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Sausalito Stairtreats

5/24/2015

This delightful boardwalk is a treat to stroll: first three pix.

Now heading for the hills to do some of this sweet-smelling, tree-covered city’s stairways:

Bridgeway up to Josephine/North: 120 steps: 4, 5, 6, 7.

Foot of Noble Lane (94 steps) up from Atwood: pic 8.

94 Oak Lane steps up from West Street: 9 thru 13.

West Court, a favorite (103 steps): 14 thru 18.

80 steps for Second St. this time on the west side of this double stairway with a center garden: 19 thru 23.

Sacramento Way’s first block down is eight steps and a narrow walkway; second block down has more steps with another walkway in the middle, total 53 steps: 24, 25, 26, 27.

House on Central, pic 28.

Stairs from hi-up Spencer (thru up to the highway) down to Santa Rosa. 183-ish steps: 29 thru 33.

Bulkley lower walk for pedestrians, just below the narrow street: pic 34.

El Monte: 120 steps from Bulkley down to Bridgeway; part walkway: last four.

1. Onto the boardwalk

2. Continuing to the south

3. An uphill right turn at the end of this

4. Stairs up from Bridgeway

5. About 120 steps

6. Between Bridgeway and Josephine/North

7. Top at Josephine/North

8. Noble's foot at Atwood

9. Oak up from West at Central

10. Oak's middle part is wood

11. Up to Lower Crescent

12. Looking down from Lower Crescent

13. Top of Oak is concrete with railings as is the foot

14. Top of West Court at North/Central

15. 103 steps for West Ct.

16. Near foot of West Ct. looking up

17. Down to foot of West Ct. at West St.

18. Foot of West Ct.

19. This part of Second is a double stairway with center garden

20. This time ascending the west steps

21. About 80 steps up to North

22. Looking back down

23. Gardenspot between the double Second St. stairs

24. First block down, skinny walk between homes

25. Sacramento Way continues down

26. Down to Central

27. Foot at Central Ave.

28. Eye-candy house on Central Ave.

29. Down from Spencer

30. Spencer at the top

31. This is a nice long one!

32. Around 183 steps

33. Spencer to Santa Rosa stairs

34. Pedestrian pathway just below Bulkley

35. Street sign for top of El Monte at Bulkley

36. El Monte Lane: combination stairway and pedestrian walkway

37. Bulkley down to Bridgeway

38. 120 steps

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Mount Sutro Circle

5/22/2015

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The Medical Center Way stairs (about 136 steps, first four pix) ascend to a parking lot. From here it’s a short uphill distance thru the parking lot to the upper Historic’s trailhead (near a UCSF shuttle stop on Medical Center Way).

This is a public stairway some people may not be aware of, “hidden” as it is behind the Parnassus Ave. medical buildings. Partway up is a short offshoot wood stairway that will take you to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Ave. that will come out either at the same parking lot or the north end of Edgewood Ave. near the Farnsworth steps.

The upper Historic Trail looks more like the forest used to and should look, without all the depressingly noticeable treefelling as on the East Ridge and Edgewood Trails.

The upper Historic (5 thru 11) winds around first on the mountain’s north side, then the west side (above the Forest Knolls neighborhood). You’ll soon see a trailmarker for the West Ridge Trail.

Climbing up the upper West Ridge Trail from the Historic will take you directly to the summit. I’ve always enjoyed climbing up between the rocks (12, 13, 14, 15). It’s steepish, much like the part of the lower West Ridge that climbs up from Crestmont in the Forest Knolls neighborhood.

Summit: 16, 17.

Down the North Ridge: 18 thru 22.

And onto the Edgewood Trail: 23, 24, 25.

From the south dead-end of Edgewood Ave. a few blocks, then down the Farnsworth stairway to Willard (149 steps, pic 26), just above Parnassus.

From other recent hikes:

Medical Center Way winds around: 27, 28.

Into the forest from Stanyan onto the lower Historic Trail: 29, 30.

From the west end of the lower Historic Trail, down to the Edgewood, pic 31.

East Ridge Trail, last two pix.

