Stairways are Heaven
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The Steps and the Wildspot

3/20/2015

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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


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1. Cavetop viewplace and west trailhead for Coastal Trail upper left
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2. View to north from just below Land's End Lookout
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3. Main part of Sutro Heights Park
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4. South steps down from the viewspot
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5. Southside gardens
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6. South steps
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7. Southside
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8. Ocean Beach below
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9. South wall
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10. Beautiful!
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11. Steps closeup
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12. South steps
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13. Southside steps
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14. Long ago various statuary was atop the parapets
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15. Ocean Beach below
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16. There are benches up here
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17. Roots and pieces of wood as steps
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18. Thick-sand trails
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19. Blooming iceplant
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20. Balboa Natural Area
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21. Dune-y viewspot
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22. Trees and trails above Point Lobos/Great Highway
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23. Viewspot above the beach
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24. Top of the stairs
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25. After the graffiti-wood fence, a chainlink fence
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26. Sand and wood
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27. Down to Balboa St. & La Playa
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28. 118 steps
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29. Between steps
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30. Green and wildflowery
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31. Ocean Beach, left
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32. Looking back
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33. More steps
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34. Yellow oxalis, left
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35. Nearing the foot
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36. This is how it looks in the winter/spring
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37. From the foot at Balboa
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38. Old park sign
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    I like meandering around on San Francisco's park trails and public stairways, sometimes taking photos, and enjoying nature and the outdoors.

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