Blog Archives

Canyontop Steps

2/28/2015

Steps into Glen Canyon from the beginning of Diamond Heights Blvd. at Sussex & Elk in the Glen Park neighborhood, first pic.

Continuing up along the east edge of the canyon on Diamond Heights Blvd. to Berkeley Way: 2, 3, 4, 5.

Onique Lane, pic 6, has three blocks’ worth of steps. It starts lower down on Berkeley, continues from upper Berkeley (shown here), and up to Topaz.

Continued on Berkeley Way to Crags Court and Crags' dead-end for vehicles where replacement wood steps start down from Crags Court Community Garden. 184 steps wind around to the foot at the main Canyon trail.

Down one short flight from Crags, a trail to the north would’ve taken me directly to the viewbench, but continued down, 58 steps from Crags, for a second trail heading north (pic 7), including 17 newer steps. Couldn’t yet tell from here if the new steps down from Christopher Park had been completed: 8, 9, 10.

Curving round high up — surprise! This part of the new eastside stairway I’d been waiting for is now walkable: 92 steps for this top section. Didn’t descend into the Canyon depths to check for other new stairways and trail changes this time.

Especially like the newly added short rustic sections of fence along part of the new steps. Continued up to the beloved bench and from there to Christopher Park: 11 thru 28.

Top of the Canyon at Christopher Park: 29 thru 34.

To be continued. Next up for this hike: atop Billy Goat Hill and Glen Park’s Harry stairway…

1. Elk & Sussex at Diamond Heights Blvd.

2. Diamond Heights Blvd. curves around

3. Trail along the edge for hikers like at Twin Peaks Blvd.

4. Continuing up to Berkeley Way

5. View from Berkeley Way & Diamond Heights Blvd.

6. Onique Lane steps up from Berkeley

7. Down from Crags Court, turn right

8. Continue to the north on this narrow trail

9. Not a new trail, just some new steps up ahead

10. Curving round

11. Surprise! More steps added since last time checked

12. Love the added fencing

13. "Like" !!

14. Especially gorjus now that there's more green

15. Now 92 steps for this top part

16. Center, top, O'Shaughnessy Blvd. at the west side of the park.

17. Center, top, Mount Davidson

18. Up to Christopher Park in Diamond Heights

19. Turning and climbing

20. Diamond Heights homes in distance

21. Up to the viewbench

22. From here you can continue up or to the south

23. A three-way stairway trail

24. This south trail will take you up to Crags Court

25. Diamond Heights homes

26. Continuing up to Christopher Park

27. A view from the east rim

28. Top: Mount Davidson's Miraloma Park neighborhood

29. The stairs now start down at the edge of Christopher Park in Diamond Heights

30. Steps descend into the canyon from Christopher Park

31. Imagine seeing this for the first time...

32. A view down and across from Christopher Park's west edge

33. Looking down and across from Christopher Park next to Diamond Heights Shopping Center

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GGH Longs

2/23/2015

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Hoofin’ it over to the Golden Gate Heights ‘hood from the Forest Hill Metro Station, Mount Sutro eye candy as seen from the Forest Hill neighborhood on the way up, first pic.

Now in Golden Gate Heights, the first long one climbed was the delightful east Aerial stairway (117 steps), again with Mount Sutro’s westside across: 2 thru 6.

193 + 12 = Aerial’s west slope: 205 steps total down the west side: 7 thru 13.

Ortega, 14th down to 15th Ave. = 148 steps: 14, 15.

Back up via Mount Lane, 15th to 14th = 161 steps: 16, 17, 18, 19.

And at the top of this, more eye candy = Rocky Outcrop Park as I wind around on 14th: pic 20.

Grand View Park above: 144 steps for its westside zigzag stairs. Pic 21.

Over to the top of the Moraga Mosaic beauty: 163 steps down. Lotsa little blue planting flags seen alongside its upper part this time: 22, 23, 24.

Last, a few blocks over to the top of the Hidden Garden Steps, 148 steps descend to Kirkham: 25 thru 35.

