I speak this time of a double stairway, down one side then up the other, with offshoot steps, a picnic table, and some benches.
It’s above all the other stairways and trails in Lands End.
At the very top of Lands End is the VA Hospital. One way for a hiker to get up here is to go nearly to the west end of the Legion of Honor parking lot.
Before uphilling on the Lincoln Highway, the 52 Lincoln Park steps at California & 33rd Avenue to start: 1 thru 5
Now west along vehicle-street Lincoln Highway: pic 6
Lincoln Hwy. merges into El Camino del Mar. Pass the Legion of Honor and continue west.
On the south side of the parking lot, 10 steps start up, then a short center walkway and more steps, 23 in all. The foot of this short trail can be seen on Google Maps Streetview. This is the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail: 7 thru 12
At the top (Veterans Dr.) you’ll see picnic tables, benches and a view north: 13
Ahead, below the parking lot, is a picnic area that was constructed several years ago. 75 wood steps lead down from the south side with 71 up again. You can walk the stairs and sit at various benches, at the picnic table, or on one of the low walls: 14 thru 24
If you keep curving round to the west when you get to the top of the second set of stairs, there are a couple of ways down to the Fort Miley ruins and view-picnic area. One is another “hidden” old stairway down to the buildings. This is not easily seen from the top. These two pix were taken last year of the upper and lower parts of this short stairway: 25, 26
This time, though, back the same way I came for a few pix from the top of this unique spot, then to continue down to the El Camino del Mar Trail.
At the west end of the parking lot, just beyond the yellow vehicle barrier, are 47 steps down (pic 27). The top can be seen on Google Maps Streetview. At the foot of the stairs you’ll cross the short wood footbridge: pic 28
You’ll pass the top of the 89 connector steps (29, 30) that’ll take you to the main Coastal/Lands End Trail. Or stay on the El Camino for a view down to the second main trail overlook (pic 31) on the way out to the upper parking lot overlook with stairs descending to the first Coastal Trail overlook.
This whole area used to look very different than it does now – wilder - with, I think, a more attractive curving stairway before construction of the upper overlook several years ago. A THEN from 2006, pic 32, and the same spot now, pic 33.
From another visit, staying on the main Coastal Trail this time. When you come to cliffside views like this (34, 35, 36), no matter how many times you’ve done it, ’tis difficult not to pause in appreciation before continuing up the eastside stairs.
Then down this west stairway, 138 steps: 37, 38
Top of the Mile Rock Beach stairs (262-ish) down from the Lands End/Coastal Trail: last two.
It’s above all the other stairways and trails in Lands End.
At the very top of Lands End is the VA Hospital. One way for a hiker to get up here is to go nearly to the west end of the Legion of Honor parking lot.
Before uphilling on the Lincoln Highway, the 52 Lincoln Park steps at California & 33rd Avenue to start: 1 thru 5
Now west along vehicle-street Lincoln Highway: pic 6
Lincoln Hwy. merges into El Camino del Mar. Pass the Legion of Honor and continue west.
On the south side of the parking lot, 10 steps start up, then a short center walkway and more steps, 23 in all. The foot of this short trail can be seen on Google Maps Streetview. This is the Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail: 7 thru 12
At the top (Veterans Dr.) you’ll see picnic tables, benches and a view north: 13
Ahead, below the parking lot, is a picnic area that was constructed several years ago. 75 wood steps lead down from the south side with 71 up again. You can walk the stairs and sit at various benches, at the picnic table, or on one of the low walls: 14 thru 24
If you keep curving round to the west when you get to the top of the second set of stairs, there are a couple of ways down to the Fort Miley ruins and view-picnic area. One is another “hidden” old stairway down to the buildings. This is not easily seen from the top. These two pix were taken last year of the upper and lower parts of this short stairway: 25, 26
This time, though, back the same way I came for a few pix from the top of this unique spot, then to continue down to the El Camino del Mar Trail.
At the west end of the parking lot, just beyond the yellow vehicle barrier, are 47 steps down (pic 27). The top can be seen on Google Maps Streetview. At the foot of the stairs you’ll cross the short wood footbridge: pic 28
You’ll pass the top of the 89 connector steps (29, 30) that’ll take you to the main Coastal/Lands End Trail. Or stay on the El Camino for a view down to the second main trail overlook (pic 31) on the way out to the upper parking lot overlook with stairs descending to the first Coastal Trail overlook.
This whole area used to look very different than it does now – wilder - with, I think, a more attractive curving stairway before construction of the upper overlook several years ago. A THEN from 2006, pic 32, and the same spot now, pic 33.
From another visit, staying on the main Coastal Trail this time. When you come to cliffside views like this (34, 35, 36), no matter how many times you’ve done it, ’tis difficult not to pause in appreciation before continuing up the eastside stairs.
Then down this west stairway, 138 steps: 37, 38
Top of the Mile Rock Beach stairs (262-ish) down from the Lands End/Coastal Trail: last two.
1. thru 5. Lincoln Park / California St. steps
6. Lincoln Highway
7. Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail
8. Starts up from Legion of Honor parking lot
9. Picnic area upper left in distance
10. 23 steps
11. Top of Battle of the Bulge Memorial Trail
12. Trailsign with a view
13. View north
14. This way down
15. Wood stairs with wood railings
16. 75 steps down this side
17. Offshoot steps up to a picnic table
18. A short footbridge
19. Starting up the other side
20. 71 steps up this side
21. thru 24. View from above
25. First part of old hidden stairway down to Fort Miley buildings
26. Second part of old stairway down to Fort Miley ruins
27. From the west edge of the parking lot down to El Camino del Mar Trail
28. Short footbridge on the El Camino del Mar Trail
29. Connector stairs: El Camino del Mar to main Lands End/Coastal Trail
30. 89 connector steps
31. View down to second overlook on the Coastal Trail
32. A THEN from 2006. El Camino del Mar Trail to Coastal Trail
33. NOW: Same spot as above. Upper parking lot overlook down to first Coastal Trail overlook
34. Coastal Trail
35. About to start up the east stairway on the Coastal Trail
36. Looking east
37. Main Coastal Trail down the west side
38. About 138 steps
39. Descending from the main Coastal Trail to Mile Rock Beach
40. About 262 steps to Mile Rock Beach
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