Commenced this vigorous hike in the Twin Peaks neighborhood by climbing the three-block-long Pemberton stairs (around 210 steps, Clayton up to Crown, pix 1 thru 6).
Around the foot of Tank Hill to a short, steepish “secret” dirt trail west of the main Tank steps (pic 7) with no street sign called Bigler “Avenue” that descends from Twin Peaks Blvd./Clarendon at the west side of Tank Hill to near the east dead-end of Belgrave. Seven steps: 8 thru 12.
There’s no street sign but you can see a small opening between residences just to the left of the main Tank Hill stairway (one of two). At 36 Belgrave (Google Maps Streetview) you can see a bit of the trail and the several steps that will take you down to Belgrave without using the west Tank Hill steps (also steep). So this is an alternative way to get down to Belgrave from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd.
A couple of blocks west on Belgrave, just past the top of Stanyan, will take you to the west vehicle dead-end of Belgrave where there’s a way up into Sutro Forest that has never had a trailmarker.
A little way downhill on Stanyan, however, is the trailhead for the lower Historic Trail, this one plainly marked and very popular, with signage and a short wood stairway entrance between homes.
I’ve used the unnamed trail at the end of Belgrave for years. It’s a steep uphiil trek that zigs up to one of the main Aldea streets, Johnstone. Immediately next to the top of it is the east trailhead for the Fairy Gates Trail, this clearly marked, pic 13.
To the right when you first start up from Belgrave is another unmarked trail, rougher, that turns right (north) first behind, then higher above homes on Stanyan. It comes out partway along the lower Historic. To my left was another trail to the south.
However, I usually just follow the trail climbing straight ahead, so scrambled over a huge log (pic 14) across the trail.
Noticed a few articles of clothing on the forest floor and someone’s obvious shelter. This sort of thing is to be expected if you try to discourage people from using a forest trail. You thus encourage homeless encampments, the opposite from what “they” have in mind I’m sure.
Apparently they’d like to discourage hikers from using this particular trail as the foot of an Aldea residence is partway up the slope, its back steps descending to the trail. This trail, however, part of the “Interior Greenbelt,” is also plainly and accurately marked on Google Maps as through. It used to be even more of a trek to ascend years ago, but near the top it’s now easier to walk out to the street; no more pulling myself up at the edge of one of the buildings. More of this beautiful still-untamed forest trail: 15 thru 23.
After this, uphilled to the trailhead for the East Ridge (pix 24, 25, 26) and hung a right for the Mystery Trail (pic 27). Onto the North Ridge Trail (28 thru 36) and back down to the curvy road (Medical Center Way) that divides the mountain’s upper and lower trails.
Crossing over directly from the foot of the North Ridge onto the Fairy Gates (37, 38), then down to the Edgewood Trail that will take you out to Edgewood Ave. Pix 39 thru 46.
After a few blocks north on Edgehill Ave. the Farnsworth stairs (149 steps) descend to Willard, last seven pix.
Around the foot of Tank Hill to a short, steepish “secret” dirt trail west of the main Tank steps (pic 7) with no street sign called Bigler “Avenue” that descends from Twin Peaks Blvd./Clarendon at the west side of Tank Hill to near the east dead-end of Belgrave. Seven steps: 8 thru 12.
There’s no street sign but you can see a small opening between residences just to the left of the main Tank Hill stairway (one of two). At 36 Belgrave (Google Maps Streetview) you can see a bit of the trail and the several steps that will take you down to Belgrave without using the west Tank Hill steps (also steep). So this is an alternative way to get down to Belgrave from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd.
A couple of blocks west on Belgrave, just past the top of Stanyan, will take you to the west vehicle dead-end of Belgrave where there’s a way up into Sutro Forest that has never had a trailmarker.
A little way downhill on Stanyan, however, is the trailhead for the lower Historic Trail, this one plainly marked and very popular, with signage and a short wood stairway entrance between homes.