1. Mount Sutro Forest across as seen from the Forest Hill neighborhood

2. Now in Golden Gate Heights, up Aerial East

3. Aerial stairway's east slope

4. Mount Sutro across, Twin Peaks right

5. Top of Aerial's east stairs

6. Top of Aerial East

7. Starting down Aerial West

8. Aerial's longer west stairway has an oceanview

9. 205 steps for Aerial's westside steps

10. Looking back up Aerial's west stairs

11. Nearing the foot of Aerial West

12. Looking back up

13. Pacheco & 14th

14. Ortega down to 15th Ave.

15. 148 steps for Ortega

16. Approaching the foot of Mount Lane

17. Up Mount Lane's 161 steps

18. Mount Lane up to 14th Ave.

19. Top of Mount Lane: Rocky Outcrop Park

20. Ortega/14th near Cascade Walk steps

21. Grand View Park. Zigzag steps to right, 14th Ave. divider steps to left.

22. Moraga's sun at top

23. Moon of Moraga

24. Moraga's foot at 16th Ave.

25. Top of Hidden Garden Steps at Lawton & 16th

26. Top at Lawton

27. Starting down the Hidden Garden Steps

28. Slight turn here

29. 148 steps

30. A closer-up of this flower

31. Be sure to check out the stairside plantings and read the messages

32. Mere photos don't do this artwork justice

33. View up from near the foot

34. Foot of the stairs at Kirkham

35. The bench and plaque

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Greenwich Gardenstairs

2/22/2015

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This is a continuation of a recent Telegraph Hill gardenwalk, this time down the east Greenwich stairway. Descending from the Coit Tower parking lot, the stairs are redbricked to Montgomery, pix 1 thru 9.

Near the foot of the upper Greenwich steps new plantings have been added: 10, 11.

178 steps for upper Greenwich down to Montgomery at Julius Castle: 12, 13.

Counting all the eastside Greenwich steps as one continuing stairway, got 388 total from the Coit Tower parking lot down to the foot at Sansome.

On the west side of the hill are more Filbert and Greenwich steps.

Now starting down lower Greenwich below Montgomery: 14 thru 21.

The lower Greenwich steps haven’t always been this garden-y. One of my favorite additions from several years ago was a short pathway off the main stairway with a deck and bench; a chair and table have been added since my last visit: 22, 23, 24.

From here you can continue on the short garden trail for a few yards and come back up to the main walk/stairway: pic 25.

Gardens above the walk as well: 26, 27, 28, 29.

Back on the main walkway, pic 30.

The beehives are still here: 31, 32.

The lower walkway and the rest of the stairs down to Sansome: 33 thru 39.

Last pic, part of a mural on Grant in Chinatown.

1. Greenwich stairway starts down from east side of Coit Tower parking lot

2. The first block down is all red brick

3. 178 steps for the first block

4. Turning, passing homes

5. A hugely popular tourist attraction

6. All this and good exercise too

7. A well-gardened hillside

8. Lucky are those who live up here

9. That's the north dead-end of Montgomery below

10. Love this!

11. Inspiring and well-tiered

12. Down to Montgomery

13. Julius Castle is to the right

14. Continue down from Montgomery on these steps

15. Stairway turns to the right

16. Woof!

17. Just above the stairway

18. Stairside art

19. Gardens to the left, homes to the right

20. Lots to look at around here

21. Garden globe

22. Turn here for the little wood deck and garden path

23. Brick, wood, then a dirt path

24. Warning! Not easy to get up and move on!

25. Garden path just below the main walk

26. Just above the main walk

27. A view from just above the main stairway

28. Rustic garden fence above the main walk

29. I want that lemon tree!

30. Back on the main stairway

31. Just below the main walk

32. Another view from the pedestrian-only walkway

33. Looking back

34. Garden steps off the main walk

35. Top of stairs at end of the walkway

36. Nasturtiums on the right

37. Continuing down to Sansome

38. Foot of Greenwich at Sansome

39. Greenwich stairs from the foot

40. Part of a Chinatown mural on upper Grant

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East Filbert Steps

2/21/2015

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A recent hike up ’n down the two long Filbert and Greenwich stairways needs to be two separate posts as the whole area is super-photogenic and garden-y.

