A group of our friends had an impromptu gathering for our dogs to play on the grassy area by the parking lot trail head to Buena Vista Park. We brought pizza and snacks and sat enjoying each other's company and watching the bird/duck wildlife. Many families were gathered in near by picnic tables playing soccer and eating. Plenty of space and trash cans. There is a restroom near by. Dogs welcome!!! read more

Beautiful pond and grass area. Perfect if you want a picnic, throw a frisbee, hiking, or feeding the ducks. I taught me very young children to fish here, but it is now prohibited since 2020. There's always those few that will leave their lines, garbage and other fishing gear behind that ruin it for everyone. Too bad, it was a great past time to teach your kids to fish at this beautiful spot. Hopefully one day it will open again. read more

Buena Vista Park Trail is a neighborhood walkable path in Carlsbad. This easy-to-moderate trail 3-mile loop. The trail is a great spot for both walkers and nature lovers, offering lots of trees, backyard view of a neighborhood and quick escape from city (within the city). There are three opening paths an enjoyable peaceful walk-path (within little to no elevation) around two loops. During the walking area, there is an opportunity to take in the views two bridges providing a perfect outdoor experience in an urban setting. There is a pond populated by ducks on one end of the parks main entrance. read more

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This is such a beautiful little park and it has hiking for every level. You could do a pretty flat area or you could go up steep hills. You could do a short loop or you could do a long loop. There are creeks, running through it and beautiful old trees. You also have the duck pond where you can watch lots of ducks, egrets and I have even seen a blue heron there. There is a picnic area where I have seen many families gather. It's a great spot for the whole family and you will see kids, adults and dogs walking together. I even saw a horse once. Every time I go for a walk there I can't remember why I haven't been back there sooner. It's just so pretty and a great place to get exercise. Such a lovely hidden gem . read more

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What a beautiful stroll! The sun was shining and the ducks were out by the pond. I feel like the seasons have shifted and October is now the best time to visit San Diego. Buena Vista Park is not something I would seek out if I was from out of town, but if I wanted a nice hiking trail that is easy would definitely come here. There are paths that are much harder, but we opted for the easy trail that loops around under the road by the fire station and behind houses. Bring some water because it can get toasty. Lots of joggers and families walking. My wife was surprised that there were so many woman joggers. It's definitely safe and in the suburbs. read more

My friends, family and I love going to this park. There are many trails for hiking in Buena Vista. The duck pond located by the parking lot is an adorable touch where many go to bird watch. It's a great place to relax and wander in nature. read more

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Very good walking trails, sometimes in the sun and sometimes shaded. The duck pond itself is overgrown and needs better upkeep but over a good place to walk, the trail is about 2+ miles read more

I love this park! It is one of my favorite places to go. The walking trail forms a loop and it has a mix of sunny spots and shady spots. There is plenty of grass in the picnic area for dogs to run around on. It has a duck pond with benches so you can sit and watch the birds. It's a fun and relaxing place to spend a couple of hours or the whole day! read more

It's pretty cool I like the trails there you're having a good time. The little pond was awesome to actually got to see some turtle

A bird discovery spot and I'm not talking about the pond on the side of the entrance. We spotted large cranes, baby hawks, multiple singing birds and gambler quails during the covered Loop trail walk. There is a small creek flowing through by the trees. For the trail, it's a dirt loop trail about 3 miles, but one can elongate by climbing up a hill with roadways carved into it. The park itself is filled with green grass and lots of cement picnic tables. Watch out for poison oak. Wish they had more trail guidance signs because a first timer might think they are heading into the next district! read more

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Wonderful place to take walks and get exercise! Wide trails and lots of cool spots to explore. It's a new go to spot for me. Also have nice tables and wide grassy areas to relax and even have a picnic. I love walking my dog here.....if you want shade and a nice walk you can easily pull that off....much of the trails are shaded or if you want the full sun...we'll that's easy too. Glad I found this location!! There is a parking lot that can fit quite a few cars. read more

