A Different Side of LA
Forget freeways and traffic. Hidden among LA hills are hundreds of staircases built for streetcar commuters in the 1920s. Today they are an urban playground for hikers, photographers, and history buffs.
Routes Worth Trying
Echo Park Loop: Murals, hillside houses, and skyline views.
Silver Lake Music Box Steps: Made famous by Laurel and Hardy.
Beachwood Canyon: Hidden paths with angles of the Hollywood Sign.
How to Explore
Bring good shoes and water. Many routes are mapped in the book Secret Stairs by Charles Fleming. Expect steep climbs and narrow steps, but also gardens, street art, and community life at every turn.
Pair your hike with local stops:
Alfred Coffee Silver Lake: A caffeine boost for the climb.
Sage Vegan Bistro in Echo Park: Healthy brunch post-hike.
Pine & Crane: Taiwanese dishes that refuel after big loops.
Why It Matters
These staircases are living history. They tell the story of LA before cars dominated. And they are one of the best ways to slow down and see neighborhoods you might otherwise speed past.