Usually don't do all the Forest Knolls (a 'hood on Mount Sutro) stairways on a hike, but lately with this cooler weather felt an urge for a special all-four-FK-stairways trek.
First have to walk several blocks from the Forest Hill Metro station to get to Ashwood Lane's foot. Laguna Honda Blvd. soon curves into Clarendon next to the reservoir. Cross over, uphill on Clarendon past a gated community called "The Woods." Ashwood stairway is next to the green pedestrian skyway (crosses Clarendon into Midtown Terrace: first pic).
Seventeen steps down turn into a short walkway that passes a school above to the right and homes on Galewood Circle to your left, then the rest of the stairs: 109 total for Ashwood to Oak Park (next three pics).
At the top of Ashwood, you can't miss seeing the next stairway, Blairwood Lane, starting up from Oak Park. However, wanted to climb Glenhaven first so headed uphill east a little way to where the east end of Oak Park meets Warren. Glenhaven climbs to Christopher (at Crestmont): 167 steps, pics 5, 6, 7.
At the top of Glenhaven, turn left (west) on Crestmont and look for the top of Blairwood (337 or so steps: eighth pic) a short distance away. Did this one twice: down it to Oak Park, then back up again to the top at Crestmont so as to access the even longer Oakhurst (355-ish steps) a few blocks west from here.
Just past a "Dead-End" sign, Oakhurst Lane plummets directly across Crestmont from the retaining wall (ninth pic: Mount Sutro Openspace Reserve above).
Oakhurst (next three) descends to Warren, winding and steep. Just before you get down to Seventh Avenue, a wood-and-rope stairway with about 31 steps will take you into Garden for the Environment (last pic).
First have to walk several blocks from the Forest Hill Metro station to get to Ashwood Lane's foot. Laguna Honda Blvd. soon curves into Clarendon next to the reservoir. Cross over, uphill on Clarendon past a gated community called "The Woods." Ashwood stairway is next to the green pedestrian skyway (crosses Clarendon into Midtown Terrace: first pic).
Seventeen steps down turn into a short walkway that passes a school above to the right and homes on Galewood Circle to your left, then the rest of the stairs: 109 total for Ashwood to Oak Park (next three pics).
At the top of Ashwood, you can't miss seeing the next stairway, Blairwood Lane, starting up from Oak Park. However, wanted to climb Glenhaven first so headed uphill east a little way to where the east end of Oak Park meets Warren. Glenhaven climbs to Christopher (at Crestmont): 167 steps, pics 5, 6, 7.
At the top of Glenhaven, turn left (west) on Crestmont and look for the top of Blairwood (337 or so steps: eighth pic) a short distance away. Did this one twice: down it to Oak Park, then back up again to the top at Crestmont so as to access the even longer Oakhurst (355-ish steps) a few blocks west from here.
Just past a "Dead-End" sign, Oakhurst Lane plummets directly across Crestmont from the retaining wall (ninth pic: Mount Sutro Openspace Reserve above).
Oakhurst (next three) descends to Warren, winding and steep. Just before you get down to Seventh Avenue, a wood-and-rope stairway with about 31 steps will take you into Garden for the Environment (last pic).
Over Clarendon: Forest Knolls to Midtown Terrace
Ashwood Lane Steps, Clarendon to Oak Park
Top of Ashwood Lane stairway, Clarendon to Oak Park
Top of Ashwood Lane at Oak Park
Glenhaven, Oak Park & Warren up to Christopher & Crestmont
Glenhaven Lane stairway
Glenhaven Lane down to Oak Park & Warren
Blairwood Lane, the middle stairway, down to Oak Park
Retaining wall across Crestmont from top of Oakhurst stairway
Top of Oakhurst Lane stairway at Crestmont
Oakhurst Lane stairway, Crestmont down to Warren
Oakhurst Lane
Garden for the Environment off 7th Ave.
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