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.