Among the many wonderful stairways in San Francisco, the two off Ord Street on the northwest slopes of the Eureka Valley, Vulcan and Saturn are fantastic. They're a fun way to cross the steep slopes up to Corona Heights, or if you're on your way from Castro to Haight, they're a scenic alternative to the usual streets.
The stairs run from Ord St. on the east side to Levant St. on the west side, and there are several stairs along the Vulcan Street stairs with houses facing the stairs (meaning that the houses have no street access for a car). The Vulcan Stairs are a sweet spot we love in Corona Heights, a neighborhood with a reputation for its hills. It's not the only SF neighborhood that has houses along the stairs, but these stairs are rather bucolic and lovely. Few cities have stairways like streets, which is one reason why we find them so delightful.
Vulcan Steps is among the best of San Francisco's stairways. Almost two blocks long, the steps are carefully followed by the people who live with them. The gardens are magnificent, and they look like a jungle in places.
Following the tradition of quirky architecture, the Vulcan Steps houses are unique and reflect the eclectic tastes of the people who live on the steps.
Almost all the houses are only accessible by foot. Food, supplies and furniture must all be carried by hand.
Constructed primarily of concrete, the steps are separated into two divergent paths, part of the way up the slope. A small wood and plank trail connects the paths closer to the top of the steps.
The Vulcan Steps are the perfect way to cross the hill between Castro and Haight or Ashbury Park. On the way back, take a little detour and go down the stairs of Saturn Street.
The Vulcan stairs are a good starting point for an urban walk. There are 209 steps, so this is a pretty good workout. The Saturn stairs (114 steps) are on the same block (Ord st) so you can do a loop both on and off in the hilly neighborhood and have a few other streets with mini stairs (Levant Street, Douglas, Clifford).
What is unique to the Vulcan stairs, unlike the flashier Tiled Steps or Garden Steps, is that there are numerous houses located on the path only accessible from the stairs.
This amazing landmark is located in San Francisco, California and is only a short distance away from:
- Camera Obscura
- Labyrinth at Lands EndÂ
- Tank Hill
- Yerba Buena Gardens Sculptures
- Seward Street Slides
- Urbano SundialÂ
- Shakespeare Garden at Golden Gate Park
- Balmy Alley
All of these wonderful attractions are located just a short distance from our location, conveniently located just down the freeway at 1261 Locust St, Walnut Creek! Stop by for a visit anytime!