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A nice park that has walking paths, a duck pond, geocaches, tables, a bathroom, and a hill to climb up. There is a loop that takes you from the parking lot to the fire station and back, or you can go a little further under Melrose and back. There is a creek as well and there are a few bridges to cross over along the path. The duck pond has other birds as well and 2 large Geese. They all come running when people feed them bread and stuff. The 2 Geese are pretty aggressive and do not like dogs. They will hiss, bite, and lunge at dogs and people if you get too close to them. There are picnic tables all around and on both sides of the parking lot. Pre Covid-19 I saw people having picnics and parties all the time. There are a few Geocaches in the park as well if you are into Geocaching. Good place to come and rest, relax, bird watch, hike, exercise, ride bikes and take pictures. read more

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Buena Vista Park is a nice park to take a little hike. It's family & dog friendly. There's lots of trails to choose from, bridges to cross, and it also appears to have a new swing pop up here and there. There are coyotes and poison oak & just like any place with natural habitants you'll hear the birds and maybe even a rattle. It's definitely safer to stay on the trail and you should be fine. So grab a buddy or two and check out this medium sized park together. Lots of quacking in the pond and people picnicking. We've been here several times and it feels great to breathe in the fresh air that embodies notes of the surrounding eucalyptus. Need a break from the hustle & bustle? This might be just the place for you. There's something about nature that simply soothes the soul. read more

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Nice hike with an opportunity to see some water with ducks. Fantastic little nature scene nestled in a residential community. read more

Buena Vista Park - Parks Near Me - Vista, California

Great walk and so many trails to go either way. Sunny, good for kids and strollers. There's a lake and ducks. There was a few dog poop on the trails from whoever didn't pick up after their pets poop. It's beautiful and don't destroy the beauty of it either, specially for those who love going out for walks. read more

Buena Vista Park - Entrance - Parks Near Me - Vista, California

I hope the City of Vista listens to community feedback. Main issues for this park: *Feeding the ducks/geese is the norm here. There are no signs that I saw to discourage the act. *Main picnic area had a good amount of litter. *Used dog poop bags all over the trails including the very popular Agua Hedionda Trail. There are very few trash cans. Trail cleanup is needed. *This area is around 90% native plant habitat, but includes several areas of invasive Eucalyptus trees. I even saw someone had removed a cluster of invasive Chilean Sea Fig, but then just left it on the trail where it will re-root. Tons of Eucalyptus are small enough now to be pulled out, but others are too established. It would be nice to have the area conserved by removing the invasive plants. *No trail signage at all. For a city park, that's pretty odd in my opinion. read more

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This is a great park! You can hang out on the grass and have a picnic, and enjoy the scenery and the weather. There are picnic benches toward the entrance so you can park pretty easily. Plenty of parking but it can get busy sometimes. You can also park on the street if you can't find parking. There's a small duck pond with various birds and a couple of geese if you're into bird-watching. It's a nice location! If you're there to walk, there are trails. Sometimes it can get overgrown so just keep an eye out and stay on the trail. Sometimes it can get muddy in the rainier times. Explore the trails and take in the views throughout Buena Vista Park. read more

Nice little park. Short easy trails. Good walk for two-legged and four-legged creatures young and old alike. A small duck pond is near the entrance, and a small creek runs through the back of the loop. The incline to the highest point is moderate. Just be cautious of the crevices along the path when walking up; they could be ankle-twisting. I've been to this park several times; alone with the furbies, with hubby, with friends/family (both young and old) and each experience has been fun. The one drawback for me is that some dog owners don't pickup their waste. It's a shame. There have been times when I've sniffed out "that smell" too late while on my drive back home. read more

What a great place. Nice easy walking trails and a large hill for the ones wanting a challenge. Sad that a long portion of it is under construction of some sort. Still fun. read more

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I have driven past this area multiple times, and have never heard or been to the Duck Pond in Vista. So Andy and I decided to run on the trails of Buena Vista Park. I was a bit apprehensive given my last rattle snake encounter, but to my amazement, the trails were wider and more open. There are a lot of people who frequent the trails, which made me feel safe. At the end of our trail was a Duck Pond. There were ducks everywhere, and people admiring the serenity of the environment. It was very peaceful, and I appreciated nature at its best. I'll definitely visit the trails again and attempt the uphill terrain. Hopefully, I can get a partner to attempt this trek with me! read more

