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Don't miss the SF Stair Challenge this weekend

Shawna Chen

Triptych: left shows a sunny hillside with stone steps, trees, and parked cars; center a mural of musicians and a crowd with two hikers; right a grand staircase and ornate arch with a cross against a blue sky. — A preview of this year's route: The grand staircase down to Clay at Alta Plaza Park (left), Blues Evolution in Western Addition and Spanish Steps up to Lone Mountain at USF. Photos: Courtesy of Walk SF

San Francisco has over 900 public stairways — and this weekend, you can climb some of its best-kept secrets.

State of play: Walk San Francisco's annual SF Stair Challenge is back, sending participants up mosaic steps, tucked-away garden paths and historic staircases. Axios SF got a first look at this year's tour.

The route:

A 5-mile, self-guided trek starting at Alta Plaza Park
Roughly 2,000 steps, mostly in Pacific Heights
Expect 3.5–4 hours to finish (yes, your legs will feel it)

The intrigue: In addition to signature stairways like the ones in the photo, this year's tour will include quieter highlights like the Swedenborgian Church on Lyon and the peekaboo view of downtown from the top of Normandie Terrace.

Start windows run every 30 minutes from 8–11am Saturday.

Behind the scenes: Since 2023, Walk SF has hosted the Stair Challenge every spring, allowing participants to discover hidden gems while supporting the pedestrian safety nonprofit.

Each year, volunteers design a fresh route that mixes iconic stairways with under-the-radar gems and sweeping city views.

What's next: Tickets start at $100, with special rates available for 10 people or more.

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Don't miss the SF Stair Challenge this weekend

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