Hippie Hill
The Verdict
"Sunday afternoons have the best drum circles. Weekdays are mellow and mostly empty. Near the corner of Haight and Stanyan at the eastern edge of Golden Gate Park. Bring a blanket."
What you need to know
Still 1967 on Sundays
Hippie Hill is an east-facing grassy slope in the panhandle area of Golden Gate Park, just south of the Haight-Ashbury intersection. During the Summer of Love in 1967, this is where the counterculture gathered. On sunny weekends in 2026, the same thing happens. Minus the acid, plus the weed.
The hill faces the sunrise and catches afternoon light. Eucalyptus trees frame the edges. A natural amphitheater shape means sound carries well, which is why the drum circle happens here and not somewhere else.
What Makes It Worth It
On any warm Sunday, a drum circle forms spontaneously on the flat area at the base of the hill. Djembes, congas, tambourines, and buckets. Anyone with rhythm (or without) joins in. Dancers appear. Hula hoopers appear. The crowd ranges from barefoot twenty-somethings to old hippies who were probably here the first time around.
The rest of the hill is blankets, picnics, frisbees, and dogs. The vibe is aggressively relaxed. Cannabis smoke is constant and technically legal now.
Skip this if crowds and noise bother you. On peak days, Hippie Hill can hold a few hundred people and the drum circle is loud.
Visiting
Address: Golden Gate Park, near the intersection of Kezar Drive and Bowling Green Drive
Hours: Dawn to dusk (park hours)
Cost: Free
Best time: Sunday afternoons for drum circles. April 20th (4/20) draws the biggest crowd of the year.
What to know: No formal facilities at the hill itself. Restrooms at the nearby Kezar Stadium parking lot. Bring your own food and drinks.
Getting There
N-Judah to Cole and Carl, walk into the park. 33-Ashbury/18th bus to Haight and Stanyan, enter the park at Stanyan. 7-Haight/Noriega along the south side. Five-minute walk from Haight Street.
📍 Location: This activity is in Haight Ashbury. Explore the neighborhood →