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A good place for families because it has enough of what the kids want, but also what you want too. The kids love the ducks / turtle pond. The adults like the mild looping hiking trail to get in some good family exercise. There is a good hour of stuff to do here if you add in the hike, which is recommended. - Sketchiness level is mild yellow. Lock car and put the club on. - Foul smells from ducks and sewage lines. - No bathrooms ( or chem-cans). read more

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Neighborhood park with a pond and picnic tables. Mass amounts of birds, because people feed them. I've seen times when it looks and sounds like the Hitchcock movie "Birds", but usually it's not so bad. There's a trailhead to a short well used dirt trail, lots of people walking dogs here. There's a steep hill you can walk up, or a level path that leads to a small oak tree grove along a creek. There's poison oak everywhere so be safe and stay on the trail. I saw a homeless encampment up in the hill, and it looks like it's a party spot at night. It's often polluted with garbage and dog feces. Worth checking out if you live nearby, but not really worth driving far for. read more

Love going for walks at this park, the loop is just over 2 miles and relatively level. They also have a pretty steep hill you can walk up as well. There is a lake that always has a large variety of ducks and birds frequenting it. There is a large grassy area with picnic tables all around and I've even seen a birthday party going on the other week. One issue I do have is that it seems that people at this park DO NOT like to pick up there dogs poop and there is always poop and more specifically, full poop bags all around the trail. there are signs that say take out what you take in, but the place is littered with full dog poop bags. read more

We went here to take bird's pictures. It is a nice park many ducks and birds . Good place for walking or hiking. We like here, may come back in winter month. read more

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I love this park! Quiet and calm, great walking paths and a small lake with ducks, coots, and geese. We have found a new favorite park. Plenty of benches and tables, lots of separate areas. Planning on going back for a picnic this week. read more

Second time at Buena Vista Park and it's really lovely. I've only seen the duck pond and one trail, but I can tell there are tons of trails here. We encountered several really friendly dogs and friendly people. Picnic tables, grassy area, but I didn't see any bathrooms at all. That's the one star deduction. We'll be back! read more

This is a nice park where you can walk, run or ride your bike on different trails. People are also seen with their dogs. There is a pond loaded with ducks and geese, so bring some bread. I'll be back. read more

Buena Vista Park - Parks Near Me - Vista, California

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I love this park for hiking, picnicking, and general relaxing in nature with my husband and 3 year old. The only downside is that unfortunately people try to fish in this tiny duck and turtle pond and they leave behind tangled fishing line and hooks and those red fishing ball floats. I've witnessed the fishing people hook one of the little pond turtles. And last week I had to call the humane society because 1 of the only 2 geese that live at the pond as lifelong mates had swallowed a fishing hook and had 8 feet of littered fishing line trailing from her mouth, poor baby! Luckily they dispatched an wild animal rescue professional who either got the hook out or cut the cord with scissors (meaning the fisherman's littered hook is still hooked inside the poor gooses throat. ) (For those that know these 2 geese... it's the goose with the orange bill that had the hook in her, not the one with the black bill). Anyway, back to the point! Aside from people fishing, this is a fantastic place. I'm pretty on love with it and go at least 5 days a week. read more

Good place to bring the dogs or to go for a run. The park extends pretty bar back to the eat of Melrose Dr (under the bridge). There is a Creek, a few bridges and in the winter a makeshift Christmas tree. There is a sweet view of Vista from the top of the hill and for the most part everyone who visits here is friendly. Beware of the ducks at the pond. read more

If you don't look closely, you might think Buena Vista Park in Vista seems a bit small, tiny local park. With a glance, you'll notice there are some beautiful grassy areas, picnic tables, and a scenic pond full of ducks and other waterfowl. But wander just a little bit longer, and you can find a sizeable trail system that travels along both sides of Agua Hedionda Creek. Most of the trail is shaded by oak trees and a mix of non-natives, there are plenty of exposed sections that can get slightly warm on a hot day. Prepare with water and hats during the summer months. read more

