.
Learn more about renting The Water Works for your own event here.
VISITOR CENTER
Open daily from 9am – 6pm
RESTROOMS
Open daily from 8am – 8pm
Named in honor of the late City Council Member and civic activist Eleanor Tinsley, this “park within a park” is one of Houston’s most popular outdoor spaces with the signature Bud Light Amphitheater lawn and open-air Nau Family Pavilion. Visitors can also enjoy the Eleanor Tinsley Garden and the tranquil Jane Gregory Garden nearby.
Volleyball Court Rentals
The sand volleyball court at Eleanor Tinsley Park is available to rent here.
The late Houston landscape architect Charles Tapley designed this inspirational site in the late 1970s, featuring a bayou tributary, riparian plantings, granite steps, and seating areas. BBP later added a wetland, native Texas prairie, footbridge, the Vale-Asche Foundation Spring, and the Charles Tapley, FAIA Overlook.
Late Texas artist Jesús Bautista Moroles’ Houston Police Officers’ Memorial commemorates the 113+ Houston Police Department officers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. Shaped like an Aztec pyramid, the sculpture symbolizes a royal tomb. The Police Officers’ Memorial and surrounding grounds are guarded 24 hours a day. This is also the site of an annual procession and wreath-laying ceremony.
At the center of this grove is the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Fountain, affectionately known as the “dandelion.” The fountain’s brass starburst of pipes sprays joggers, cyclists, and walkers, offering a cool respite from the heat. Points of interest at this favorite meeting spot include: Cullen Foundation Overlook; John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Overlook; and the Fountain Gardens, a gift from River Oaks Garden Club.
Unless you know it’s there, the Green Tree Nature Area may be difficult to find. Located south of Memorial Drive at Waugh Drive, this heavily forested trail is a nature lover’s delight. You will find birds, squirrels, and even a rabbit or two on any given day.
Watching more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge every evening from the crevices of the Waugh Drive Bridge is truly a spectacular sight. Unlike in other colonies, a large number of these bats remain through the winter months, providing viewing opportunities on warm nights. Stop by at sunset to witness this natural wonder and learn more about the bats through interpretive signage at the viewing platform.
Bat Chats
The Houston Bat Team hosts Bat Chats every Friday, April through October. Please arrive 30 minutes before sunset and meet at the viewing platform at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway. Check their Facebook for updates.
Lost Lake is the site of a former pond that was lost in the 1970s, when its dam across a natural ravine broke. The pond was restored and is now a tranquil area for reflection, surrounded by beautiful plantings and gentle cascades. Visitors will also find public restrooms and a restaurant here.
FLORA Restaurant at Lost Lake
Please visit the FLORA website for reservations and information.
One of Buffalo Bayou Park’s most beloved destinations is the Johnny Steele Dog Park. Dogs have plenty of space to run, swim, and play, while their owners can relax on benches and take advantage of dog washing stations and drinking fountains (complete with spigots for dogs). Limited parking for the dog park is available along the frontage road of Allen Parkway.
DOG PARK REGULATIONS
Hours: 7am – 8pm (may be closed during bad weather or for maintenance)
Help us keep this popular destination safe for dogs and their owners by adhering to these rules:
- Owners are liable for damage or injury inflicted by their dog(s). This means owners are legally and financially responsible for their dog’s behavior. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the City of Houston have no liability or responsibility for injuries in the dog park.
- Limit of two dogs per person per visit and one hour for each dog.
- Dogs taller than 15 inches may not use the small dog area.
- Dogs must be properly licensed and vaccinated with City of Houston registration and rabies tags visible on each dog’s collar.
- Dogs must be leashed before entering and upon leaving the dog park and must be leashed in the transition area. Owners must have a visible leash for each dog at all times.
- Owners must have disposable pet waste materials visible at all times and must pick up their dog’s fecal matter and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
- Owners must have verbal and sight control of their dog(s) at all times and prevent aggressive behavior, fighting, biting, and aggressive barking. Never leave your dog(s) unattended.
- Dogs with a known history of dangerous behavior are prohibited. Immediately leash your dog and leave the park if your dog(s) behaves aggressively.
- No puppies under four months of age are allowed in the dog park.
- No female dogs in heat are allowed in the dog park.
- No children aged 12 or under are allowed in the dog park. An adult must accompany children ages 13 through 18. Permitted children must be supervised by an adult and behave appropriately. No running, shouting, chasing dogs, or petting other people’s dogs without their permission.
- No dog or people food is allowed in the dog park.
- No smoking in the dog park or elsewhere in the park.