The Filbert steps are concrete starting up from Sansome at the foot of the hill. First three pix.

Then where the pre-1906 homes start, the stairs are wood up to Montgomery: 4, 5.

From Montgomery they’re concrete again the rest of the way up to Coit Tower.

Napier Lane, 130 or so steps up, is a short wood boardwalk, the first offshoot from the Filbert steps. I’ve always wanted to live here. Napier: 6 thru 10.

At the corner of Darrell Place: 230 Filbert, pic 11.

Darrell (pic 12), a paved walk, is the second offshoot from the Filbert stairs. Continue on Filbert up to Montgomery (pic 13).

You can’t get through to Greenwich, the next stairway over, from Napier or Darrell; they’re dead-ends.

Montgomery is a divided street (14, 15, 16: divider stairs). Up these steps to continue on Filbert to Telegraph Hill Blvd.

Filbert between Montgomery and Pioneer Park on the east side of the hill: 17 thru 21.

There are 384 eastside Filbert steps in all, Sansome to Telegraph Hill Blvd.

At the top of the steps, a separate stairway to the right climbs into Pioneer Park from the street: pic 22.

Directly across from these steps, there’s a fenced vacant space where a few old houses were demolished in 1999: 23, 24, 25, 26. The Filbert steps continue down the west side of the hill from the street.

29 steps to the first paved walk with bench; 64 total for the south steps up to the base of Coit Tower.

The south side of Pioneer Park: 27 thru 34.

Inside Coit Tower, you’ll now see white cards with detailed explanations at the foot of each of the mural sections in the lobby. The first floor artworks are of California businesses and city scenes. This one, pic 35, is titled “California.”

Last pic: Above the door to the lobby gift shop.

The 27 murals were painted around 1934. It doesn’t cost anything to walk around on this first floor to view them and you can take photos.

You can buy a ticket to ascend an elevator for viewing the themes on the upper levels; they’re leisure/recreational scenes. Several years ago I enjoyed these additional works while on a City Guides tour. I highly recommend City Guides. They’re free; an envelope is passed around at the end of the walk, but you give what you can, no pressure. They don’t charge an arm-and-leg for a walk like some of these orgs do.

Doing the Greenwich stairway descent separately, next post upcoming.

1. Filbert at Sansome

2. Goin' up!

3. Stairways are Art!

4. Looking down from 230 Filbert

5. Looking down from Darrell

6. Homes on west side of Napier Lane

7. Napier Lane is a short wood boardwalk off the main Filbert stairs

8. 10 Napier is possibly the oldest house on the lane, definitely pre-1906

9. Napier Lane at 222 Filbert

10. Looking down at Napier from 224 Filbert

11. 230 Filbert, corner Darrell Place

12. Darrell is the second offshoot as you climb up Filbert

13. Up to Montgomery and end of the wood part of Filbert

14. Continue up the steps that divide lower and upper Montgomery

15. End of the wood part of Filbert is where the truck is, below

16. Top of Montgomery divider steps

17. Starting up the concrete Filbert steps from Montgomery

18. Love these blooms hanging over the stairway

19. Last block of the east Filbert stairs

20. Filbert steps up to Telegraph Hill Blvd.

21. Top of east Filbert stairway at Telegraph Hill Blvd.

22. Steps up to Pioneer Park and Coit Tower

23. West Filbert stairs descend, upper right

24. Up into the park from Telegraph Hill Blvd.

25. 64 steps to Coit Tower

26. Directly across, the west Filbert steps start down

27. Bench and walkway on the south side of the park

28. Up some more stairs

29. An upper walkway and last flight to Coit Tower

30. Up to Coit Tower

31. Steps continue, left

32. Down below are Greenwich west sidewalk steps

33. Walkway around the base of Coit Tower

34. Viewspot and upper walk that circles around Coit Tower

35. The murals now have descriptions beneath them

36. Above the door to the first floor gift shop

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121 Valley Steps

2/19/2015

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By the time I got uphill to the #52 bus stop on Diamond in the Glen Park neighborhood that had a digital bus-times readout, it said 14 minutes, so being already partway up continued the uphill trek to the top of Farnum (at Addison) at Walter Haas Park.