I’ve used the unnamed trail at the end of Belgrave for years. It’s a steep uphiil trek that zigs up to one of the main Aldea streets, Johnstone. Immediately next to the top of it is the east trailhead for the Fairy Gates Trail, this clearly marked, pic 13.
To the right when you first start up from Belgrave is another unmarked trail, rougher, that turns right (north) first behind, then higher above homes on Stanyan. It comes out partway along the lower Historic. To my left was another trail to the south.
However, I usually just follow the trail climbing straight ahead, so scrambled over a huge log (pic 14) across the trail.
Noticed a few articles of clothing on the forest floor and someone’s obvious shelter. This sort of thing is to be expected if you try to discourage people from using a forest trail. You thus encourage homeless encampments, the opposite from what “they” have in mind I’m sure.
Apparently they’d like to discourage hikers from using this particular trail as the foot of an Aldea residence is partway up the slope, its back steps descending to the trail. This trail, however, part of the “Interior Greenbelt,” is also plainly and accurately marked on Google Maps as through. It used to be even more of a trek to ascend years ago, but near the top it’s now easier to walk out to the street; no more pulling myself up at the edge of one of the buildings. More of this beautiful still-untamed forest trail: 15 thru 23.
After this, uphilled to the trailhead for the East Ridge (pix 24, 25, 26) and hung a right for the Mystery Trail (pic 27). Onto the North Ridge Trail (28 thru 36) and back down to the curvy road (Medical Center Way) that divides the mountain’s upper and lower trails.
Crossing over directly from the foot of the North Ridge onto the Fairy Gates (37, 38), then down to the Edgewood Trail that will take you out to Edgewood Ave. Pix 39 thru 46.
After a few blocks north on Edgehill Ave. the Farnsworth stairs (149 steps) descend to Willard, last seven pix.
1. Up from Clayton
2. First block up
3. Between Clayton and Villa Terrace
4. Villa Terrace looking back down
5. Villa up to Graystone
6. From Graystone ascending to Crown Terrace
7. Steps to Tank Hill Park on the south side
8. Down from Clarendon/Twin Peaks Blvd.
9. Bigler "Avenue" is a short dirt trail
10. Steeply down to Belgrave
11. This comes out near Tank Hill's west steps
12. Foot of Bigler at Belgrave
13. Fairy Gates east trailhead at Johnstone, top of the Belgrave Trail
14. A little way up the Belgrave Trail, a big log to scramble over
15. Just past the top of Stanyan into Sutro Forest from Belgrave
16. A few steps up for the old Belgrave Trail
17. Untamed forest trail
18. Step over and continue up
19. Forest bathing
20. Steepish but worth it
21. Easier now than it used to be
22. Nearing the top
23. Out at Johnstone. Small parking area to right.
24. East Ridge trailhead is across from the Aldea Community Center
25. East Ridge Trail
26. East Ridge continues up to the summit
27. Mystery Trail
28. North Ridge Trail
29. North Ridge Trail
30. North Ridge Trail
31. North Ridge Trail
32. The road below is Medical Center Way
33. Continuing down the North Ridge
34. North Ridge Trail winds around
35. Medical Center Way curves round below
36. Nearing the foot of the North Ridge Trail
37. End of the North Ridge Trail with Fairy Gates trailhead across the road
38. Fairy Gates trailhead
39. Onto the Edgewood Trail
40. Edgewood Trail
41. Edgewood Trail
42. Hikers on the Edgewood
43. Edgewood Trail continues
44. Out at Edgewood Ave.
45. Below, center, part of the lower Historic Trail
46. South end of redbricked Edgewood Ave. and north end of Edgewood Trail
47. Near top of the Farnsworth Lane steps
48. Farnsworth Lane
49. Farnsworth flowers
50. A Farnsworth gate
51. 149 steps
52. Edgewood Ave. down to Willard
53. Foot of Farnsworth Lane at Willard, just above Parnassus
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