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Sausalito Hikepix Continuation

3/23/2015

Continuing a recent Sausalito hike …

… Winding around on Lower Crescent, Crescent, and Sausalito Blvd. (first two pix), passing the top of the lower Cable Roadway stairs (pix 3, 4). Lower Cable Roadway climbs from Central to Crescent. The upper Cable Roadway steps continue up a few yards from here at Sausalito Blvd. where it merges with Crescent. There are street signs.

Next for me this time: Cooper Lane, 120 steps. Cooper descends from Spencer/Sausalito/San Carlos. Google Maps does not show it as a stairway, but does show one of those red markers for its location between San Carlos and Sausalito/Spencer. Cooper does have street signs at its foot and top. Down Cooper (pix 5 thru 13, top to foot).

… And over to the top of Excelsior Lane at San Carlos/Miller (14 thru 18).

Excelsior continues two more blocks downhill as a combination stairway/walk, about 179 total steps; after the first block down turned west this time on Harrison.

Harrison down to Bulkley, 29 steps (19, 20, 21), and on to the top of El Monte at Bulkley, 120 steps back down to Bridgeway (22 thru 26).

Again, El Monte’s not showing up as a stairway on Maps, but you’ll see another one of those red markers if you input the name. El Monte has street signs at the top and foot and is very visible as it climbs up from Bridgeway between shops. See 142 Bulkley on Streetview for the top of stairs street sign.

So you can’t always see them marked as stairways on GM. Some are, some aren’t. Sausalito has to be the best-smelling city on earth: constant nature aromatherapy.

1. A favorite

2. Cute little house!

3. Top of lower Cable Roadway at Crescent

4. Cable Roadway steps from Crescent down to Central

5. Top of Cooper Lane

6. Starting down Cooper Lane

7. 120 steps

8. Down from Spencer

9. Partway down

10. Down to San Carlos

11. This part has a railing

12. Nearing Cooper's foot

13. A street sign at the foot too

14. Top of Excelsior at San Carlos (at Miller)

15. Down from San Carlos & Miller

16. Upper block of Excelsior Lane

17. This part between Harrison & San Carlos/Miller

18. 179 total steps for Excelsior Lane

19. Harrison to Bulkley

20. Harrison descending to Bulkley

21. 29 steps

22. Showing El Monte's street sign at Bulkley

23. 120 steps

24. Between Bulkley & Bridgeway

25. Down to the shops on Bridgeway

26. Can't get much more visible than this!

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Random Sausalito Exercise

3/22/2015

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The first one starting up from Bridgeway was Reade Lane to Bulkley (first three pix), then onto the pedestrian pathway that runs just below Bulkley, moving east up from the brick steps off Princess (pix 4, 5, 6). These first two are combination pathways/short stairways.

Reade does not show up on Google maps as a thru stairway starting up from Bridgeway, but does have street signs at both Bridgeway and Bulkley. From Bridgeway you can see steps up ahead as you look down the narrow alley.

Up from Bulkley, Noble Lane’s 98 steps ascend. Noble does not show up as a stairway on Google Maps, but if you input the name it will show one of those red markers at the top of the stairs where it comes out at San Carlos and Sunshine. Noble, foot to top: 7, 8, 9, 10.

Down West Court from Central, 103 steps: 11 thru 17. At the foot it turns into West Street.

Up Oak Lane from West at Central and Richardson, 93 steps (pix 18 thru 22, foot to top). This stairway does not show up at all on Google Maps, not even as a red marker. But if you go to Streetview down from the West Court steps where Central starts uphill, you can see the foot of a stairway on the west side of the street.

Oak starts out as concrete with railings, turns into wood steps in the middle, and back to regular concrete towards the top at Lower Crescent. It does have street signs at both the foot at West/Central/Richardson and the top.

Continuing this hike … next post …

1. Reade Lane up from Bridgeway

2. Bridgeway to Bulkley

3. Top of Reade's steps part

4. Princess to Bulkley for pedestrians

5. Pathway just below Bulkley

6. Up to Bulkley from the walkers' path

7. Foot of Noble Lane at Bulkley

8. Up Noble from Bulkley

9. Near the top

10. Noble's top at San Carlos/Sunshine/Central

11. Down West Court from Central

12. 103 steps

13. Homes on both sides

14. A favorite stairway

15. Looking back up

16. Near foot of West Court

17. At foot of West Court is West Street

18. Oak Lane has a street sign at the foot

19. 93 steps

20. Oak turns to wood in the middle

21. Up to Lower Crescent

22. Oak has rails and concrete steps again at the top

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China Beach Viewsteps

3/21/2015

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Winding around San Francisco’s Seacliff neighborhood, a short distance to the beach area (first pic) from where I started at 29th Ave. & California, the main stairway down has 104 steps: 1 thru 10.