- Violation of the City Code results in fines and no further dog park use.
The Buffalo Bayou trail system winds through this 23-acre waterfront destination that lies just east of Buffalo Bayou Park. Visitors will find stainless steel boat sculptures by Houston artist John Runnels at major park entrances, BBP’s signature Lunar Cycle Lighting, and the Hobby Pedestrian Bridge, among other features.
This historic park, created in 1899 by Mayor Sam Brashear, was originally landscaped like a Victorian village. Today it is home to The Heritage Society, an organization devoted to preserving a collection of Houston’s historic structures. Nine buildings have been restored and relocated to Sam Houston Park that together tell the story of Houstonians throughout the city’s past.
This 22-acre park is the centerpiece of downtown’s Theater District and commemorates Houston’s 150th birthday. Visitors can stroll along the promenade and take in the public art in the park, including artist Mel Chin’s monumental stainless steel pillars, Seven Wonders.
A bronze statue of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III gazes from the Baker Common across Buffalo Bayou at a statue of former President George H.W. Bush. North Carolina sculptor Chas Fagan created both statues.
Allen’s Landing marks the spot where August Chapman and John Kirby Allen stepped ashore in 1836 and began the transformation of the area from swampy marshlands to the city we know today. This site, at the confluence of Buffalo and White Oak Bayous, became Houston’s first port and a thriving commercial hub. After years of neglect, BBP revitalized this historic site and park into an active waterfront destination. Stainless steel canoe sculptures by John Runnels grace the entrances to the space, and visitors can walk along the wharf where they will find public text art designed by local artist team, ttweak.
James Bute Park is the original site of Germantown and Frost Town, two early immigrant neighborhoods. In the 1970s, Houston artist Kirk Farris transformed the once-abandoned site into a park named for a Houston entrepreneur who lived nearby. A Texas Historical Marker displayed in the park officially designates Frost Town as a historic site.
McKee Street Bridge
Painted aquamarine, purple, and lavender, the nearby McKee Street Bridge adds a splash of color to the bayou landscape. Kirk Farris is responsible for transforming the bridge that was built in 1932 into a piece of public art.
The historic McKee Street Bridge dates back to 1932 and was more recently painted aquamarine, purple, and lavender by Houston artist Kirk Farris.
This City of Houston park features green space, trails, and a boat dock as well as interpretive signage about the history of the East End. The Azios family fountain and historic columns are reminiscent of Mexico City’s colonial Zocalo architecture.
Several remnants of the East End’s industrial past can be found along the hike and bike trail. Just east of Jensen Drive, you will discover massive concrete gravel silos now owned by BBP. These tall structures are not only important interpretive landscape elements but the canvas for imaginative public art events.
Central to the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan is the expansion of the City of Houston’s Tony Marron Park from 19 to nearly 40 acres. By 2026, the enhanced park will become the open space anchor for the area, providing residents with a wide range of activities and featuring improved sports fields, new nature play area, and venues for special events and festivals. Learn more about the vision and plans for Tony Marron Park here.
Changes are underway at Japhet Creek, a bayou tributary stretching north, deep into the Fifth Ward neighborhood. BBP has begun implementing the enhancements envisioned in the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan to revitalize this historic tributary with a neighborhood park, creekside nature trail, landscaping, lighting, and by 2027, a bayou-crossing pedestrian bridge connecting to Tony Marron Park. Learn more about plans for Japhet Creek Park here.
On this site near Tony Marron Park, BBP is working with partners to create mixed-income and affordable housing that will be surrounded by more than six acres of new parks and trails. 80 multi-family units opened summer of 2024. Learn more about Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou here.
Not currently open to the public.
Decommissioned more than 20 years ago, much of the Northside Sewage Treatment Facility’s infrastructure remains. Aeration and settling tanks, compressor rooms, as well as original pipes and valves are intact. BBP envisions redeveloping the site into a major, regional destination.
Not currently open to the public.
This dramatic former industrial site along Navigation Boulevard at a stretch of the bayou called Turkey Bend will be transformed by BBP in the coming years into a unique recreational and cultural destination. Future visitors to the site will be able to congregate and relax along the waterfront, attend events and programs of various scales, and participate in boating activities. Learn more about plans for Turkey Bend here.
Formerly an industrial property, this 10-acre site was transformed into a natural green space named in memory of Yolanda Black Navarro, a committed civic leader who served Houston for decades. The park features three wetland ponds with an overlook, cistern, native plantings, and footpaths. BBP is working on connecting Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park to the City of Houston’s Hidalgo Park to the east.
