Containing walks and detailed maps from throughout the city, Secret Stairs highlights the charms and quirks of a unique feature of the Los Angeles landscape, and chronicles the geographical, architectural, and historical aspects of the city's staircases, as well as of the neighborhoods in which the steps are located.
From strolling through the classic La Loma neighborhood in Pasadena to walking the Sunset Junction Loop in Silver Lake, to taking the Beachwood Canyon hike through "Hollywoodland" to enjoying the magnificent ocean views from the Castellammare district in Pacific Palisades, Secret Stairs takes you on a tour of staircases all across the City of Angels.
The circular walks, rated for duration and difficulty, deliver tales of historic homes and their fascinating inhabitants, bits of unusual local trivia, and stories of the neighborhoods surrounding the stairs: That's where William Faulkner was living when he wrote the screenplay for To Have and Have Not. That house was designed by Neutra. Over there is a Schindler. That's where Woody Guthrie lived, where Anaïs Nin died, and where Thelma Todd was murdered. ...
Despite the fact that one of these staircases starred in an Oscarwinning short film-Laurel and Hardy's The Music Box, from 1932-these civic treasures have been virtually unknown to most of the city's residents and visitors. Now, Secret Stairs puts these hidden stairways back on the map, while introducing urban hikers to exciting new "trails" all around the city of Los Angeles.
Introduction 6
Part 1 Pasadena and The East
Walk #1 Pasadena-La Loma Road 13
Walk #2 Eagle Rock 17
Walk #3 Glassell Park North-York and Beyond 21
Walk #4 Glassell Park South-Taylor Yard 25
Walk #5 Mt. Washington 29
Walk #6 Hermon and Highland Park 35
Walk #7 Highland Park-Southwest Museum 39
Walk #8 Highland Park-Highlands 45
Walk #9 El Sereno Circles 51
Walk #10 Happy Valley and Montecito Heights 55
Walk #11 Downtown Los Angeles 61
Part 2 Echo Park
Walk #12 Echo Park Lake Victorians 71
Walk #13 Laveta Terrace 77
Walk #14 Magic Gas 81
Walk #15 Avalon-Baxter Loop 85
Walk #16 Allesandro Loop 91
Walk #17 Fellowship Park 97
Part 3 Silver Lake
Walk #18 Music Box Loop 105
Walk #19 Silver Lake Circles 111
Walk #20 Sunset Junction Loop 115
Walk #21 Silver Lake Terraces West 121
Walk #22 Coffee Table Loop 125
Walk #23 Astro Loop 131
Walk #24 Silver Lake Terraces East 137
Walk #25 Swan's Way 141
Walk #26 Cove-Loma Vista Loop 145
Walk #27 Silver Lake Court 151
Walk #28 Los Angeles River Loop 157
Part 4 Hollywood and Los Feliz
Walk #29 Los Feliz-Griffith Park Loop 165
Walk #30 Franklin Hills East-Lyric Loop 171
Walk #31 Franklin Hills West-Radio-Prospect Loop 175
Walk #32 Fern Dell and Immaculate Heart 181
Walk #33 Bronson Canyon Loop 185
Walk #34 Beachwood Canyon 189
Walk #35 Temple Hill 193
Walk #36 Whitley Heights 199
Walk #37 Hollywood Bowl and High Tower Loop 203
Walk #38 Universal City-Happy Trails 207
Part 5 Santa Monica and The West
Walk #39 Santa Monica-Bluffs and Beach Walk 213
Walk #40 Santa Monica-Rustic Canyon Loop 219
Walk #41 Pacific Palisades-Castellammare 225
Walk #42 Pacific Palisades-Giant Steps 231
Afterword 236
Acknowledgements 238
Anonymous
Posted Fri May 10 00:00:00 EDT 2013
This book has 42 walks in various part of Los Angeles; each walk has a detailed map. I have done may of the walks and enjoyed them. In some areas, such as Silver Lake and Echo Park, it is hard to believe that you are in the middle of a big city. The book also lists the bus lines to use to get to the walk. (In some cases the buses are quite infrequent, such as the 201 line in Silver Lake, but obviously that is not the fault of the book). The book shows the total number of steps for each walk, but the more important number (to me at least) is steps up. But the book gives a difficulty level for each walk. Highly recommended for outdoor exercise right here in Los Angeles !
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Posted Tue May 29 00:00:00 EDT 2012
This is a great book to have in your collection. With all the great fact tidbits, and wonderful walking instructions. All the walks are fun and a great way to spend time with the family as well as getting out of the house and enjoying the city we live in. I would highly recommend this book, the walks are good for those who are less experienced all the way to the avid hikers. Check it out!!!!
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Overview
Containing walks and detailed maps from throughout the city, Secret Stairs highlights the charms and quirks of a unique feature of the Los Angeles landscape, and chronicles the geographical, architectural, and historical aspects of the city's staircases, as well as of the neighborhoods in which the steps are located.
From strolling through the classic La Loma neighborhood in Pasadena to walking the Sunset Junction Loop in Silver Lake, to taking the Beachwood Canyon hike through ...