There are 35 steps from the little hilltop park up to Diamond Heights Blvd. (first two pix) and a couple blocks to the Diamond Heights Shopping Center. Third pic: Topaz openspace above Diamond Heights Blvd. across the street from the park. Just next door to the shopping center is another park, Christopher, with access into Glen Canyon.

Across from the south edge of the shopping center on Diamond Heights Blvd. at Gold Mine, there’s a dead-end for vehicles, but a convenient way for walkers to get over to 28th at the south dead-end of Douglass, starting the descent into Noe Valley. There are five steps, then a block or so of a walkway between buildings to the top of 28th. This pathway is shown on Google Maps: 4, 5, 6.

Down steep 28th and a right on Diamond (pic 7) a half block or so for the top of the Valley stairway.

The slope on either side of the stairs is now considered a “park,” though the new green sign does not indicate a name for the little green openspace, pic 8.

Thens and Nows for the house at the top of the steps here: 9 (2004), 10 (2003), and 11, 12.

The steps (69 for the main stairway: 13 thru 17) are shown on Google Maps. It descends to the upper (west) end of divided Valley. Google Maps went to the dead-end for vehicles at the foot of the stairway. You can see the rounded end of the median here that divides upper and lower Valley’s last block.

To continue on the stairs part of Valley, stay on the north side (pic 18) after you get to the foot of the main steps. You’ll pass a few houses, then there’s a dead-end for vehicles with more stairs to descend, for a total of 121 for Valley partway to Castro.

Thens and Nows for the area between steps: 2003 and current: 19, 20.

Looking down at lower Valley from near the north stairway, pic 21.

The last part of the Valley steps: 22, 23, 24, 25.

The “peekaboo” fence I like is still here, pic 26. Valley near Castro.

At Castro, if you look to the north you’ll see the Castro steps up ahead; to the south Billy Goat Hill.

Crossed Castro at Valley to descend the few steps for the sidewalk that’s slightly below the street for this block from Castro to Noe (south side).

Surprise! Hadn’t hiked this area in a while and now whatever used to be here behind that solid wood fence at the corner is gone and there’s a huge hole in the ground with construction ongoing. The stairs to this lower sidewalk are presently blocked. My old pix have always showed the fence at the top of the steps. Pic 27 is from 2003, #28 from 2004, and #29 from 2007.

The hole: 30 thru 34.

But I was able to descend the next short stairway over to get to this lower sidewalk (pic 35).

A couple houses down from the corner-hole, an old home is now being gutted (36 and 37 from 2005 and pic 38 now). Hopefully at least the outside will be saved. The sidewalk was, however, open to continue down to Noe.

There are several short stairways here (two counted this time had 11 steps each) down from the street.

Pic 39: side of a residence at Noe & Valley.

Last pic: the “bug house” on Valley just off Noe. Love this!

A bus stop for the #24 Divisadero is at 28th and Noe.