HOURS
Open daily from dawn to dusk
Built in 1932, Hidalgo Park is a popular East End site for Sunday picnics, birthday parties, and baseball games. Neighborhood children enjoy the park’s creative wooden playground and water play station. Among the park’s treasures is a statue of Father Miguel Hidalgo, a gift from the government of Jalisco, Mexico.
Not currently open to the public.
In 1837, the Allen brothers arranged for the Constitution, a 150-foot steamboat, to visit Houston to dispel doubts about Buffalo Bayou’s navigability. Not being able to turn around once it arrived at its destination, the boat backed down the bayou until it reached a wide enough bend. Dubbed Constitution Bend, the site is now the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
The Buffalo Bayou trail system winds through this 23-acre waterfront destination that lies just east of Buffalo Bayou Park. Visitors will find stainless steel boat sculptures by Houston artist John Runnels at major park entrances, BBP’s signature Lunar Cycle Lighting, and the Hobby Pedestrian Bridge, among other features.
This historic park, created in 1899 by Mayor Sam Brashear, was originally landscaped like a Victorian village. Today it is home to The Heritage Society, an organization devoted to preserving a collection of Houston’s historic structures. Nine buildings have been restored and relocated to Sam Houston Park that together tell the story of Houstonians throughout the city’s past.
This 22-acre park is the centerpiece of downtown’s Theater District and commemorates Houston’s 150th birthday. Visitors can stroll along the promenade and take in the public art in the park, including artist Mel Chin’s monumental stainless steel pillars, Seven Wonders.
A bronze statue of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III gazes from the Baker Common across Buffalo Bayou at a statue of former President George H.W. Bush. North Carolina sculptor Chas Fagan created both statues.
Allen’s Landing marks the spot where August Chapman and John Kirby Allen stepped ashore in 1836 and began the transformation of the area from swampy marshlands to the city we know today. This site, at the confluence of Buffalo and White Oak Bayous, became Houston’s first port and a thriving commercial hub. After years of neglect, BBP revitalized this historic site and park into an active waterfront destination. Stainless steel canoe sculptures by John Runnels grace the entrances to the space, and visitors can walk along the wharf where they will find public text art designed by local artist team, ttweak.
Here, you will find the Wortham Insurance Visitor Center with restrooms, bike rentals, and staff available to answer your questions and provide directions. Visitors can also enjoy food trucks, stunning views of the downtown skyline from The Brown Foundation Lawn, and frequent performances and events at the Hobby Family Pavilion.
Learn more about renting The Water Works for your own event here.
VISITOR CENTER
Open daily from 9am – 6pm
RESTROOMS
Open daily from 8am – 8pm
Named in honor of the late City Council Member and civic activist Eleanor Tinsley, this “park within a park” is one of Houston’s most popular outdoor spaces with the signature Bud Light Amphitheater lawn and open-air Nau Family Pavilion. Visitors can also enjoy the Eleanor Tinsley Garden and the tranquil Jane Gregory Garden nearby.
Volleyball Court Rentals
The sand volleyball court at Eleanor Tinsley Park is available to rent here.
The late Houston landscape architect Charles Tapley designed this inspirational site in the late 1970s, featuring a bayou tributary, riparian plantings, granite steps, and seating areas. BBP later added a wetland, native Texas prairie, footbridge, the Vale-Asche Foundation Spring, and the Charles Tapley, FAIA Overlook.
Late Texas artist Jesús Bautista Moroles’ Houston Police Officers’ Memorial commemorates the 113+ Houston Police Department officers whose lives were lost in the line of duty. Shaped like an Aztec pyramid, the sculpture symbolizes a royal tomb. The Police Officers’ Memorial and surrounding grounds are guarded 24 hours a day. This is also the site of an annual procession and wreath-laying ceremony.
At the center of this grove is the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Fountain, affectionately known as the “dandelion.” The fountain’s brass starburst of pipes sprays joggers, cyclists, and walkers, offering a cool respite from the heat. Points of interest at this favorite meeting spot include: Cullen Foundation Overlook; John R. Eckel, Jr. Foundation Overlook; and the Fountain Gardens, a gift from River Oaks Garden Club.
Unless you know it’s there, the Green Tree Nature Area may be difficult to find. Located south of Memorial Drive at Waugh Drive, this heavily forested trail is a nature lover’s delight. You will find birds, squirrels, and even a rabbit or two on any given day.
Watching more than 300,000 Mexican free-tailed bats emerge every evening from the crevices of the Waugh Drive Bridge is truly a spectacular sight. Unlike in other colonies, a large number of these bats remain through the winter months, providing viewing opportunities on warm nights. Stop by at sunset to witness this natural wonder and learn more about the bats through interpretive signage at the viewing platform.
