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Hippie Hill
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- No
55 reviews for Hippie Hill
Your visit to Haight-Ashbury/GG Park is not complete without a visit to Hippie Hill!
I don't know what all you people are talking about in regards to the meth/crackheads. These are not accepted drugs on Hippie Hill. In fact, the one time I did see some bum light up a crack pipe, all the other bums around descended upon him with cries of "Hey, you can't do that here!" "You're ruining all the good vibes, you need to get out of here!" and he was promptly evacuated from the vicinity.
And, though it is always a good idea to look before you sit, I must say that I have never actually seen any needles in the grass.
Great place to score some weed or watch angry bums get drunk and mooch. Also, if you don't know what you are doing this is a great place to get ripped off when buying some herbs. Other than that, this place has had a lot of history. Janice Joplin once sat in the tree on the way to the hill from MC Donald's for an album cover.
Countless people have dropped acid here.
Every once in a while they have free concerts here.
One of my Favorite places to go.
When it's warm I enjoy going there to people watch.
Lay out in the sun, listen to the drum circle and have a little catnip.
Some people may say that there are nothing but homeless folks and
drug dealers in the hill area.
If that is how you feel , just keep on walking and go sit by the conservatory of flowers. It's a big park.
-Simon the Cat
Another world very sunny and peaceful that why bums and drugs addicts come here. Watch were you're walking
I actually had a conversation with one of these "hippies" - and no it wasn't just to solicit certain herbs and fungi. He & his girlfriend have two dogs that are actually quite clean and well maintained, and yes some may find them both a little scruffy but they were interesting people who have just as much right to be here as anyone else. Just like Bay to Breakers, the Folsom Street Fair, Haight/Ashbury, etc - They were part of what makes San Francisco colorful, crazy, dirty, psychedelic and fun. Maybe most "hippies" today are a shadow of their former selves, no longer eschewing society in protest of the war in Vietnam or society's other ills. But, they're still an integral party of California's culture (or counterculture?).
For me, hippie hill is a lovely place - everyone here seems so carefree, from the little children chasing each other around the playground to the drum circles peacefully entertaining everyone.
I was here recently on a gorgeous day, sitting on a raggedy blanket with one of my best friends from New York, commenting on what a cool place it is & how much we love San Francisco because of places like this :)
Sorry I dont enjoy Meth gone wild, the 60's are over .
Get over it.
It really depresses me.
When I first moved to San Francisco, I bought a couple of slices of pizza from someplace on Haight Street (Escape from New York?), walked to Stanyan while ignoring the demands of teenagers sitting on the sidewalk, and ate on the grass on Hippie Hill. It wasn't a terribly enjoyable experience, mainly because I was hassled from the moment I walked out the door with pizza until I had thrown the little cardboard box away.
I had no idea what I was doing or where I was, so it was actually a pretty good unbiased introduction to the wonders of Hippie Hill. It's useful as a landmark, and I'm glad it exists for the, uh, hippies to hang out here; but in general, I don't like it.
Why oh why? Golden Gate Park is full of great spots to relax in the sun, fog, or have a picnic, the only thing Hippy Hill has to offer is the "people experience". Granted it is somewhat unique in it's people watching potential, but if you're a native who has been there more than twice, why go again? If it's about the Marijuana my friends there are many nice, safe, spots you can indulge without* being caught in a police raid, harassed by methheads, having to witness homeless fornication, listening the monotonous bleating of intoxicated drummers, bum fights, and the inane ramblings of the insane, oops I mean "dissident", preachers spreading their nonsense.
There are needles hidden in the grass, hepatitis abound, it's a very poor enviroment for children. They will probably be safe, but do you want them being exposed to an ideology of "rebellion" centered on coercion and self destruction? The atmosphere for many of Hippy HiIl's residents is more appropriate for the Tenderloin. Remove the grass and the illusion of "free spirit", and what do you have? A colony of criminals, junkies, violent drunks, repeat offenders, whose appeal resides solely in their drug use and filth. On a festive day, there will enough normal (yes NORMAL) people that it becomes fit for socialization, but you have other options. Spreckels lake, the bison, speedway, the AIDS memorial, Stow lake, the Arboretum, Japanese tea garden, and a dozen other hidden gems, you just have to look, ideally past Hippy Hill, because who needs to see another crackhead?