A great little park for everyone. This park in Vista has the makings of not greatness but cuteness. You see it has picnic areas, hiking trails and a duck pond. Just not a lot of each; okay the duck pond is a good size. The grassy picnic area is perfect for a family outing and you always see nice people enjoying themselves. Its a good thing. There are about 5-8 actual tables and BBQ areas so get there early if you are looking to secure a spot. Problem solved if you have an EZ Up tent and some chairs. The duck pond is cute and full of many ducks and mosquitoes (bring the deet mom). No reports of Zika yet. The trails are the perfect length for a little hike, usually ranging from 0.8 - 3 miles. So just enough to make you feel like sir edmund, im kidding. You can go home and boast on your blog that you hiked though. They do have permanent bathrooms (not porta-potties) but I have failed you the Yelp reader and did not look inside. I will next time and put it in the tips section. Pro Tip - bring a blanket and hat. Gets pretty hot in the summer. Overall a great little park in Vista. read more

A lovely little park that proved to be a gem. We went to feed the ducks and were pleasantly surprised. Clean, well maintained and a very relaxed environment. There are nice benches if you want to have a little picnic and I love the fact that the area is so well maintained. Peaceful and tranquil. We are do glad we stumbled upon this park. Will definitely become a regular:) read more

Vista has some good parks in its city. Buena Vista is pretty good sized park with a lake, trails, and grass area. While the trails aren't the longest, they do form a good loop for you to go around. They're all loose dirt trails that are wide enough to provide good room for people who want to bike or run on them. Its not very separated from the main roads however, as a loud busy street passes above some of the trail area which makes it unpleasant if you're going to get some quiet nature time. The park and trails are very clean and considerably flat except for the hill part which you can avoid if you want, because the trail forks. Plenty of parking here for cars as well. read more

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I have been to this park many times, I even ran a 3 mile race here. There are many pleasant hiking trails and the duck pond is adorable. Lots of different kinds of ducks and some swans. The trails are all dirt.. mostly out in the sun but there are a few shaded portions. Some parts are rocky so wear good shoes! There are many hills but also flat trails to trek on. I have seen many snakes in my past year in CA, but never any at this park. But that doesn't mean there aren't any! Always watch out for rattlesnakes. Now on to pictures! read more

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Relaxing, beautiful. Nice to take your dog on a hike and see ducks, turtles, big toads!! Nice little ponds my kids love it here!!! And not to mention it's very clean and no creeps around!! lol read more

Great hiking trails at this park. Most dogs were not on a leash but that didn't bother me. Parking area could be bigger but eh, not a deal breaker. I wish I had more time to see the entire park today but I'll be back. (There are no restrooms along the trail. Wear shoes with a good grip or you'll end up sliding down the entire hill.) read more

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Nice place to hike not too hard and not too easy but very relaxing. Leave before sun down because omg there are too many mosquitos, they will try to go home w you read more

This is a cute little park near home, with ducks, geese, and birds all frequenting it. We even found a large turtle crawling up the hill (on the street) and carried him back down the hill to his home...not sure where he was trying to go. Unfortunately some members of our community dont know how to clean up after themselves, and there is some trash in the pond. But there are hiking trails all around the park, benches, areas to play volleyball, plenty of space for your dog/kid to run around. If you're out on a walk, stroll on down! read more

Buena Vista Park - We found a turtle! - Parks Near Me - Vista, California

I've been to this park twice now and both visits were extremely enjoyable although their purposes were entirely different. The first time I found my way to this park was for a field lab for my biology class to observe (and collect) native and non-native species of plants (actually very fun) This last time I ventured to this well-maintained part of Vista to take my nearly-3-year old on a hike. He loved it. Clear trails. incredibly quiet and serene, fun place to do a little bit of fishing (or duck calling as my son attempted to do.) I'd even return for another hike AND a picnic, there are plenty of cozy spots to settle down into for a nice lunch outdoors. read more

Great park for a good trail workout. Not as strenuous as Calaveras but will do the trick. Especially if you jog/walk the hill 2-3 x's. If you stay on trail past Melrose overpass you will get to see a Rhino and Elephant, pet cemetery, a tree swing, a new walking bridge, and on occasion a coyote who likes to get his daily dose of sun on the trail. It can get a lil stinky at times due to sewage treatment plant. (I think that's what it is) anyways..love this trail!!! P.S. I agree, pet owners need to pickup their dog poop!!! read more

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