Bat Chats
The Houston Bat Team hosts Bat Chats every Friday, April through October. Please arrive 30 minutes before sunset and meet at the viewing platform at the corner of Waugh Drive and Allen Parkway. Check their Facebook for updates.
Lost Lake is the site of a former pond that was lost in the 1970s, when its dam across a natural ravine broke. The pond was restored and is now a tranquil area for reflection, surrounded by beautiful plantings and gentle cascades. Visitors will also find public restrooms and a restaurant here.
FLORA Restaurant at Lost Lake
Please visit the FLORA website for reservations and information.
One of Buffalo Bayou Park’s most beloved destinations is the Johnny Steele Dog Park. Dogs have plenty of space to run, swim, and play, while their owners can relax on benches and take advantage of dog washing stations and drinking fountains (complete with spigots for dogs). Limited parking for the dog park is available along the frontage road of Allen Parkway.
DOG PARK REGULATIONS
Hours: 7am – 8pm (may be closed during bad weather or for maintenance)
Help us keep this popular destination safe for dogs and their owners by adhering to these rules:
- Owners are liable for damage or injury inflicted by their dog(s). This means owners are legally and financially responsible for their dog’s behavior. Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the City of Houston have no liability or responsibility for injuries in the dog park.
- Limit of two dogs per person per visit and one hour for each dog.
- Dogs taller than 15 inches may not use the small dog area.
- Dogs must be properly licensed and vaccinated with City of Houston registration and rabies tags visible on each dog’s collar.
- Dogs must be leashed before entering and upon leaving the dog park and must be leashed in the transition area. Owners must have a visible leash for each dog at all times.
- Owners must have disposable pet waste materials visible at all times and must pick up their dog’s fecal matter and dispose of it in a trash receptacle.
- Owners must have verbal and sight control of their dog(s) at all times and prevent aggressive behavior, fighting, biting, and aggressive barking. Never leave your dog(s) unattended.
- Dogs with a known history of dangerous behavior are prohibited. Immediately leash your dog and leave the park if your dog(s) behaves aggressively.
- No puppies under four months of age are allowed in the dog park.
- No female dogs in heat are allowed in the dog park.
- No children aged 12 or under are allowed in the dog park. An adult must accompany children ages 13 through 18. Permitted children must be supervised by an adult and behave appropriately. No running, shouting, chasing dogs, or petting other people’s dogs without their permission.
- No dog or people food is allowed in the dog park.
- No smoking in the dog park or elsewhere in the park.
- Violation of the City Code results in fines and no further dog park use.
The Buffalo Bayou trail system winds through this 23-acre waterfront destination that lies just east of Buffalo Bayou Park. Visitors will find stainless steel boat sculptures by Houston artist John Runnels at major park entrances, BBP’s signature Lunar Cycle Lighting, and the Hobby Pedestrian Bridge, among other features.
This historic park, created in 1899 by Mayor Sam Brashear, was originally landscaped like a Victorian village. Today it is home to The Heritage Society, an organization devoted to preserving a collection of Houston’s historic structures. Nine buildings have been restored and relocated to Sam Houston Park that together tell the story of Houstonians throughout the city’s past.
This 22-acre park is the centerpiece of downtown’s Theater District and commemorates Houston’s 150th birthday. Visitors can stroll along the promenade and take in the public art in the park, including artist Mel Chin’s monumental stainless steel pillars, Seven Wonders.
A bronze statue of former Secretary of State James A. Baker III gazes from the Baker Common across Buffalo Bayou at a statue of former President George H.W. Bush. North Carolina sculptor Chas Fagan created both statues.
Allen’s Landing marks the spot where August Chapman and John Kirby Allen stepped ashore in 1836 and began the transformation of the area from swampy marshlands to the city we know today. This site, at the confluence of Buffalo and White Oak Bayous, became Houston’s first port and a thriving commercial hub. After years of neglect, BBP revitalized this historic site and park into an active waterfront destination. Stainless steel canoe sculptures by John Runnels grace the entrances to the space, and visitors can walk along the wharf where they will find public text art designed by local artist team, ttweak.
James Bute Park is the original site of Germantown and Frost Town, two early immigrant neighborhoods. In the 1970s, Houston artist Kirk Farris transformed the once-abandoned site into a park named for a Houston entrepreneur who lived nearby. A Texas Historical Marker displayed in the park officially designates Frost Town as a historic site.