Bring your clean, oops "conformist" friends out east, and you'll have a great time, I promise.
5 STARS:
- when the semi-normal full-time working newbie parents/undercover pot heads come out with their families and pooches for some wholesome fun in the sun.
- the pot brownie lady (with the REALLY good brownies) shows up unexpectedly
- when the kick ball tournaments go down.. who doesn't love watching a bunch of drunk/stoned adults kicking those rubber red balls around.
1 STAR:
- when dirty cracked out hippies offer you crazy hash
- when and a 2, maybe 3 year old boy yells "Don't say 'Hi' to me.. I'll kill you" as you wave 'Hello' and flash an "Awwwww he's so cute" smile directly towards him.. WTF?!
- when the homeless folk start a brawl in the middle of the dirt path/walk-way
- when the grass on the hill is soggy from god knows what
The area in general is pretty overrated, though I do find myself stopping by on those rare warm San Francisco days. The name is 'cool' and all, but the reality of the matter is that the hippie era has come and gone.. key word here people, GONE.
Hippie (noun): usually a young person who rejects the mores of established society and advocates a nonviolent ethic.
Sadly, that was 40 years ago.
Today the word hippie seems to have become synonymous with being a methed out/cracked out/pilled out homeless street kid who owns an untrained, ill-behaved dog.
And because of that, I tend to frequent the numerous other wonderful places that GG Park has to offer.
It's all about the drum circle! Unless you're REALLY into drumming, dancing or just enjoying the rhythm, don't bother.
If, however, you're a drum circle aficionado, you'll not want to miss it, especially on a beautiful day. On a good day there's more soul and musicality than Venice, and it's much less grittier. On a great day, well, it's pure transcending magic. Free. No facilitator. You may want to turn down the wine bottle however, when hep C Harry passes it from his toothless mouth.
This is a place were you can see what happend to the quality of life
and what the liberal politicians has done to San Francisco. first of all
the play structure is the biggest and best in SF, including a merry-go-round (Fri, Sat, and Sun only) many family enjoy the sun and
and the kids love to climb on the new play structures. now the BAD side, hippie hill which is behind the play structures, it has a very nice park very big ,but the cops/politicians just allow homeless, drug users, squaters and our never shower citizens to basically take over as they please. watch your kids if you take them to the park side they may step on human waste, needles or a homeless camp.
I hate Hippies.
A group of us, six or so, as far as I can remember, took a stroll to Hippie Hill after going to one of those choice street fairs on Haight.
We figured that the wait for Cha Cha Cha's could be better spent doing some recreational activities in a public park.
This was my first experience at Hippie Hill and I was, I'll admit, a bit taken back by the fact that you genuinely can just light up right in the open - wow, this is fucking random.
There were dreadlock sporting, nag champa wearing, hippies that brought their full-on glass bongs to the park. A group of kids playing the harmonica, I shit you not, were all toking on a two footer in the middle of the afternoon.
So, here's my funny story: Two gay male friends of mind we're enjoying the earthy scene with the rest of us and we hear one of them say, "Chris, stop doing that to my finger." Chris responds, "Doing what Sean?" "Chris, I know it's you, what are you doing - that feels weird" . . . by this point we're all staring at Chris and Sean. Sean moves his hand and we all look down only to see a mole poking its head out of the hole in the ground where Sean had his finger molested for the past minute. Wtf? A mole - who does that shit happen to?
Anyhow, it was pretty entertaining, moles look kinda purple too - so you learn something new every day.
One SF experience I will never forget, nor the attack by the mole.
Even kinda made me like Hippies - shhhh
My heart can't help but beat in tune with Hippie Circle.
(watch where you step and sit, bring a sarong or blanket, some snacks, and close your eyes. If you close them tight enough, and if the sun's strong enough, I'm sure your's will too)
The perfect thing about Hippie Hill is its convenient location to the children's playground.