From the foot, an additional 20 wood and old concrete steps down to the sand on the west side: 11, 12.

On the beach: 13, 14.

There are also 21 separate concrete steps down to the sand (pic 15), 20 up to the observation deck (pic 16), and 20 more down from the upper deck back to the foot of the long stairway (pic 17). The showers are closed now due to the water shortage.

From here, winding a few blocks to the west on El Camino del Mar (pic 18) will take you to Land’s End's east trailhead.

East to west on the main Land’s End/Coastal Trail: 19 thru 25.

Trail I like just below the golf course (especially during blackberry season): pic 26.

Connector stairs from Coastal Trail/Land’s End Trail up to El Camino del Mar Trail, 89 steps: 27, 28.

El Camino del Mar Trail footbridge: 29, 30 (just before stairway up to west end of Legion of Honor parking lot).

El CamIno del Mar Trail view down to second overlook on the Coastal Trail, pic 31.

Upper parking lot overlook: top of stairway down to Coastal Trail from west end of El Camino del Mar Trail, about 59 steps: last two.

1. Top of stairs, right

2. "Since Gold Rush times, this cove was used as a campsite by many of the Chinese fishermen... "

3. Top of the steps

4. 104 steps for the main stairway

5. Nice spot for a bench!

6. Starting down

7. See what I mean by "viewsteps"?

8. Bench under a tree

9. Green and wildflowers on both sides

10. Foot of the main stairway

11. This way to the beach

12. 20 steps down to the sand

13. Looking up from the beach

14. View to the east

15. More steps descend to the beach

16. 20 steps up

17. Upper deck down to foot of the main stairway

18. Up to El Camino del Mar, Seacliff neighborhood

19. Now at Land's End near Eagle's Point Overlook

20. Center is China Beach from Land's End Trail

21. Presidio and China Beach from Land's End

22. View from near foot of east stairway on the Land's End Trail

23. View east from Coastal Trail

24. About 120 steps for the east stairway, continuing on the Land's End Trail

25. About 138 steps for the "Painted Rock" steps down the west side

26. Trail just below the golf course

27. Connector steps between Coastal Trail and El Camino del Mar Trail

28. About 89 up to El Camino del Mar Trail

29. El Camino del Mar Trail

30. El Camino del Mar Trail

31. Looking down at the second overlook

32. Steps down to first overlook

33. East from this overlook to the El Camino del Mar Trail

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The Steps and the Wildspot

3/20/2015

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My favorite thing about the Sutro Heights Park area, besides the long stairway that climbs up the south slope, of course, and the viewspot overlooking Ocean Beach (site of the former turreted Sutro mansion), is the less-tamed wildspot on the south side.

This is called Balboa Natural Area on Google Maps. It has multiple sandy trails; this time noticed less litter. And behind the still colorfully graffitied-upon wood fence at the top of the stairs there no longer appears to be evidence of homeless encampments.

Crossing Point Lobos at the crosswalk near Land’s End Lookout (first two pix, north views from just below the Lookout), and up a trail near the parking lot, leading directly to this little structure (pic 3), then up the 21 north steps to the viewplace with the benches.

Here’s an excellent site with old photos of Sutro’s statues that used to live up here and on the grounds:

http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/heights/heights.htm

Down the 35 gardensteps on the south side (pix 4 thru 14) and over towards the east edge of the park for the main trail down to the Balboa Natural Area. One can scramble down and up other ways as well but the main trail down is easier. It’s gorgeous here, especially now with all the green grass ’n yellow oxalis, the blooming iceplant, trees, and views.