1. Up from the foot

2. Short stairway off the main steps ascends to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Ave.

3. Nearing the top

4. Up to a parking lot

5. Trailhead for Historic Trail

6. Curving round on the north side

7. High above the road

8. Sittin' rock just off the trail

9. Winding forest trail

10. Westside now; Forest Knolls homes below

11. Forest-bathing with birdsong

12. Upper West Ridge Trail

13. Scrambling up between the rocks on the West Ridge

14. West Ridge Trail between Historic Trail and summit

15. Nearing the summit on the West Ridge Trail

16. A summit trailmarker

17. A summit trail

18. Medical Center Way below from North Ridge Trail

19. North Ridge Trail

20. Medical Center Way below

21. Shrine to Ishi near foot of North Ridge Trail

22. Foot of the North Ridge Trail

23. Over the guardrail onto the Fairy Gates Trail

24. Switchbackin' down to the Edgewood Trail

25. Moving north on the Edgewood Trail out to Edgewood Ave.

26. Farnsworth Lane steps, Edgewood down to Willard

27. Medical Center Way curves around

28. Lower Historic Trail below

29. To lower Historic Trail from Stanyan

30. Trailmap at Stanyan trailhead

31. Lower Historic out to Fairy Gates and Edgewood Trails

32. Mystery Trail right, East Ridge left.

33. East Ridge Trail

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Labyrinth Visit

5/21/2015

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Ascending San Francisco’s newest tiled stairway (first pic, 52 steps) at the west end of California St. in the Outer Richmond neighborhood up to the short trail leading to the east trailhead for Land’s End.

Moving west, the first long stairway (about 120 steps) climbs up the east side: 2 thru 7.

Then down the curvy westside stairway on the main Land’s End/Coastal Trail with its 138 steps: 8 thru 17.

The next stairway has around 267 steps and descends from the main trail to Mile Rock Beach:

Pic 18: The beach rocks.

Above Mile Rock Beach are a few ways to get to the Labyrinth.

A steeper trail up: pic 19.

Where the stairway emerges from the trees, another trail up is less steep: 20 thru 24.

The Labyrinth: 25 thru 30.

The official website for the Land's End Labyrinth by its creator, Eduardo Aguilera:

http://laberinthos.com

Now on the east side of the cliff, coming back from the Labyrinth to meet up with the stairway again midway-ish: 31 thru 37.

Onto the Connector steps (89) from the main Land’s End Trail up to the El Camino del Mar Trail: 38 thru 42.

1. Newly completed work of art up to Lincoln Park golf course and a trail

2. Near foot of the eastside steps

3. Up we go!

4. About 120 steps up this side

5. Nice view!

6. Nearing the top

7. Looking back down the eastside stairs

8. Starting down the westside steps

9. This one's all wood

10. This one has two stone benches along its length

11. Starting down from main Coastal Trail

12. Partway down, steps turn to left

13. Continue down these to the beach

14. And under the tree

15. About 267 steps

16. Down to Mile Rock Beach

17. Foot of the stairs

18. Mile Rock Beach

19. The steeper trail up

20. A trail up

21. Less-steep trail up

22. Foot of stairs below, center

23. Trail to the Labyrinth

24. Mile Rock Beach below

25. Cliffedge beautyspot

26. Looking north

27. Bridgeview

28. Art on the edge

29. Created in 2004

30. Moving around to an east trail

31. Round the east side

32. Watch your step!

33. Climbing higher

34. View west down to the beach

35. Back down to the eastside trail

36. Narrow trail back around to the stairway

37. Circling back around

38. Connecting the Land's End Trail with the El Camino del Mar Trail

39. Climbing and turning

40. 89 steps

41. Turn left for Legion of Honor connector steps

42. Second Coastal Trail overlook from El Camino del Mar Trail

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Round the Other Way

5/3/2015

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For this two-park hike, started up into beautifully forested Buena Vista Park via its main north entrance (Haight-Ashbury side, a block or so from Haight & Masonic), past people hanging out on the grassy slope and front steps. Continuing up paved and dirt trails and short older stairways, veering west, to the summit. First two pix.

Down the south slope with its view of Corona Heights Park a few blocks in the distance.

The whole southside was redone several years ago. 79 steps descend to the first of the east-west wood-railed pedestrian walkways. Continuing to the foot of the park’s longest stairway, 171 steps: 3 thru 7.

11 more very old wood steps down to the street from the slightly elevated paved trail that encircles the park.