The Sweetness and I hit the park pretty late on Saturday, but managed to get some sun time on the hill, contemplate doing 'shrooms and watching various folks dance/drum/dread/hackey/stumble.
Afterwards, he got to watch me frolic in the sandpit like an idiot with the 4 year olds.
It's a wonder he acknowledges my presence in public.
Sometimes the music is bad and the people lack boundaries, but overall it's a good place to lay out, feel more well mannered than the general public, and do as you like.
Plus, even if it's not your gig, there is almost always someone slinging hash cookies for ~ $5, talking about how they're made without wheat and blah blah blah.
- The drum circle has been continous since 1961.
- Yeah, I'll take a Haigth of chron, to go please.
- Is that hippy chick breast feeding her nine year old?
- Tai Chi frisbee....why not?
- Hey, that dude just stole my longboard!!!!
Ahhh, hippie hill. You are missed, you dirty, dirty girl
With 4/20 coming up pretty quickly I figured I'd take a second out of my Friday afternoon to write a little blurb about a place called hippy hill.
You all know where I'm talking about. The place just a little bit after the cavernous tunnel by the stanyan entrance in GGP. If you've never been there you'll know your getting close when you get hit up numerous times by dirty park kids to buy "heady nugs."
What the fuck is a heady nug anyways? I mean I understand that they're trying to push some dank onto me but what exactly makes this herb "heady" is beyond me. But I digress.
Nothing like chillin on a sunny sunday afternoon with a couple Fosters fat cans that you got from Sunshine Liquor, some heady nugs (lol), and a couple friends.
I'm particularly looking forward to this Sunday (4/20) when a few friends and I will be throwing a little shindig out there called the Anti-Disco Rally. We'll have a few dj's playing different styles, a bbq, a keg of beer and of course plenty of dank to celebrate the occasion. Hit me up if you want some more info or just show up and say hi.
Figures. My last weekend in SF is a gorgeous one. Sun shining brightly. Slight breeze. Warm air. Figures, my last weekend here would be so fantastic as to make it as difficult as possible for me to leave....
Anyway, one part of my fabulous final weekend was a picnic in Hippie Hill with a few friends. Since it was so nice out (slash, I was a moron and couldn't find the bus stop despite living here for 2 years) I walked here. Took me a good 25 min or so, but such a nice walk. I had a turkey avocado from nearby Oak St Cafe in one hand and (since I no longer needed it) my cardigan in another.
I followed the sounds of the drums to Hippie Hill, joined my friends, ate my sandwich, chit chatted, people watched, listened to the music, threw around a frisbee and enjoyed good company and sunshine.
When it's nice out this part of the park is awesome, because of all of the above. I'll miss it.
ask for the oriental discount
I don't like hippies. Sorry, but thats the way it goes.
too much meth, too many homeless kids and my compassion turns into some something else.
I wish I could help, but I can't hang out here
It's important that you go here when it's a toasty-warm, sunny day....... for primo Hippie Hill experience. Preferably Sunday afternoon.
(Although we call it "Stoner Park" - different strokes for different folks.)
Find grassy spot on hill. Lay on your back. Alone is fine but having someone next to you is better : ) Share an iPod. Smoke a big fatty.. Soak up the sun. Go to Jupiter. * *
Then, do it like Lionel does it ..and take it easy like Sunday morning : )
Hippie Hill's official name is actually Sharon Meadow and you can find it here on this map: http://www.sfgate.com/.... On Saturday and Sundays when it's warm, tons of people head there to play. It's pretty dead during the week so definitely come on weekends.
It's fun to get together with a big group of friends and lay down blankets/sleeping bags. We bring coolers of beer and snack foods to munch on. I bring my little dog and he gets to run around with all the other dogs. Oh and btw there is usually a huge drum circle going on at the base of the hill. It's probably about a hundred people just drumming away. Tons of people hula hooping, doing yoga, playing hackey sack (is that how you spell it??), and smoking mysterious things too.
Keep an eye out for the truffle guy. He sells home made truffles that are heavenly. There are more quiet areas in GGP but this one is the place to go if you want to lay out in the sun or people watch.
