My favorite thing about the Sutro Heights Park area, besides the long stairway that climbs up the south slope, of course, and the viewspot overlooking Ocean Beach (site of the former turreted Sutro mansion), is the less-tamed wildspot on the south side.
This is called Balboa Natural Area on Google Maps. It has multiple sandy trails; this time noticed less litter. And behind the still colorfully graffitied-upon wood fence at the top of the stairs there no longer appears to be evidence of homeless encampments.
Crossing Point Lobos at the crosswalk near Land’s End Lookout (first two pix, north views from just below the Lookout), and up a trail near the parking lot, leading directly to this little structure (pic 3), then up the 21 north steps to the viewplace with the benches.
Here’s an excellent site with old photos of Sutro’s statues that used to live up here and on the grounds:
http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/heights/heights.htm
Down the 35 gardensteps on the south side (pix 4 thru 14) and over towards the east edge of the park for the main trail down to the Balboa Natural Area. One can scramble down and up other ways as well but the main trail down is easier. It’s gorgeous here, especially now with all the green grass ’n yellow oxalis, the blooming iceplant, trees, and views.
The viewspot: 15, 16
The wildspot: 17 thru 23
The stairway (118 steps): 24 thru 38
This is called Balboa Natural Area on Google Maps. It has multiple sandy trails; this time noticed less litter. And behind the still colorfully graffitied-upon wood fence at the top of the stairs there no longer appears to be evidence of homeless encampments.
Crossing Point Lobos at the crosswalk near Land’s End Lookout (first two pix, north views from just below the Lookout), and up a trail near the parking lot, leading directly to this little structure (pic 3), then up the 21 north steps to the viewplace with the benches.
Here’s an excellent site with old photos of Sutro’s statues that used to live up here and on the grounds:
http://www.cliffhouseproject.com/environs/heights/heights.htm
Down the 35 gardensteps on the south side (pix 4 thru 14) and over towards the east edge of the park for the main trail down to the Balboa Natural Area. One can scramble down and up other ways as well but the main trail down is easier. It’s gorgeous here, especially now with all the green grass ’n yellow oxalis, the blooming iceplant, trees, and views.
The viewspot: 15, 16
The wildspot: 17 thru 23
The stairway (118 steps): 24 thru 38
1. Cavetop viewplace and west trailhead for Coastal Trail upper left
2. View to north from just below Land's End Lookout
3. Main part of Sutro Heights Park
4. South steps down from the viewspot
5. Southside gardens
6. South steps
7. Southside
8. Ocean Beach below
9. South wall
10. Beautiful!
11. Steps closeup
12. South steps
13. Southside steps
14. Long ago various statuary was atop the parapets
15. Ocean Beach below
16. There are benches up here
17. Roots and pieces of wood as steps
18. Thick-sand trails
19. Blooming iceplant
20. Balboa Natural Area
21. Dune-y viewspot
22. Trees and trails above Point Lobos/Great Highway
23. Viewspot above the beach
24. Top of the stairs
25. After the graffiti-wood fence, a chainlink fence
26. Sand and wood
27. Down to Balboa St. & La Playa
28. 118 steps
29. Between steps
30. Green and wildflowery
31. Ocean Beach, left
32. Looking back
33. More steps
34. Yellow oxalis, left
35. Nearing the foot
36. This is how it looks in the winter/spring
37. From the foot at Balboa
38. Old park sign
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