The viewspot: 15, 16

The wildspot: 17 thru 23

The stairway (118 steps): 24 thru 38

1. Cavetop viewplace and west trailhead for Coastal Trail upper left

2. View to north from just below Land's End Lookout

3. Main part of Sutro Heights Park

4. South steps down from the viewspot

5. Southside gardens

6. South steps

7. Southside

8. Ocean Beach below

9. South wall

10. Beautiful!

11. Steps closeup

12. South steps

13. Southside steps

14. Long ago various statuary was atop the parapets

15. Ocean Beach below

16. There are benches up here

17. Roots and pieces of wood as steps

18. Thick-sand trails

19. Blooming iceplant

20. Balboa Natural Area

21. Dune-y viewspot

22. Trees and trails above Point Lobos/Great Highway

23. Viewspot above the beach

24. Top of the stairs

25. After the graffiti-wood fence, a chainlink fence

26. Sand and wood

27. Down to Balboa St. & La Playa

28. 118 steps

29. Between steps

30. Green and wildflowery

31. Ocean Beach, left

32. Looking back

33. More steps

34. Yellow oxalis, left

35. Nearing the foot

36. This is how it looks in the winter/spring

37. From the foot at Balboa

38. Old park sign

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The Rope was Gone

3/19/2015

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Starting up to Mount Sutro Forest from 7th Ave. & Lawton, first on Warren in the Forest Knolls neighborhood, then onto the Oakhurst Lane stairway (354 steps) that climbs to Crestmont: 1 thru 7.

Turning the corner on Crestmont for the unsigned West Ridge trailhead to continue into the forest, disappointed to see that the helpful rope was no longer there. Why’d they remove it? Thought it was a good idea for starting up the steepish first part of this trail.

Looking north thru the trees from the West Ridge: pic 8, then up at the Historic Trail, pic 9.

At the top of the West Ridge at the Historic Trail, could’ve continued up the West Ridge directly to the summit but enjoy winding around on the Historic: 10, 11, 12.

Onto the South Ridge Trail to the summit. Always beautiful and peaceful up here, of course, but now especially gorgeous with all the butterflies, green grass and yellow oxalis: 13 thru 17.

Down the East Ridge (18, 19, 20) and onto the pedestrian walkway that winds along one side of Medical Center Way (21, 22). Onto the Fairy Gates Trail that merges into the Edgewood TraIl, and out to Edgewood Ave. at its south dead-end (23, 24).

A few blocks to the north on redbricked Edgewood Ave. will take you to the top of the Farnsworth stairway, 149 steps down to Willard: 25 thru 29.

From the foot at Willard down to Parnassus and the #43 line bus stop here (300 Panassus).

1. Starting up the Oakhurst steps from Warren

2. Warren up to Crestmont

3. Warren rooftops below

4. Center distance: Grandview Park in Golden Gate Heights

5. 354 steps

6. Looking back down

7. Top at Crestmont with the forest above

8. A view thru the trees from the West Ridge Trail

9. Historic Trail up ahead from the West Ridge Trail

10. View north from the Historic Trail

11. Winding round to the summit

12. HistorIc Trail

13. Summit benches

14. Tea bottle, yellow oxalis and green grass

15. Difficult to get up and move on

16. Moving east on a summit trail

17. Butterflies and warm sun

18. Starting down the East Ridge Trail

19. Alone on a sun-dappled forest trail

20. East Ridge Trail

21. Pedestrian walkway on Medical Center Way

22. Trails above and below

23. Edgewood Trail switchback

24. End of Edgewood Trail at Edgewood Ave.

25. Near top of Farnsworth steps

26. Edgewood down to Willard

27. 149 steps

28. Nasturtiums and oxalis

29. Farnsworth's foot at Willard just above Parnassus

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Rob Hill to Baker Beach

3/4/2015

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Down the Presidio’s Connector Trail (208 steps; top at Immigrant Point Overlook) to Lincoln, first six pix, then across the street to descend the Sand Ladder.

The Sand Ladder has over 200 log steps but you’ll probably get a different staircount each time as some will be totally covered with sand: 7 thru 24.

West a little way to ascend a shorter one (43 steps): 25, 26, 27, 28.

Along the trail atop Battery Chamberlin (pic 29) and through the picnic area with its dunes, trees, and good cooking aromas. Last pic, a Baker Beach “green roof.”

A little way uphill from the westernmost parking area is a bus stop for the crosstown #29.