McKee Street Bridge
Painted aquamarine, purple, and lavender, the nearby McKee Street Bridge adds a splash of color to the bayou landscape. Kirk Farris is responsible for transforming the bridge that was built in 1932 into a piece of public art.
The historic McKee Street Bridge dates back to 1932 and was more recently painted aquamarine, purple, and lavender by Houston artist Kirk Farris.
This City of Houston park features green space, trails, and a boat dock as well as interpretive signage about the history of the East End. The Azios family fountain and historic columns are reminiscent of Mexico City’s colonial Zocalo architecture.
Several remnants of the East End’s industrial past can be found along the hike and bike trail. Just east of Jensen Drive, you will discover massive concrete gravel silos now owned by BBP. These tall structures are not only important interpretive landscape elements but the canvas for imaginative public art events.
Central to the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan is the expansion of the City of Houston’s Tony Marron Park from 19 to nearly 40 acres. By 2026, the enhanced park will become the open space anchor for the area, providing residents with a wide range of activities and featuring improved sports fields, new nature play area, and venues for special events and festivals. Learn more about the vision and plans for Tony Marron Park here.
Changes are underway at Japhet Creek, a bayou tributary stretching north, deep into the Fifth Ward neighborhood. BBP has begun implementing the enhancements envisioned in the Buffalo Bayou East Master Plan to revitalize this historic tributary with a neighborhood park, creekside nature trail, landscaping, lighting, and by 2027, a bayou-crossing pedestrian bridge connecting to Tony Marron Park. Learn more about plans for Japhet Creek Park here.
On this site near Tony Marron Park, BBP is working with partners to create mixed-income and affordable housing that will be surrounded by more than six acres of new parks and trails. 80 multi-family units opened summer of 2024. Learn more about Lockwood on Buffalo Bayou here.
Not currently open to the public.
Decommissioned more than 20 years ago, much of the Northside Sewage Treatment Facility’s infrastructure remains. Aeration and settling tanks, compressor rooms, as well as original pipes and valves are intact. BBP envisions redeveloping the site into a major, regional destination.
Not currently open to the public.
This dramatic former industrial site along Navigation Boulevard at a stretch of the bayou called Turkey Bend will be transformed by BBP in the coming years into a unique recreational and cultural destination. Future visitors to the site will be able to congregate and relax along the waterfront, attend events and programs of various scales, and participate in boating activities. Learn more about plans for Turkey Bend here.
Formerly an industrial property, this 10-acre site was transformed into a natural green space named in memory of Yolanda Black Navarro, a committed civic leader who served Houston for decades. The park features three wetland ponds with an overlook, cistern, native plantings, and footpaths. BBP is working on connecting Yolanda Black Navarro Buffalo Bend Nature Park to the City of Houston’s Hidalgo Park to the east.
HOURS
Open daily from dawn to dusk
Built in 1932, Hidalgo Park is a popular East End site for Sunday picnics, birthday parties, and baseball games. Neighborhood children enjoy the park’s creative wooden playground and water play station. Among the park’s treasures is a statue of Father Miguel Hidalgo, a gift from the government of Jalisco, Mexico.
Not currently open to the public.
In 1837, the Allen brothers arranged for the Constitution, a 150-foot steamboat, to visit Houston to dispel doubts about Buffalo Bayou’s navigability. Not being able to turn around once it arrived at its destination, the boat backed down the bayou until it reached a wide enough bend. Dubbed Constitution Bend, the site is now the Port of Houston Turning Basin.
Trail & Visitor Updates
Johnny Steele Dog Park Improvements
Johnny Steele Dog Park is undergoing improvements and will be closed to the public on Tuesdays until construction is complete.
Upcoming High-Traffic Events & Road Closures
During November, a number of community walks will be using the trails of Buffalo Bayou Park. Please expect increased foot traffic on trails during the following days/times:
- November 16, 8am-11am: ADA Step Out Walk
- November 23, 8am-12pm: MMRF Team for Cures Walk
Rosemont Pedestrian Trail Closure
A portion of the hike & bike trail on the north side of Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge (just east of Montrose Blvd.) is closed for maintenance. A detour is available via the pedestrian trail, and the bridge itself is still accessible.
Buffalo Bayou East Trail Closures
Various segments of trail are closed for improvements on Buffalo Bayou east of downtown, including the Downtown Gateway Trail a new trail segment between US 59 and Jensen Drive on the north bank, the South Bank Trail between Jensen Drive and Tony Marron Park on the south bank, and the unimproved trail between Tony Marron Park and Lockwood Drive on the south bank. Please find a map below for current closures.
