AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buffalo Bayou Park

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes

4.6 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes is a 4.6-mile out-and-back in Buffalo Bayou Park near Houston, TX. The route passes The Cistern before reaching Lost Lake at the turnaround, 2.1 miles in. It is mostly level, with 115 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi0 – 46 ft6.6 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Heritage East Trail 29.76458, -95.35491
Nearest town Houston, TX
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes

4.6 mi · ▲ 115 ft · 1 hr 35 min

Elevation 1–47 ft

Out & Back · Buffalo Bayou Park

Trailhead: Heritage East Trail · 29.76458, -95.35491

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:10 AM · sunset 7:21 PM

Transit-accessible: UH-Downtown stop 399 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Heritage East Trail, heading W.
  2. 0.2 miTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou North Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.1 miTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  4. 0.4 miBear right, heading SW.
  5. 0.3 miBear right onto South Trail, heading SW.
  6. 250 ftPass The Cistern.
  7. 150 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  8. 50 ftBear right onto South Trail, heading SW.
  9. 300 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  10. 50 ftBear left onto South Trail, heading SW.
  11. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  12. 0.2 miTurn left onto Eleanor Tinsley Park Trail, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  14. 150 ftTurn right onto Police Memorial Trail, heading W.
  15. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Police Memorial Trail, heading W.
  17. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  18. 150 ftBear right, heading SW.
  19. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  20. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  21. 50 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftSharp right, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftSharp left, heading SW.
  24. 0.4 miTurn left onto Rosemont Bridge, heading W.
  25. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rosemont Trail, heading W.
  26. 50 ftBear left onto Montrose Pedestrian Bridge, heading W.
  27. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  28. 300 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  29. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NW.
  30. 500 ftTurn left, heading SW.
  31. 200 ftPass Lost Lake.
  32. 0.2 miTurn right onto Jackson Hill High Bridge, heading W.
  33. 450 ftTurn left, heading W.
  34. 150 ftReach Lost Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  35. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 450 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  37. 0.3 miTurn right, heading W.
  38. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  39. 300 ftTurn left onto Montrose Pedestrian Bridge, heading W.
  40. 50 ftBear right onto Rosemont Trail, heading W.
  41. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rosemont Bridge, heading W.
  42. 50 ftTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  43. 0.4 miTurn left, heading S.
  44. 50 ftSharp right, heading S.
  45. 50 ftSharp left, heading S.
  46. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  47. 50 ftBear right, heading S.
  48. 50 ftTurn right, heading S.
  49. 50 ftBear left, heading S.
  50. 150 ftContinue straight onto Police Memorial Trail, heading S.
  51. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading S.
  52. 50 ftTurn right onto Police Memorial Trail, heading S.
  53. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading S.
  54. 150 ftTurn left onto Eleanor Tinsley Park Trail, heading E.
  55. 50 ftTurn right, heading E.
  56. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  57. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  58. 50 ftBear right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  59. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  60. 250 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  61. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  62. 450 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  63. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  64. 0.1 miTurn right onto Heritage East Trail, heading SE.
  65. 50 ftArrive back at the trailhead.

Each distance is the walk from the previous step. Tap a step for a map of its junction.

Trail map, photos and weather for this hike: www.ambleway.com/hikes/lost-lake-lost-lake-out-back-5-lakes-7-km

Trail surface

89% paved3% gravel2% boardwalk6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:10 AMSunset 7:21 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.4 mi in (~34 min). Leave by 6:26 PM for the 7:21 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:11 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: UH-Downtown stop 399 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Heritage East Trail Trailhead

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