Last time headed to the east and a short distance downhill for Corona Heights Park’s north slope with the tennis courts and the newer trail/steps up with its slippery pebbles. Go slowly on this one, especially if descending. I’d add some railings here and make it all stairs. It can be seen on Google Maps; they call it “New Corona Heights Trail.”

This time to the west. Upper Terrace onto Masonic and Loma Vista, onto Roosevelt with 42 steps (pic 8) down to Lower Terrace. At the foot of these turned left on Levant, near the top of Vulcan Stairway (219 steps), continuing north on Levant.

A few Levant homes: 9, 10, 11.

Levant/States to Roosevelt steps: pic 12.

From the Roosevelt westside park entrance started up the stairs, continuing on the steps to the left. About 100 to the top: 13 thru 17.

Buena Vista Park where I’d just come from: Pic 18.

From the top of these it’s a short distance to the summit viewrocks where people love to perch, pic 19.

Descending from the summit, older wood steps curve down the south side: 62 winding round to the lone bench, pix 20 thru 29.

If you count these first 62 from the summit to the bench, then continuing down the east side, there are around 192 from the summit to the foot at the park signs near the Randall Museum’s east entrance. I think these upper steps winding down from the summit should be included in the total staircount for the east side. From the upper bench to the foot are 130 steps.

The east steps are wood, uneven, older ones, with chainlink fences at the cliffedges sometimes serving as railings: 30 thru 35.

Paused to admire a raccoon in the first cage seen upon entering the Randall from the east entrance.

Many people use this roughly paved pathway from/into the park: 36, 37. This time noticed a couple of those caution cones along the trail. Might this mean long overdue improvements to this pathway are forthcoming? It could use some steps as it’s steepish.

Passed the little garden (pix 38, 39) still here at the north dead-end of Flint just outside the park, onto unique between-homes De Forest (18 steps, pic 40) that will take you to the top of Beaver.

From here it’s only a block downhill to Castro. Last pic: Castro near 16th.

1. Buena Vista Park, north side

2. Summit tree-art

3. East-west walkway on the south side

4. Main southside stairway

5. Foot of the main south stairs

6. 171 steps

7. Buena Vista Ave. East

8. Roosevelt to Lower Terrace

9. Levant, near top of Vulcan Stairway

10. Levant St.

11. Levant St.

12. Levant/States up to Roosevelt

13. West side of Corona Hts. Park, Roosevelt entrance at Museum Way

14. Turn left here and continue up

15. About 100 steps for the westside

16. Continuing up the west side

17. Top of the westside stairs

18. Buena Vista Park to the north

19. Top of the westside steps to the summit rocks

20. Summit view to the east

21. Starting down from the summit rocks, first around to the south

22. Older steps wind from the summit to the bench

23. Watch your step here

24. South trail between steps curving around to the east

25. More steps ahead

26. Continuing down to the bench

27. 192 steps for the east side

28. 62 steps down to the lone bench from the summit

29. 130 steps for the main east stairway if you start counting from the bench

30. These old steps are steep and uneven

31. Looking back up

32. Old chainlink fences for railings

33. The lower bench. Turn right to continue down the stairway.

34. Trailmap at foot of the stairs

35. Foot of the east stairway

36. How 'bout fixing this/adding some steps?

37. Fill me up, please!

38. De Forest center, right

39. Garden at the dead-end of Flint St.

40. Top of Beaver, Corona Heights 'hood. Foot of De Forest center, up to the park.

41. A favorite house, Castro & 16th St.

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New Trailmarkers

5/2/2015

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Since my last visit, new trailmarkers have been installed in Glen Canyon Park with distances helpfully included: 1 thru 6.

The markers now indicate the trail that runs thru to Portola Dr. — now called the Islais Creek Trail.

The last part of this northernmost trail, short but steeply uphill, is a rough up-scramble. As noted last time, when you reach the top you can either continue out to Portola or to the dead-ends of Amethyst and Turquoise in the Diamond Heights neighborhood: 7 thru 15.

Continued east on Turquoise as before but this time past the downhill trail into the canyon and up to the west trailhead for the highest canyon trail. This is the well-used old one that runs just below Christopher Park (Turquoise and Amber trailhead). Here a couple of new signs have been added: one of those colorful trailmaps and a green park-rules sign: 16, 17.

