Alta Plaza Park-San Francisco Stair Walk
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Alta Plaza Park, bordered by Clay, Steiner, Jackson, and Scott Streets, Pacific Heights, San Francisco 94115
Starting Point: There are multiple stairway entrances and as well as ramp access around Alta Plaza park. The grand stairway is at the intersection of Pierce and Clay Streets.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Alta Plaza Park information link (San Francisco Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Alta-Plaza-Park-147
Alta Plaza Park information link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/alta-plaza-park.html
Alta Plaza Park information link (Friends of Alta Plaza Park):
http://www.altaplazapark.com
Distance:
The full perimeter around Alta Plaza Park—bordered by Scott Street, Clay Street, Steiner Street, and Jackson Street—is 0.6 miles. The park itself covers close to 12 acres. The playground, tennis courts and basketball court offer exercise opportunities, but the grand stairway from Pierce and Clay is the hotspot for fitness buffs and personal trainers, who appear on and off throughout any day to do various workout segments on the stairs.
Considerations:
• This is a city park accessible by public transportation or car. Read parking signs and regulations carefully to avoid tickets. (For any location: Always lock car doors and don’t leave items visible within vehicle.)
• There is a toilet facility near the playground.
• Wheelchair access is from Scott and Jackson Streets. The perimeter has multiple stairway access spots, but this is the ramp entry corner.
• This is a popular dog walking spot that includes an off-leash dog play area at the east side of the park (a heads up for those with dog-shy family members like our autistic son).
• Pay attention to public health and safety information signs.
The trail:
Alta Plaza Park is a city park that provides green space and recreational facilities for the neighborhood. I never thought of it as a destination spot, but when a friend had me check out the amazing views from the top of the main stairs at Pierce and Clay, and almost more dramatically from the smaller stair entrance at Pierce and Jackson, I realized that this is one of the treasured hilltop spots that offers 360 degree views around San Francisco.
Facilities include a children’s playground (toilet facility near this), a basketball court, and tennis courts. This is a popular dog-walking spot and includes a leash-free dog playing area. On my photo shoot visit, I saw a pair of flamenco shoe-clad feet through the tennis court fence, view of the rest of the dancer blocked by a tree. Something about disembodied feet practicing flamenco on a wooden board in an empty tennis court reflected the all encompassing nature of what a city park should offer—a space away from an apartment to get a bit of exercise, fresh air and freedom.
For those who are daunted by the thought of climbing the multi-tiered stairway from Pierce and Clay, or any of the multiple stairs that offer access to the park, you can walk up the ramp from Scott and Jackson. This is the key wheelchair access point for Alta Plaza Park.
Visitors can do a high intensity workout of their own using the stairs, or vicariously enjoy the workout by observing the many fitness enthusiasts and personal trainers using the stairs for running, and the border walls for pushups, squats and stretching.
The grand stairs may look a bit beat up, but this is partly because the makers of the 1972 film “What’s Up Doc?” drove a VW Bug on the stairs (reportedly without permission). The missing chunks of concrete reflect a bit of Hollywood history.
There is a regal row of trees at the crest of the hill, and the views in every direction offer great cityscapes. Though the view from the top of the grand stairs facing south is the broadest, the most stunning view in my opinion is from the hilltop at Pierce and Jackson Streets. Despite overhead wires distracting from the view a bit, the blue waters of San Francisco Bay are a lovely sight.
Check out a map for surrounding places to visit. Nearby Fillmore Street offers shops, cafes and restaurants to explore before or after a park visit.
(Alta Plaza Park-San Francisco Stair Walk Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Wherever You Are” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777
(scroll to bottom for photo gallery)
Location: Alta Plaza Park, bordered by Clay, Steiner, Jackson, and Scott Streets, Pacific Heights, San Francisco 94115
Starting Point: There are multiple stairway entrances and as well as ramp access around Alta Plaza park. The grand stairway is at the intersection of Pierce and Clay Streets.
Info links:
For all web links, if a link doesn’t jump directly, copy and paste into browser.