I think I would need years to compile my thoughts on Sharon Meadow a.k.a. Hippie Hill. There are a lot of different elements going on simultaneously. You can keep to yourself all you want or be outwardly social. You can keep it cool or get into a whole lot of trouble. You can get drunk and stoned and whatever else or stay sober. You can go when it's sunny or overcast (although sunny is better). And you can probably catch a scathing case of some kind of parasite walking around barefoot, but if that's your thing, plenty do it. I've seen some of the craziest people in my life there. I've also met some really good, down to earth people.
I really only go for the drum circle. There's something mesmerizing and transcending about it. When I first moved to the city, I felt nervous edging into that circle and borrowing a drum. Now I come, get right in there with my OWN instruments and forget about everything but the rhythm. The rhythm of what is up to you. But, listen. It doesn't bode well to jump in there playing some rhythm from left field.
To me it's a very unique cultural experience - something that has blossomed out of this American society because of and for many reasons. It's also taught me a lot - that we're all playing a different beat, with a different instrument, yet it all comes together, because...well, that's what we do.
In African dance, traditionally the men drum and the women dance. There are established rhythms and dances. However Hippie Hill is all free-form and improv - in fact it's encouraged - but there is still an element of that drum and dance thing. The similarities and the idea that something like this has risen up in this culture really blows me away.
are you looking to score hepatitus A, B C or maybe make a new toothless friends, if so , lucky you, youve found your place, chances are if thats what your looking for you dont have a computer to be reading this. Sad, there are no hippies here, it is a rotten bit of its former self. Some weekend days yuppies travel in and the place looks decent, but to be fair there are many better spots in the park to spend your sunny saturdays.
I stumbled upon Hippie Hill again today, a long ago and far away place to one who is nearer retirement than high school. I'm not sure what made me turn in that direction today, as I was just out for a walk in the park with my dog, but I was in a mood for a change of scene, and here was good old Hippie Hill.
Hippie Hill of today is much the same as it's always been, an intriguing convergence of people on their way up, exploring the possibilities in life, and people on their way down, self-medicating themselves as they hurtle towards a sadder fate than Hippie Hill. At twice the age of most of the inhabitants, they naturally assumed I must be desperately seeking drugs, and while I received more solicitations for herb than in the past 20 years combined, the overall environment was friendly and relaxed.
While Hippie Hill is a festive place, with lots of happy, dancing people enjoying life, there's an undercurrent of fear and desperation in some, and that casts a shadow on the fun. My daughter is now the same age I was when I first ventured here on my own, and if she decided she was going to take up residence here for a time, I'm sure she'd be OK. But there are clearly those here who need help, and like so many other people in this town, they are falling through the cracks.
I will preface this review by saying that I used to like being around the sorts of crack(and crank)heads, hipster douches, fake ass gutter punk hippies, and random selections of drunkards, but that day ended quickly. Like one of the reviewers said "Over it"
I would rather go relax at Speedway Meadows or go watch the Buffalo do nothing than sit around the crowd at Hippy Hill.
On a side note. After 9/11, a group of friends, maybe 15 of us, decided that this would be the place to go. It was crowded as hell with all kinds of people united in peace for at least half a day.
I guess you could say I'm a regular now...if you have friends that have hobo friends it is a cool chill place to be, even if everyone goes AGH POLICE every so often, as the cruiser comes through. It's not true the police don't do anything, it's just they know we'll be back tomorrow no matter what.
If you need to buy some weed, this is the best place I know of.
Drum circle! So many interesting people here. Today my friend got her cards read, we drank a forty and laid in the sun till it got too cold (big surprise in March for San Francisco...) Convenient location for alcohol, cigarettes and pizza from Escape From New York, plus a nice drunken stumble around Amoeba. Convenient location for buses as well.
Don't go by yourself and try to know someone who is already a Hippie Hill regular, unless you are particularly hard headed. That way you won't be one of the "dirty hippies" idiots who have reviewed before, and people won't have to harass you.
There's recently been some camera crews wandering around and getting abuse thrown at them, and I have no idea what they are doing. Hippies do not take kindly to being recorded.