Newer replacement steps descend (pic 18) before you get to the main one that swoops down into the canyon from the edge of Christopher Park (the one with the viewbench).

Started as usual uphill from the Glen Park BART, trudging up Diamond until I could check on the next-bus readout for the #52: said 25 minutes until the next bus. So continued uphill, turning west this time on Arbor, out to Diamond Heights Blvd. and up the trail that's alongside the guardrail at the canyontop. Pic 19.

Onto Berkeley, past the foot of the three-block-long stairway called Onique (20, 21) and on to the dead-end of Crags Court. This time paused for a brief visit to Crags Court Community Garden, the gates unlocked as usual: 22, 23.

Down the trail that descends into the canyon from here, like it always did, but now with replacement steps.

This is the meandering new stairway I like so much (184 steps), but along the way are other trails that connect with it: 24 thru 29.

It winds leisurely around and down to the canyon floor just before the beginning of the tree-canopied part of the main canyon floor trail, with its boardwalk and footbridge over happily-flowing-along Islais Creek to start. A new park infosign has also been added here: 30, 31.

Since the new trailmarker posts indicate Portola, continued to the end to see if any steps had been added since my last visit. Nope, but watch this space. Newly added or replacement steps are all over the park, so could show up here as well. This part is marked as "Challenging" on the new trailmap (see pic 17). Also wondering if we’ll get a skyway across Portola so we can more easily continue up the south side of Twin Peaks Park.

To get to the northernmost part, you still must ascend from the main trail when it dead-ends, keep moving north just below the stiltlegs of the homes above, then descend again after a short distance (pix 32, 33).

Plunging steeply down into Noe Valley to catch the #24 Divisadero, chose Duncan this time. This. Is. Seriously. Steep. Duncan to Newburg to Castro & 26th. Last pic.

1. One of the new trailmarkers

2. This refers to the day camp in the park

3. This way to the Glen Park Recreation Center

4. Now these trails have names

5. Big arrows point the way

6. Islais Creek Trail now out to Portola

7. The trail starts to climb

8. A steepish scramble

9. Continuing up

10. Gettin' high

11. Up to the top at the fence

12. School playing field below

13. Treestumps to sit on and enjoy the view

14. Starting down on the north side

15. Portola, right. End of Amethyst near Turquoise, Diamond Heights

16. Uppermost Canyon trail, just below Christopher Park

17. New trailmap at the Canyontop trail

18. Replacement steps down from this trail

19. A view from Diamond Heights Blvd.

20. Onique steps start up from Berkeley Way

21. Three blocks long: Onique Lane to Topaz, Diamond Heights

22. Crags Court Community Garden, Diamond Heights

23. Crags Court Community Garden

24. Into the Canyon from the dead-end of Crags Court

25. Winding around

26. 184 steps

27. View from the stairs

28. Pleasantly curving around

29. Looking back

30. More steps ascending from the boardwalk

31. New park infosign

32. Right out to Turquoise; left down to northernmost trail

33. Longlegged Diamond Heights homes above

34. Duncan-Castro Openspace in distance, right, Noe Valley

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Lincoln Park Steps

5/1/2015

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The Lincoln Park tiled stairway (52 steps) is now walkable: 1 thru 15. Do go see this in person.

The steps are at the west dead-end of California St. at 33rd Ave. in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. They climb to the golf course and a trail that'll take you north a couple blocks to the east trailhead for the Lands End/Coastal Trail.

San Francisco now has four tiled stairways. Is our next to be the long 15th Avenue stairway that's a block from the Hidden Garden Steps?

Hidden Garden Steps has an excellent website:

http://hiddengardensteps.org

Continuing west on the main Lands End Trail … soon up the eastside steps (120 or so): 16 thru 21. You can’t avoid two long stairways, up ’n down, if you’re gonna hike the Lands End Trail.

Down the westside “Painted Rock” steps, about 138: 22 thru 25.

Passing the top of the Mile Rock Beach steps, around 262 steps down to the beach from the main trail: 26, 27.

Up the Connector steps (89) from the Lands End/Coastal Trail to the El Camino del Mar Trail: 28, 29, 30.

About 57 for the upper parking lot overlook stairs down to the first Coastal Trail overlook: last pic.

These are not the only stairways in this highly recommended viewpark … just a few recently visited.