Today's Lands End hike was a long east-to-west/up-n-downer, beginning with the Lincoln Park steps that still hope for further tilework (52 steps up to a trail just below the golf course's east edge, first pic).
Crossed the vehicle street to the east trailhead for the Coastal Trail/main Lands End Trail (second pic). Renovation of the Eagle's Point Overlook here will commence this fall. They're gonna replace the old wood deck with a new structure.
A little further into the park, you'll ascend around 117 steps (a variety of wood, concrete and logs: pics 3 and 4), at the top of which is the curvy "Painted Rock" stairway back down again (138 or so steps: pics 5, 6, 7) to continue along the sweet-smelling Lands End Trail. Eighth pic: Directions.
Took the 89 connector steps that curve up to the El Camino del Mar Trail. Nearly to the end of the El Camino, just before coming out at the east edge of the upper parking lot overlook, felt the urge to do the steep-n-sandy zigzag trail up to the Fort Miley area that I've long claimed as my own. I shall christen it "Tony's Trail."
It remains unmolested, secluded, enclosed, and I've never encountered anyone else on it at the same time I was. A treat to scramble up again.
At the top (pic 9), it continues south across from the top of the Fort Miley ruins' rooftops; this time no skateboarders or old guys staggering about up there. It leads to the very old "hidden in the woods" stairway starting down from the west edge of the VA Hospital parking lot that I keep going on about, a small strip of dirt trail between the two short flights.
From Fort Miley up again to the VA Hospital's parking lot (just past the cliffedge windsock) to see how the picnic area's looking these days. Both stairways are open for walking and there are beautiful blooms, including California poppies, along the first stairway descended (71 to the railed footbridge, pic 10). The new plantings are lookin' good. Up again with 77 steps for the south stairway (pics 11, 12). This is an inviting, well-designed space to pause on a bench or at one of the picnic tables before tearing yourself away and continuing on.
From the top of the south stairway, you can see the top of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail (about 22 steps) a short distance away that will take you to the west end of the Legion of Honor Museum parking lot. Not feeling inclined to walk through a parking lot if I can help it, beyond the yellow metal auto barrier at the end of the lot is a stairway (47 steps, 13th pic) that connects with the east end of the El Camino del Mar Trail, so back this way.
On the El Camino it was across the wood footbridge and past the top of the connector steps where I'd come up earlier. This part of the hike was a repeat of most of the El Camino. Continued past the foot of Tony's Trail out to the upper parking lot overlook (14th pic) and down its steep stairway (59 steps, 15th pic).
'Round the horn and onto the winding paved walkway to the Sutro Baths Upper Trail from the top down this time, 141 steps (pics 16, 17). This is the westernmost trailhead for the Coastal Trail.
Crossed the vehicle street to the east trailhead for the Coastal Trail/main Lands End Trail (second pic). Renovation of the Eagle's Point Overlook here will commence this fall. They're gonna replace the old wood deck with a new structure.
A little further into the park, you'll ascend around 117 steps (a variety of wood, concrete and logs: pics 3 and 4), at the top of which is the curvy "Painted Rock" stairway back down again (138 or so steps: pics 5, 6, 7) to continue along the sweet-smelling Lands End Trail. Eighth pic: Directions.
Took the 89 connector steps that curve up to the El Camino del Mar Trail. Nearly to the end of the El Camino, just before coming out at the east edge of the upper parking lot overlook, felt the urge to do the steep-n-sandy zigzag trail up to the Fort Miley area that I've long claimed as my own. I shall christen it "Tony's Trail."
It remains unmolested, secluded, enclosed, and I've never encountered anyone else on it at the same time I was. A treat to scramble up again.
At the top (pic 9), it continues south across from the top of the Fort Miley ruins' rooftops; this time no skateboarders or old guys staggering about up there. It leads to the very old "hidden in the woods" stairway starting down from the west edge of the VA Hospital parking lot that I keep going on about, a small strip of dirt trail between the two short flights.
From Fort Miley up again to the VA Hospital's parking lot (just past the cliffedge windsock) to see how the picnic area's looking these days. Both stairways are open for walking and there are beautiful blooms, including California poppies, along the first stairway descended (71 to the railed footbridge, pic 10). The new plantings are lookin' good. Up again with 77 steps for the south stairway (pics 11, 12). This is an inviting, well-designed space to pause on a bench or at one of the picnic tables before tearing yourself away and continuing on.
From the top of the south stairway, you can see the top of the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail (about 22 steps) a short distance away that will take you to the west end of the Legion of Honor Museum parking lot. Not feeling inclined to walk through a parking lot if I can help it, beyond the yellow metal auto barrier at the end of the lot is a stairway (47 steps, 13th pic) that connects with the east end of the El Camino del Mar Trail, so back this way.
On the El Camino it was across the wood footbridge and past the top of the connector steps where I'd come up earlier. This part of the hike was a repeat of most of the El Camino. Continued past the foot of Tony's Trail out to the upper parking lot overlook (14th pic) and down its steep stairway (59 steps, 15th pic).
'Round the horn and onto the winding paved walkway to the Sutro Baths Upper Trail from the top down this time, 141 steps (pics 16, 17). This is the westernmost trailhead for the Coastal Trail.
Down the stairs to the cavetop viewspot, watching people cavorting below in the Sutro Baths Ruins area. From here, over to the foot of the old wooden stairway (128 steps, last pic) to climb to the lower parking lot overlook with its viewbenches and the Lands End Lookout gift/coffee shop.
1. Steps up to Lincoln Park's east side, golf course and sandy trail
2. Near east trailhead for main Lands End/Coastal Trail
3. East stairway, Coastal Trail
4. Variety of stair types on the east side
5. "Painted Rock" steps
6. One of two stone benches along the "Painted Rock" stairway
7. Foot of the "Painted Rock" stairway
8. Directions to places of interest
9. "Tony's Trail" to the Fort Miley area from El Camino del Mar
10. VA Hospital picnic area, north stairway
11. VA Hospital picnic spot, main south stairway
12. South stairway below the VA Hospital parking lot
13. Stairs to El Camino del Mar Trail
14. First Coastal Trail Overlook from upper parking lot overlook
15. Stairway from upper parking lot overlook to Coastal Trail
16. Sutro Baths Upper Trail down to Cavetop Viewplace
17. Sutro Baths Upper Trail down to Cavetop Viewplace
18. Steps to lower parking lot overlook. Sutro Baths ruins below.
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