I do however find the juxtaposition of giant playground and hill full of potheads and psychedelics enthusiasts amusing.
I love this place!
We just had a picnic here on a sunny Saturday and had a great time. It was the kind of picnic where you laid out lots of picnic blankets, brought coolers full of beer, and food to munch on.
They don't allow bbq grills over here but there are bathrooms nearby. I loved that it's such a large space leaving plenty of room for multiple soccer games, lots of other families/groups, and of course plenty of hippie drum circle action on the hill itself, which mostly just adds to the ambiance. I haven't found the sketch factor to be too high here at all despite others' viewpoints. I actually find the sketch factor to be high along the Haight St. sidewalks...but that's a whole 'nother post.
Don't gimme no bammer weed
We don't smoke that shit in the SFC
Over it.
Reading the other reviews of Hippie Hill, I have to smirk. San Francisco is such a funny mix of people. While some enjoy the funky ambiance of this place, others are almost repulsed by it. You've got folks who would rather sip their lattes in peace at Dolores Park than have to be bothered with the unpleasant smells of their fellow denizens. San Francisco, you are a snooty old hippy that has "made it" and for this quirky frightening contrast I love you.
Any odd, Hippie Hill is a fun place to visit, if for no other reason than it's unique character. You will be offered drugs, there will be the namesake hippies. Expect a drum circle and dogs running about.
Not a bad place at all, in my opinion. Yes, the gutter punk kids are a little bit of a nuisance, but that's the city.
Hey everybody, let's encourage the scumbags! And maybe a dog will be abused or kill someone!
Fun for all.
Want to catch up on your latest novel or just rejuvenate under the big yellow sun in harmony? Well then this is the place for you!
Fun place to go on a warm sunny day. Enjoy live tribal beats from members of the community who bring their own instruments to create harmony. Friendly people everywhere who are either hoola hooping, smoking a fat one, drinking a cold beer, practicing poi, or just simply taking a nap. You name it that person will be there. If you just like to watch people then this is the perfect spot for you. Watch out though, with all good there must be bad people too. Some people are a little more messed up then others.
If you want to try a new tea then this might be the cup for you.
Think herbal! :)
This is a city, and this is San Francisco, so it would only be appropriate that Hippie Hill be an eclectic mix of people and interests. There are guys playing with the hackey sack, people smoking pot, a group of amateur musicians jamming in a circle, people selling jewelry, hoola hoopers, guys with pot brownies, bicycles randomly riding around, families, homeless people, Frisbee players, tourists, young mushy couples, high schoolers looking for drugs, and everything you can imagine in an urban park, going on here.
Yeah I wouldn't wear my Manolos here, but I would wear some comfy flip flops, bring a blanket, a cooler of iced tea and beer, lay out enjoy the sun, and people watch. Even though it's right on the edge of the Haight, it's not as bad as I had imagined. It was an eclectic mix. if you don't like to deal with the homeless people, ignore them, they won't bother you. And you don't have to take the drugs offered. Just do your own thing. The beauty of such a place as this park is that it is free of judgment, and you can do whatever you want to, without worrying about looking cool or not.
I think I was the only girl there with an LV bag, and Chanel sunglasses, yet I no one stared at me for being slightly overdressed (hadn't planned on going here) and once I stopped worrying about whether people were staring or not, I had a great time with my friends from out of town...........
Can't wait to bring my patchouli loving boyfriend here. He's gonna love it.
Oh, I love Hippie Hill...My husband, dog and I frequent the Hill on sunny summer Sundays (SSS's) and on many random winter afternoons too. My dog loves it because there are myriad (the whole definition of myriad=another post) directions in which to aim his Chuckit, and my husband loves it for the people watching and whatnot. I love it because my doggy and my hubby are happy and I'm happy when those I love are happy.
Okay. Okay, also, although I personally have not utilized the services of the handsome guy toting the copper pot contraption (ya know?) I love knowing he's there and it's cool.
So, dogs/huge green expanse of grass/neverending drum circle/ copper pot guy = my idea of heaven/nirvana/golden gate f'ing park. Lucky us.
What is wrong with some of these people?
