Filbert Steps

San Francisco, California is known for its stairways mostly because the town is full of large hills that require some creative architectural planning. Filbert Steps is one stairway in the city. These steps run up three sections of San Francisco streets: Telegraph Hill, Montgomery Street, and Sansome Street. It means the steps are three blocks in length.

Other famous stairways nearby include Peter Macchiarini Steps, Greenwich Street, Calhoun Terrace, Reno Street, Green Street Stairs, and Valleho Street Stairway. Filbert Steps are not the most famous, but they certainly have their own history. The stairs rise from Sansome Street up to Coit Tower. Coit Tower is a much sought after attraction in the city. The lowest section of stairs is concrete and steel, which run up the cliff to Montgomery Street. Here the steps have a median to cross to a short staircase to get to the upper section. Here the stairs were sculpted with gardens running alongside them. The buildings and gardens are well tended along the path.

With the staircases being close to each other it is possible to take one set up and another down. For example, visitors to Coit Tower could take the Filbert Steps up and then Greenwich Street Stairs back down.