1. Down the Connector Trail from Immigrant Point Overlook

2. A trail to the left leads to the Baker Beach Apts.

3. Down from the main stairway heading north

4. A welcoming bench, right

5. Top of the Sand Ladder upper left corner; Batteries to Bluffs Trail to right

6. Foot of the Connector Trail center

7. Top of the Sand Ladder

8. Starting down

9. Not steep right at first

10. Over 200 steps

11. Be sure to check out Fort Funston's Ocean Beach steps too

12. Log steps are sand-covered

13. An excellent workout, especially climbing back up!

14. Looking back up

15. Listening to the crashing waves; enjoying the warm sun

16. Closeup of the logs

17. Down to the foot

18. Looking up from the foot

19. Lincoln Blvd. down to Baker Beach

20. A beloved and much-used Stairmaster

21. Count 'em for yourself. This time I got a conservative 224 steps.

22. Love the green on both sides

23. Batteries to Bluffs Trail is above to the left

24. Sideview

25. A little way to the west, this shorter one

26. Sandy logs like her big sister

27. About 43 steps for this one

28. Top of the shorter stairway

29. A view to the east

30. A "green roof" at the Baker Beach picnic area

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Battery East Trail to Cemetery Overlook

3/2/2015

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Just to the east of the bridge, all the Battery East Trail is walkable again, including the small picnic area down the short but steep slope and the low-overhead tunnel (pix 1 thru 6). Concerned about this unique little tunnel because of all the ongoing park changes.

Continuing onto the paved walkway that curves around to the stairway: 7 thru 11.

153 steps for the Battery East Trail’s wood steps down to the west edge of Crissy field, the Warming Hut, and the road to Fort Point: 12 thru 16.

Up the stairs again and onto the trail between two vehicle streets that takes one from the Battery East Trail viewplaces out to Crissy Field Overlook: 17, 18, 19, 20.

Crossing the footbridge (pic 21), down alongside the stables (no hosses seen this time), and up the meandering Park Trail (22 thru 26) to climb the 98 wood steps that wind thru the forest to the Cemetery Overlook.

Stairs up from Park Trail to the overlook: 27 thru 36.

Trailhead for the east trail from the overlook to the Post Chapel, last pic.

1. Straight ahead and down to the picnic tables

2. Picnic area and steps down to the low overhead tunnel

3. No longer blocked off

4. Continue on the trail

5. Earthworks built into the bluffs

6. Part of the Fort Point National Historic Site

7. Starting the paved part of the Battery East Trail

8. Also a popular spot to view the Blue Angels

9. Vast views from the Battery East Trail

10. It winds around

11. Nothing in the way

12. Top of the stairs down to Crissy Field and Fort Point

13. 153 steps

14. Looking back

15. Torpedo Wharf fishing pier near Warming Hut

16. Foot of the stairs

17. Back at the top of the steps now, a left turn

18. Side of the stairway

19. Trail between two vehicle streets

20. Love this trail

21. Footbridge; stables and Park Trail ahead

22. East side of Fort Scott neighborhood in distance thru the trees

23. Park Trail up ahead

24. Park Trail leads to Cemetery Overlook steps

25. Park Trail curves around

26. Gradual uphilling thru the forest

27. Foot of the steps

28. Park Trail to Nat'l Cemetery Overlook

29. Stairway winding through the woods

30. Peaceful forest beauty

31. The cemetery is to the left

32. 98 steps

33. Cemetery Overlook and stairs completed in 2009

34. Looking back down

35. Top of the steps at the Overlook

36. Presidio trails are well-signed

37. This trail heads east to the chapel with stairs down to the Main Post

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237 for Harry

3/1/2015

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After stopping in at the Diamond Heights Safeway, curved down Diamond Heights Blvd. to Diamond, then onto Beacon. A couple of top entrances for Billy Goat Hill Park are on Beacon. Pix from the top: 1 thru 7.

About a block to the south for the top of Harry stairway. It has a street sign at both ends. Down its 237-ish steps, first wood, then concrete towards the foot.

Upper Harry: 8 thru 12.

My favorite house on the stairway, 30 Harry, can be seen more clearly from the steps now. Now hangin’ out in the front yard, this guy: 13, 14.

Thens from 1972 (15, 16) and Nows for the house next door to 30 Harry: 17, 18.

Lower Harry: 19, 20, 21.

Descending into Noe Valley from Glen Park’s Laidley at the foot of Harry, a couple of houses I like on this steep upper (south) end of Noe, last two pix.

Down to 30th & Noe where there’s a bus stop for the #24 Divisadero.