All in All "Hippie" Hill delivers random hippies, a hill, a lot of dogs/drugs, some drums, and most of all great people watching, if these are the kind of people you like to watch..
I prefer Dolores Park any day of the week.
If I could, I would give Hippie Hill a galaxy of stars.
We've got drums, we've got fire spinning, hoola hooping, beer drinking, food eating, homeless people watching, goth kid loving, dog running, little kid dancing amazing beauty.
Things I saw on Hippie Hill in only two days:
-Guy selling weed with a recorder glued to the top of a bong
-Dog named "Pearl Jam"
-T-Shirt with picture of Bob Marley that said GANJA really big
-Mad Lady Betty (If you don't know, find out)
-Stilt walking couple. Obviously quite happy to have found each other.
-Little girl wearing her shirt tucked into her pantyhose (and that's it) dancing to a clarinet player
-Haters. These people should be shot. That means you Special K.
This park is full of people having a good time. I truly feel like I'm in high school when I'm here. There's nothing you can do to feel out of place. There's very few places in the city where you can really just have fun without some hipster hating on you for not acting like a depressed old loser. Feel the love, smoke the weed, and spin the juggle sticks.
PEACE.
Despite my annoyance with teenage smelly hippy types, this is a nice little meadow for a nap or to toss around a frisbee.
Highlights:
* drum circle soundtrack
* jingly (jiggly?) dancing hippies
* scuzzy stoner kids will offer weed to anyone, even your parents
It's dirty. It's loud. It's obnoxious. It's truly San Franciscan.
Hippie Hill is one of those places you can only find in San Francisco. Ice cream, constant drum circles, green bud, pot chocolates, street kids, homeless people, old hippies, dogs, hoola hoopers, families, kids, tourists, whatever suits your fancy. You can find them all hanging out here together on a sunny afternoon.
A few of my friends from NYC came to SF for NYE. Shit, I just used a WLOAT (whole lot of abbreviations there), anyways the point is that they wanted to do the whole Haight St. / Hippie Hill afternoon, which I said okay to, even though in my heart of hearts I don't like going to Haight Street whatsoever at all, unless I need new kicks or a beehive wig or nag champa and overpriced hipster clothes or whatnot, and even then its still more of a 'chore.' No offense to anyone, but the massive onslaught of lazy, drugged out and weirdo nobodies from my generation makes me sad and very tired for some reason.
This said, my friends and I make it out to the hill. We are offered meth, chocolate shrooms and weed immediately. We just say 'no' and plop down on the hill, overlooking the gathering of hippies randomly drumming, dancing, doing capoiera, drinking and getting high. To my right is a small group of squatter punks with a dog. They are on the grass in the sun and sleeping atop each other. I have a great view of one punk's back as his shirt and dirty hoodie are hitched up around his shoulders. There are gross pusslike lesions all up on his back and get this, the dog starts licking them. Why yes, I said the dog was LICKING THEM!!!
Um, yeah...
Fast forward to yesterday...
I'm with a group of 'local' friends who wanna picnic on hippie hill. I try to dissuade them from their location of choice with the above anecdotal story, but they are set on going there. Fine. Whatever. I warn them to use 'protection' in the form of a blanket as obviously you can have NO CLUE whatsoever about what the hell you are sitting on and if I am going to get herpes or random spontaneous sores popping up on my body it will sure as hell be through having some shady ass sex and not from a patch of grass on hippie hill. Hot damn! So... we sit down on a blanket and picnic it up. Wouldn't you know it, some hobo comes directly up to me, yes ME, not them, but ME (is it the 'I heart druggie weirdos' tattoo on my face? yup, it must be) and starts going on about all the drugs he's done, blah blah... THEN, he for no reason at all, asks me if I wanna see the cut on his mouth and proceeds to spread his mouth open with his chubby little dirt encrusted fingers for me and moves very very close to my face. My, what beautiful sores you have! I mean, what the hell am I supposed to do? Thank god it suddenly got cold and my friends wanted to leave right then and there. I don't know about you, but this is not a place that feels right to me in any way shape or form, and I can't believe i'm saying this but it even makes 'hippies' look bad. Negative ten stars.