1. Walter Haas Park up to Diamond Heights Blvd.

2. Bernal Hill in distance, center, top

3. Topaz openspace above Diamond Heights Blvd.

4. Steps, right, out to 28th & Douglass

5. Gold Mine & Diamond Heights Blvd. over to 28th St.

6. Out at 28th near Douglass, down into Noe Valley

7. Diamond near 28th

8. A sign for the stairside openspace

9. THEN, 2004: Top of main Valley steps at Diamond

10. THEN, 2003: Valley stairway down from Diamond

11. Top of Valley stairs at Diamond

12. Diamond at top of main Valley stairway

13. Top of Valley stairway

14. Now a minipark

15. Midway down to west dead-end of divided Valley

16. 69 steps for this first part

17. Foot of the main Valley stairs. Turn right for more steps.

18. Upper part of divided Valley

19. THEN, 2003: Upper part of divided Valley between stairways

20. NOW: Replacements for above house

21. Upper part of divided Valley looking down to lower part

22. Valley steps continue: down the north side

23. Near foot of north Valley steps

24. Partway down to Castro

25. Foot of the north Valley steps

26. The "peekaboo" fence is still here. South side of Valley near Castro.

27. THEN, 2003: Valley & Castro, south side

28. THEN, 2004: Steps down from Valley & Castro

29. THEN, 2007: To lower sidewalk from Castro & Valley

30. NOW: Corner of Castro & Valley, south sidewalk

31. The hole at Castro & Valley as of mid-February 2015

32. Under construction, Valley down from Castro

33. Valley's lower south sidewalk down from Castro

34. First part of the lower sidewalk is seeing some huge changes

35. Second short stairway down is walkable

36. THEN, 2005: South sidewalk, partway to Noe

37. THEN, 2005: Valley south sidewalk

38. NOW: Huge makeover ongoing for this house

39. Valley at Noe

40. The Bug House, Valley just east of Noe

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Thru the Broadway Gate

2/3/2015

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One of my favorite “Gates” into the Presidio is the Broadway entrance. It’s just a few yards over from the top of the Lyon stairs (first pic, 290 steps). The park’s old east wall runs along the length of the stairway.

This east trailhead will take walkers into a hilly forested area (pix 2, 3, 4, 5).

Rather than follow the main trail to the west, I prefer heading north through the forest into the Simonds Loop neighborhood (6, 7), an eastside favorite.

Downhill from the forest on Rawles to Simonds Loop, with its 60 brick stairs and walkway … and views (8, 9, 10). This short trail isn't shown on Google Maps (Maps) but the top and foot can clearly be seen on Streetview.

West on lower Simonds Loop at the foot of the steps, crossing Presidio Blvd. over to Liggett to continue down through another forested part (pic 11) to Lover’s Lane.

Back up Lovers Lane to the south and along part of Andy Goldsworthy’s Wood Line: 12, 13.

Continuing west:

Above El Polin Spring: pic 14.

Accessible trail down to El Polin Spring picnic area from the southeast side, pix 15, 16. The older stairway on the south side that I used to descend from the Julius Kahn Park area got covered up several years ago, this trail replacing it.

El Polin Spring picnic area, pic 17.

Up the west side to connect with the Ecology trail (whose lower trailhead is just across from Inn of the Presidio’s back patio in the Main Post area): 69 steps. This is one of the newer stairways in the park, pix 18 thru 21, its foot across from the picnic tables.

The upper Ecology Trail winds around to Inspiration Point Overlook: 22, 23.

Old wood steps at the top of the Ecology Trail ascend to Inspiration Point Overlook (off Arguello): 24, 25, 26.

Up from Washington near Arguello Blvd. into yet another forested area, the Bay Area Ridge Trail: last pic.

1. Top of the Lyon stairway at Broadway

2. Top of Lyon steps center; east trailhead into the park to left

3. End of Broadway at Lyon Presidio Gate

4. Broadway & Lyon Presidio entrance

5. North through the forest on the east side

6. This gate's always been open for me from the forest to Simonds Loop

7. Down to Rawles St. from the forest

8. View north from upper Simonds Loop and top of the brick walk/steps

9. Upper to Lower Simonds Loop

10. 60 steps down to Lower Simonds Loop

11. Short trail down to Lover's Lane from Liggett off Presidio Blvd.

12. Wood Line

13. Wood Line near Lover's Lane

14. A trail above El Polin Spring

15. Eastside trail down to El Polin Spring

16. Accessible trail down to El Polin Spring

17. El Polin Spring picnic area

18. Foot of El Polin stairway up the west side to Ecology Trail

19. This newer stairway climbs to the Ecology Trail

20. 69 steps to Ecology Trail from El Polin on the westside

21. Top of the steps, Ecology Trail

22. Upper Ecology Trail

23. Ecology Trail below from a newer walkers' trail alongside Arguello

24. Older stairs up to Inspiration Point Overlook

25. Up to Inspiration Point Overlook

26. Ecology Trail up to Inspiration Point Overlook off Arguello

27. Off Washington near Arguello Blvd. up to Bay Area Ridge Trail

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Pacific Heights Stairmasters

2/2/2015

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My most recent staircount for Lyon, Pacific Heights’ most popular Stairmaster, was 291, Broadway down to Green. Gorgeous views, alongside the Presidio wall to the east. From here it’s a few yards to an east walkers’ entrance into the park. First four pix.

