Completed: February 10, 2023 | Elevation: 275′ | Trail: Greenwich Steps Loop | Distance: < 1 mile
Concerned that it was almost mid-February and we had only completed one Nifty Ninety peak because last weekend’s hike didn’t count, I decide that we needed to put in extra effort to at least make it seem like we were making progress.
On Friday afternoon we took a quick break to walk to the top of Telegraph Hill via the Greenwich Steps, located where Greenwich Street crosses Sansome Street and dead ends into the hillside. We discovered these steps during the pandemic, when working out indoors was taboo, and have since climbed them countless times. It’s another one of those things that surprised us and made us wonder how we had never known about it despite having lived in the city for so many years.
The steps climbed quickly, providing an initial cardio blast which felt good after sitting all day, before leveling off and taking us past a charming community of homes and a beautiful urban garden. There was a magnolia tree with amazing fuchsia-colored flowers.
At the end of the walkway more steps took us up to Montgomery Street. From here we crossed the street, heading to our right where we continued on brick steps that cut through lush greenery.
We crossed the street and walked to the entrance of Coit Tower, which marks the top of Telegraph Hill.
Rather than going back the way we came, we chose to go around to the back of Coit Tower and walk back to the car by descending the Filbert Street steps, which seem more rustic – they are all mostly wood. They are also more direct and pretty much take you in a straight line back down to the Sansome Street. Like the Greenwich Steps, however, they take you through the backyards of homes with impressive views of the Bay. The last segment of concrete steps are quite steep.
It took us less than 20 minutes to walk the entire route. Short, but sweet. And another peak checked off.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.