Excelsior–Sunnyside Hidden Stairways & Gardens Loop.

Join me for a roughly 4.5-mile urban adventure through two of San Francisco’s wonderfully overlooked neighborhoods—the Excelsior and Sunnyside.

We’ll start and finish at Excelsior Coffee on Mission Street, then head into the hills to discover hidden stairways, colorful community projects, pocket gardens, unexpected views, and some fascinating pieces of neighborhood history.

Along the way we’ll explore the Peru Avenue Steps, Athens-Avalon Green Space, Kenny Alley and its mosaic staircase, Upper Detroit Steps, Melrose/Detroit Botanical Garden, and the historic Sunnyside Conservatory.

This is the kind of San Francisco walk I love: places you can pass a hundred times without realizing what’s hiding just a few blocks uphill.

Distance: Approximately 4.5 miles
Time: Allow about 2½–3 hours with stops
Terrain: Hills, stairways and uneven surfaces
Start/Finish: Excelsior Coffee, 4495 Mission Street
Transit: Glen Park BART provides a convenient bailout point along the route

Bring water, layers, comfortable walking shoes, and your curiosity. This isn’t a race—we’ll keep a steady, social pace while making time to enjoy the hidden corners along the way.

Come discover another side of San Francisco—one staircase, garden and neighborhood story at a time.