AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buffalo Bayou Park

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes

6.1 mi · ▲ 152 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes is a 6.1-mile out-and-back in Buffalo Bayou Park near Houston, TX. The route passes The Cistern and Lost Lake. It is mostly level, with 152 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi0 – 49 ft8.4 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Buffalo Bayou North Trail 29.76690, -95.34666
Nearest town Houston, TX
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

Lost Lake–The Cistern, 3 lakes

6.1 mi · ▲ 152 ft · 2 hr 7 min

Elevation 0–49 ft

Out & Back · Buffalo Bayou Park

Trailhead: Buffalo Bayou North Trail · 29.76690, -95.34666

Weather Sep 22: Overcast, high 94°F / low 77° · precip 3% · wind 5 mph · sunrise 7:10 AM · sunset 7:19 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 231 m from the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start at the trailhead, heading SW.
  2. 0.3 miSharp left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  3. 0.2 miTurn right onto Heritage East Trail, heading NW.
  4. 150 ftTurn right, heading NW.
  5. 0.4 miTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou North Trail, heading NW.
  6. 0.1 miTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  7. 0.4 miBear right, heading W.
  8. 0.3 miBear right onto South Trail, heading W.
  9. 50 ftPass The Cistern.
  10. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  11. 250 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading SW.
  12. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  13. 50 ftBear right onto South Trail, heading SW.
  14. 300 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  15. 50 ftBear left onto South Trail, heading SW.
  16. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  17. 0.2 miTurn right onto Police Memorial Trail, heading NW.
  18. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NW.
  19. 50 ftContinue straight onto Police Memorial Trail, heading NW.
  20. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  21. 50 ftBear left, heading SW.
  22. 50 ftTurn right onto Allen Parkway Crossing, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftTurn left, heading W.
  24. 50 ftBear right, heading W.
  25. 50 ftSharp left, heading W.
  26. 50 ftTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  27. 0.4 miTurn left onto Rosemont Bridge, heading W.
  28. 50 ftContinue straight onto Rosemont Trail, heading W.
  29. 50 ftBear left onto Montrose Pedestrian Bridge, heading W.
  30. 50 ftTurn right, heading W.
  31. 300 ftTurn right, heading W.
  32. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading W.
  33. 450 ftPass Lost Lake.
  34. 50 ftTurn left, heading NW.
  35. 0.5 miTurn right, heading NW.
  36. 50 ftReach Lost Lake, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  37. 0.6 miTurn right, heading SW.
  38. 100 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 E.
  44. 50 ftSharp right, heading E.
  45. 50 ftBear left, heading E.
  46. 50 ftTurn right onto Allen Parkway Crossing, heading E.
  47. 50 ftTurn left, heading E.
  48. 50 ftBear right, heading NE.
  49. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  50. 50 ftContinue straight onto Police Memorial Trail, heading NE.
  51. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  52. 50 ftTurn right onto Police Memorial Trail, heading NE.
  53. 50 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  54. 0.2 miContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  55. 50 ftBear right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  56. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  57. 300 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  58. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading NE.
  59. 100 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  60. 200 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  61. 150 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  62. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  63. 0.1 miTurn right onto Heritage East Trail, heading E.
  64. 0.4 miTurn right, heading E.
  65. 150 ftTurn left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  66. 0.2 miSharp right, heading E.
  67. 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-6-lakes-9-km

Trail surface

94% paved1% gravel5% unspecified

Weather

OvercastTemperature 94°F77°
Feels like96°Precip3%Wind5 mphUV7Humidity62%
Rained 0.1″ 5 days ago
Hourly temperature
95°75°
Sunrise 7:10 AM12 AM3 AM12 PM3 PMSunset 7:19 PM
Wed 95°78°
Thu 98°76°
Fri 97°79°
Sat 93°81°
Sun 97°80°
Mon 95°79°

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 2.0 mi in (~51 min). Leave by 6:09 PM for the 7:19 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:25 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 231 m from the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Buffalo Bayou North Trail Trailhead

Hikes near Houston, Texas