Completed: August 6, 2023 | Elevation: Nob Hill – 325′ and Russian Hill – 300′ | Trail: n/a | Distance: <1 mile
We spent a beautiful Sunday exploring our city, structuring a walk around two Nifty Ninety peaks, Nob Hill and Russian Hill. Our first destination was the corner of Jones and Sacramento, which according to Wikipedia is the approximate top of Nob Hill. Other blogs suggested that the old Flood Mansion, which is now the Pacific Union Club, marks the top. In either case, we figured that once there we’d be able to ascertain the high point.
You can easily drive to both, but then what would be the fun of that? Instead, we opted for the Muni Metro T line to Chinatown. We emerged from the Rose Pak Station at the corner of Stockton and Washington and walked the four blocks to the crest of Nob Hill. The brownstone Flood Mansion, occupying half a block, has a commanding position, but it was clear that as we continued on Sacramento we were still going up. When we reached the intersection with Jones, we could see the Flood Mansion, the Fairmont and the Mark Hopkins below us.
Nob Hill completed, we turned onto Jones and walked another six blocks to Vallejo street. A set of steps on the right took us up to a cul-de-sac lined with homes on each side, and at the end, a small park that marks the top of Russian Hill. Adjacent to the park is a stairway, one that we’ve gone up and down many times, that connects to Taylor Street and Ina Coolbrith Park.
We went down the steps and continued our walk on Vallejo Street and into the heart of North Beach, just in time for lunch. We turned left onto Stockton and made our way to Tony’s Pizza Napoletana, where Chris had his eyes on the Italian Beef sandwich. After lunch we slowly walked back to Chinatown and picked up a few sundry items before taking the Muni Metro back home.
Follow our progress bagging the Bay Area’s Nifty Ninety here.