The Medical Center Way stairs (about 136 steps, first four pix) ascend to a parking lot. From here it’s a short uphill distance thru the parking lot to the upper Historic’s trailhead (near a UCSF shuttle stop on Medical Center Way).
This is a public stairway some people may not be aware of, “hidden” as it is behind the Parnassus Ave. medical buildings. Partway up is a short offshoot wood stairway that will take you to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Ave. that will come out either at the same parking lot or the north end of Edgewood Ave. near the Farnsworth steps.
The upper Historic Trail looks more like the forest used to and should look, without all the depressingly noticeable treefelling as on the East Ridge and Edgewood Trails.
The upper Historic (5 thru 11) winds around first on the mountain’s north side, then the west side (above the Forest Knolls neighborhood). You’ll soon see a trailmarker for the West Ridge Trail.
Climbing up the upper West Ridge Trail from the Historic will take you directly to the summit. I’ve always enjoyed climbing up between the rocks (12, 13, 14, 15). It’s steepish, much like the part of the lower West Ridge that climbs up from Crestmont in the Forest Knolls neighborhood.
Summit: 16, 17.
Down the North Ridge: 18 thru 22.
And onto the Edgewood Trail: 23, 24, 25.
From the south dead-end of Edgewood Ave. a few blocks, then down the Farnsworth stairway to Willard (149 steps, pic 26), just above Parnassus.
From other recent hikes:
Medical Center Way winds around: 27, 28.
Into the forest from Stanyan onto the lower Historic Trail: 29, 30.
From the west end of the lower Historic Trail, down to the Edgewood, pic 31.
East Ridge Trail, last two pix.
This is a public stairway some people may not be aware of, “hidden” as it is behind the Parnassus Ave. medical buildings. Partway up is a short offshoot wood stairway that will take you to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Ave. that will come out either at the same parking lot or the north end of Edgewood Ave. near the Farnsworth steps.
The upper Historic Trail looks more like the forest used to and should look, without all the depressingly noticeable treefelling as on the East Ridge and Edgewood Trails.
The upper Historic (5 thru 11) winds around first on the mountain’s north side, then the west side (above the Forest Knolls neighborhood). You’ll soon see a trailmarker for the West Ridge Trail.
Climbing up the upper West Ridge Trail from the Historic will take you directly to the summit. I’ve always enjoyed climbing up between the rocks (12, 13, 14, 15). It’s steepish, much like the part of the lower West Ridge that climbs up from Crestmont in the Forest Knolls neighborhood.
Summit: 16, 17.
Down the North Ridge: 18 thru 22.
And onto the Edgewood Trail: 23, 24, 25.
From the south dead-end of Edgewood Ave. a few blocks, then down the Farnsworth stairway to Willard (149 steps, pic 26), just above Parnassus.
From other recent hikes:
Medical Center Way winds around: 27, 28.
Into the forest from Stanyan onto the lower Historic Trail: 29, 30.
From the west end of the lower Historic Trail, down to the Edgewood, pic 31.
East Ridge Trail, last two pix.
1. Up from the foot
2. Short stairway off the main steps ascends to a trail behind homes on Edgewood Ave.
3. Nearing the top
4. Up to a parking lot
5. Trailhead for Historic Trail
6. Curving round on the north side
7. High above the road
8. Sittin' rock just off the trail
9. Winding forest trail
10. Westside now; Forest Knolls homes below
11. Forest-bathing with birdsong
12. Upper West Ridge Trail
13. Scrambling up between the rocks on the West Ridge
14. West Ridge Trail between Historic Trail and summit
15. Nearing the summit on the West Ridge Trail
16. A summit trailmarker
17. A summit trail
18. Medical Center Way below from North Ridge Trail
19. North Ridge Trail
20. Medical Center Way below
21. Shrine to Ishi near foot of North Ridge Trail
22. Foot of the North Ridge Trail
23. Over the guardrail onto the Fairy Gates Trail
24. Switchbackin' down to the Edgewood Trail
25. Moving north on the Edgewood Trail out to Edgewood Ave.
26. Farnsworth Lane steps, Edgewood down to Willard
27. Medical Center Way curves around
28. Lower Historic Trail below
29. To lower Historic Trail from Stanyan
30. Trailmap at Stanyan trailhead
31. Lower Historic out to Fairy Gates and Edgewood Trails
32. Mystery Trail right, East Ridge left.
33. East Ridge Trail
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