Alta Plaza Park information link (San Francisco Rec and Parks):
https://sfrecpark.org/facilities/facility/details/Alta-Plaza-Park-147
Alta Plaza Park information link (Golden Gate Park):
https://goldengatepark.com/alta-plaza-park.html
Alta Plaza Park information link (Friends of Alta Plaza Park):
http://www.altaplazapark.com
Distance:
The full perimeter around Alta Plaza Park—bordered by Scott Street, Clay Street, Steiner Street, and Jackson Street—is 0.6 miles. The park itself covers close to 12 acres. The playground, tennis courts and basketball court offer exercise opportunities, but the grand stairway from Pierce and Clay is the hotspot for fitness buffs and personal trainers, who appear on and off throughout any day to do various workout segments on the stairs.
Considerations:
• This is a city park accessible by public transportation or car. Read parking signs and regulations carefully to avoid tickets. (For any location: Always lock car doors and don’t leave items visible within vehicle.)
• There is a toilet facility near the playground.
• Wheelchair access is from Scott and Jackson Streets. The perimeter has multiple stairway access spots, but this is the ramp entry corner.
• This is a popular dog walking spot that includes an off-leash dog play area at the east side of the park (a heads up for those with dog-shy family members like our autistic son).
• Pay attention to public health and safety information signs.
The trail:
Alta Plaza Park is a city park that provides green space and recreational facilities for the neighborhood. I never thought of it as a destination spot, but when a friend had me check out the amazing views from the top of the main stairs at Pierce and Clay, and almost more dramatically from the smaller stair entrance at Pierce and Jackson, I realized that this is one of the treasured hilltop spots that offers 360 degree views around San Francisco.
Facilities include a children’s playground (toilet facility near this), a basketball court, and tennis courts. This is a popular dog-walking spot and includes a leash-free dog playing area. On my photo shoot visit, I saw a pair of flamenco shoe-clad feet through the tennis court fence, view of the rest of the dancer blocked by a tree. Something about disembodied feet practicing flamenco on a wooden board in an empty tennis court reflected the all encompassing nature of what a city park should offer—a space away from an apartment to get a bit of exercise, fresh air and freedom.
For those who are daunted by the thought of climbing the multi-tiered stairway from Pierce and Clay, or any of the multiple stairs that offer access to the park, you can walk up the ramp from Scott and Jackson. This is the key wheelchair access point for Alta Plaza Park.
Visitors can do a high intensity workout of their own using the stairs, or vicariously enjoy the workout by observing the many fitness enthusiasts and personal trainers using the stairs for running, and the border walls for pushups, squats and stretching.
The grand stairs may look a bit beat up, but this is partly because the makers of the 1972 film “What’s Up Doc?” drove a VW Bug on the stairs (reportedly without permission). The missing chunks of concrete reflect a bit of Hollywood history.
There is a regal row of trees at the crest of the hill, and the views in every direction offer great cityscapes. Though the view from the top of the grand stairs facing south is the broadest, the most stunning view in my opinion is from the hilltop at Pierce and Jackson Streets. Despite overhead wires distracting from the view a bit, the blue waters of San Francisco Bay are a lovely sight.
Check out a map for surrounding places to visit. Nearby Fillmore Street offers shops, cafes and restaurants to explore before or after a park visit.
(Alta Plaza Park-San Francisco Stair Walk Hike Notes were originally paired with the “Wherever You Are” Insights post.)
Click Insights/Hike Update News for inspiring reflections. Browse hikes on the main Hikes page or on the Hike Search by Area page. Check out selected articles and interviews under Media. Click World Walks to see or share favorite family-friendly walks! Stay in touch with Lisa Louis and HikingAutism via Contact. See products with inspiring designs that support the efforts of HikingAutism under Support/Shop. The Links page lists a loose collection of helpful information links.
Check the Home page for the broader background story. If you’re not able to take one of these Northern California hikes, hopefully you can enjoy the photo galleries at the bottom of each hike page! Feel free to share and follow on Facebook at HikingAutism, follow on Twitter at @HikingAutism and Instagram at lisalouis777