AMBLEWAY Wildest hikes

Buffalo Bayou Park

The Cistern–Buffalo Bayou South Trail, 3 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 19 min

The Cistern–Buffalo Bayou South Trail, 3 sights is a 3.9-mile out-and-back in Buffalo Bayou Park near Houston, TX. The route reaches The Cistern. It is mostly level, with 28 ft of elevation gain, and mostly paved. It scores 0/100 on the Ambleway Wildness scale: paved and peopled.

Elevation

0 mi0 – 36 ft4.8 mi

Getting there

Trailhead: Buffalo Bayou South Trail 29.76075, -95.37813
Nearest town Houston, TX
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Directions

AMBLEWAYwww.ambleway.com

The Cistern–Buffalo Bayou South Trail, 3 sights

3.9 mi · ▲ 28 ft · 1 hr 19 min

Elevation 1–36 ft

Out & Back · Buffalo Bayou Park

Trailhead: Buffalo Bayou South Trail · 29.76075, -95.37813

Weather Sep 21: sunrise 7:10 AM · sunset 7:22 PM

Transit-accessible: stop 336 m from the trailhead · Toilets at the trailhead · Drinking water at the trailhead · Parking lot at the trailhead

  1. Start on Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  2. 50 ftPass The Cistern.
  3. 0.1 miContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  4. 50 ftBear right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading E.
  5. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading E.
  6. 250 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  7. 50 ftContinue straight onto South Trail, heading SE.
  8. 450 ftBear left onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading NE.
  9. 0.7 miTurn left, heading E.
  10. 0.1 miTurn left onto Heritage East Trail, heading E.
  11. 450 ftContinue straight onto White Oak Bayou Greenway, heading E.
  12. 0.6 miBear right onto M-K-T Trail, heading NW.
  13. 50 ftBear left onto White Oak Bayou Greenway, heading NW.
  14. 0.2 miBear right, heading NW.
  15. 50 ftReach The Cistern, then turn around and head back the way you came.
  16. 0.2 miBear right onto M-K-T Trail, heading N.
  17. 50 ftBear left onto White Oak Bayou Greenway, heading N.
  18. 0.7 miTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou North Trail, heading SE.
  19. 0.1 miTurn right onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SE.
  20. 0.4 miBear right, heading S.
  21. 0.3 miBear right onto South Trail, heading W.
  22. 450 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  23. 50 ftBear right onto South Trail, heading SW.
  24. 250 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  25. 50 ftBear left onto South Trail, heading SW.
  26. 50 ftContinue straight onto Buffalo Bayou South Trail, heading SW.
  27. 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/the-cistern-the-cistern-out-back-4-sights-6-km-f720

Trail surface

94% paved6% unspecified

Weather

Sunrise 7:10 AMSunset 7:22 PM

Sunset

The best sunset spot on this hike is 1.6 mi in (~39 min). Leave by 6:23 PM for the 7:22 PM sunset. Back at your car by 8:16 PM, after dark — bring a headlamp.

More sunset hikes nearby

Good to know

  • Transit-accessible: stop 336 m from the trailhead
  • Toilets at the trailhead
  • Drinking water at the trailhead
  • Parking lot at the trailhead

More from Buffalo Bayou South Trail Trailhead

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