Stairway fans, there are three long stairways on San Francisco's main Lands End/Coastal Trail, the lower trail most people take.
While there are several other stairways at Lands End, this hike counts the ones west to east on the main trail instead of my usual zigzags and detours.
However, first of all, to get over to the west trailhead for the Coastal Trail, aka Sutro Baths Upper Trail, descended a first stairway (128 steps) I call the “Merrie Way” steps because there used to be a street by this name in the area. It starts down from the lower parking lot overlook near the Lands End Lookout building. Pix 1, 2, 3.
At the foot of these, a trail climbs to the west trailhead for the Coastal Trail (pic 4). Several years ago there were around 20 original wood steps ascending from the Sutro Baths cavetop viewplace. In 2009 these steps were extended and now there are around 142 wood ones: 5 thru 18.
At the top of these is a sign for “Sutro Baths Upper Trail” and a winding paved walkway that was also added several years ago. This curves round to the north, then heads east, two Coastal Trail overlooks along the route.
Across from the first overlook a steep stairway ascends to the upper parking lot overlook (and the El Camino del Mar Trail), about 57 steps.
This time continued straight ahead on the Lands End Trail: pix 19, 20.
Passed the connector stairs up to the El Camino del Mar Trail and the top of the Mile Rock Beach steps, an up-n-back, about 262 down to the rocky beach.
About halfway along the main trail there's no avoiding the second long Coastal Trail stairway, this with about 137 wood steps. I’ve nicknamed it the “Painted Rock” stairs. This is the one with the two stone benches alongside: 21, 22, 23.
At the top of this, the third long Coastal Trail/Lands End stairway descends on the east side. This one’s been added onto in the last several years as well and now has about 120 varied steps: wood, log, and concrete: 24 thru 28.
Continuing (pics 29, 30) out to the east park exit, passing the renovated Eagles Point Overlook; at the benches now are dozens of those small flags in several colors that indicate new plantings.
Out of the park, directly across the vehicle street, and onto a sandy trail just below the east edge of the Lincoln Park golf course. A short walk to the south will take you to a stairway (tiled at its top benches only so far, 52 steps) that descends to 32nd Ave. & California in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. Last two pix.
While there are several other stairways at Lands End, this hike counts the ones west to east on the main trail instead of my usual zigzags and detours.
However, first of all, to get over to the west trailhead for the Coastal Trail, aka Sutro Baths Upper Trail, descended a first stairway (128 steps) I call the “Merrie Way” steps because there used to be a street by this name in the area. It starts down from the lower parking lot overlook near the Lands End Lookout building. Pix 1, 2, 3.
At the foot of these, a trail climbs to the west trailhead for the Coastal Trail (pic 4). Several years ago there were around 20 original wood steps ascending from the Sutro Baths cavetop viewplace. In 2009 these steps were extended and now there are around 142 wood ones: 5 thru 18.
At the top of these is a sign for “Sutro Baths Upper Trail” and a winding paved walkway that was also added several years ago. This curves round to the north, then heads east, two Coastal Trail overlooks along the route.
Across from the first overlook a steep stairway ascends to the upper parking lot overlook (and the El Camino del Mar Trail), about 57 steps.
This time continued straight ahead on the Lands End Trail: pix 19, 20.
Passed the connector stairs up to the El Camino del Mar Trail and the top of the Mile Rock Beach steps, an up-n-back, about 262 down to the rocky beach.
About halfway along the main trail there's no avoiding the second long Coastal Trail stairway, this with about 137 wood steps. I’ve nicknamed it the “Painted Rock” stairs. This is the one with the two stone benches alongside: 21, 22, 23.
At the top of this, the third long Coastal Trail/Lands End stairway descends on the east side. This one’s been added onto in the last several years as well and now has about 120 varied steps: wood, log, and concrete: 24 thru 28.
Continuing (pics 29, 30) out to the east park exit, passing the renovated Eagles Point Overlook; at the benches now are dozens of those small flags in several colors that indicate new plantings.
Out of the park, directly across the vehicle street, and onto a sandy trail just below the east edge of the Lincoln Park golf course. A short walk to the south will take you to a stairway (tiled at its top benches only so far, 52 steps) that descends to 32nd Ave. & California in the Outer Richmond neighborhood. Last two pix.
1. Descending from the lower parking lot overlook
2. Sutro Baths Ruins below
3. The steps lead to a trail
4. Trail to the cavetop viewplace
5. West trailhead for the Coastal Trail
6. Coastal Trail / Sutro Baths Upper Trail
7. Trailhead, Coastal Trail
8. Sutro Baths Upper Trail
9. Sutro Baths Upper Trail
10. Coastal Trail
11. Nice view...
12. Cavetop viewspot below
13. Midtrail
14. Iceplant offtrail
15. Sutro Baths Upper Trail
16. Don't go there
17. Trail turns
18. Near top of Sutro Baths Upper Trail
19. Main Lands End Trail
20. A few log steps
21. "Painted Rock" steps
22. First stone bench along the stairway
23. Continuing up
24. Down the east side
25. East stairway, Coastal Trail
26. Various types of stairs on the east side
27. An eastside view
28. Looking back
29. Some newer additions at the end
30. Continuing east
31. Hiking down here not advised
32. Lincoln Park stairway top bench
33. Hoping to be tiled: Lincoln Park stairs down to 32nd Ave.
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