When you reach Lyon’s foot you can continue east to the next street over, Baker, with its long sidewalk stairway, two blocks’ worth on the east side, Green to Broadway, at 372 steps. I’d forgotten it had so many: 5, 6, 7, 8. The west side from Green to Vallejo also has sidewalk steps.

Normandie Terrace is between Divisadero and Scott with 42 steps down to Vallejo: 9, 10, 11, 12.

Alta Plaza Park has 100 steps for its main stairway. It’s between Scott and Steiner W-E and Clay and Jackson south to north. Pix 13 and 14 are side stairways.

Over to Green: 58 sidewalk steps (not the whole block), Scott down to Pierce, pic 15.

Now for Fillmore. Starting at Green the east sidewalk stairway is two blocks long: got 192 to Vallejo for the first block and 289 total up to Broadway: 16 thru 23.

One street over is Webster, 149 sidewalk steps up the east side from Vallejo to Broadway: 24, 25.

Back to do the 49 Fillmore west sidewalk steps, Vallejo to Broadway, pic 26.

This neighborhood is a treat for the senses: views, aromas, different home styles: 27, 28, 29, 30. First three are on Green between Scott & Pierce; the last on Webster near Vallejo.

1. Top of Lyon stairway at Broadway

2. Lyon steps, partway down

3. About 291 steps, Broadway down to Green

4. Nearing the foot

5. Baker sidewalk steps, Green up to Broadway

2. 372 steps

3. Baker stairs are one stairway over from the Mighty Lyon Stairmaster

8. Continuing back up to Broadway

9. Dead-end for vehicles, top of Normandie Terrace

10. Down to Vallejo

11. Between Divisadero and Scott

12. 42 steps for Normandie

13. Alta Plaza Park's east side at Clay & Steiner

14. East side stairways, Alta Plaza Park

15. Sidewalk steps on Green, down from Scott

16. Foot of Fillmore sidewalk steps at Green, east side

17. Fillmore at Vallejo: 1915.

18. Vallejo & Fillmore

19. 289 Fillmore sidewalk steps, east side

20. Between Vallejo & Broadway

21. Near top: Fillmore at Broadway

22. Top of Fillmore sidewalk stairs at Broadway

23. Top of Fillmore sidewalk steps at Broadway

24. Webster sidewalk steps, Vallejo to Broadway

25. 149 Webster sidewalk steps, east side

26. 49 Fillmore west sidewalk steps up to Broadway

27. I left my heart on Green St.

28. Green between Scott & Pierce

29. Green between Scott and Pierce

30. Webster near Vallejo

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The Yard Art is Still Here

2/1/2015

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It’d been several years since I’d last scrambled up to upper Noe Valley’s tiny Duncan-Castro Openspace viewspot from the northside. First via the eastside 27th St. stairs (38 steps), then continuing from the top of these up the separate old wood stairway (24 steps: first six pix). These two stairways are at the upper (south) side of divided 27th where it meets Newberg & Castro.

There’s a wall where the first flight of steps starts (pic 7) that used to be decorated with some tiles here and there; now there are none. How 'bout a full tilejob to completely cover this big blank area, or maybe a mural?

From the top of the wood steps, there’s a short trail leading past the homes, then a steep dirt trail into the park: 8 thru 11. Could definitely use some steps here.

Nearly to the top of the wood stairs on my way to the minipark, could already see the familiar rusty-colored metal yard art at the last house with the blue trim. Glad to see the sculptures still alive 'n well; especially always liked the dragonflies: 12 thru 20.

Duncan-Castro is only .05 acre; its southside faces Duncan. This part can be seen on Google Maps, but you can’t see the sculptures on GM.

If you continue east on the elevated walkway (pic 21) from the top of the concrete steps, divided 27th circles round and you’ll come to the top of a third stairway that swoops down to Noe with 98 steps: 22 thru 30.

Down at Noe & Duncan, a fourth stairway. 49 steps for Duncan descend partway to Sanchez: 31 thru 35. The #24 Divisadero bus stops at the top.