The Walk from “We Took the Stairs” — Part 1

The Walk from “We Took the Stairs” — Part 1

By Ellie Klevins, OurSausalito.com Sr. ontributing Editor.  To read the introductory article for this series, click here.

Starting Point:  Sausalito Ferry Pier

Conditions: Over 120 stairs to climb, then some more gradual uphill walking.  If you take the entire length of the route you’ll walk on some steep downhill streets as well.  Wear sturdy shoes and take your time.  Great views, with most of the walking on sidewalks, and with little traffic on the streets where there are no sidewalks.  This walk is divided into three parts that can be done separately or together.

Part 1 (Totals a 1.2 mile round trip)

From the Sausalito Ferry pier walk south on Bridgeway (towards San Francisco, with the Bay on your left) for ½ mile.  After you pass the Al Sybrian sea lion statue on the Bridgeway Promenade, cross over to the uphill side of Bridgeway and look for the double concrete pillars on each side of a stairway adjacent to the tiny Tiffany Park.  This stairway is actually a continuation of North Street, but it’s a version that only pedestrians can take! :ogically enough, it’s called the North Street Stairs.

Start the ascent up the stairway – there are approximately 120 stairs.  Pause at each of three landings to turn around, admire the view of Richardson Bay and the San Francisco skyline… and catch you breath.   It’s a great spot for photos.

At the top of the stairs turn right onto Josephine Street, which is a charming and narrow lane.  At the top of the hill keep going straight, as the street name changes to Atwood Ave.  All along this section there are charming older houses on your left with old stone walls, interspersed with a few updated and contemporary homes.  To your right are beautiful views of the Sausalito harbor and beyond.

At the intersection of Atwood and Harrison Ave continue straight with the Bay to your right.  The street now becomes Bulkley Ave. and you start a gradual descent.  Check out 31 Bulkley, built in 1884, and 34-36 Bulkley, built in 1904.

Look to your right for house numbers 50, 52 and 54.  Just beyond their gate is a public cement stairway (with dual pipe handrails)  heading downwards which you’ll take.  At the bottom of these stairs is a narrow walkway covered with moss.  Proceed down this pathway and take the next set of stairs.  At the bottom of the stairway there is a small parking area and you’ll be on Princess Street.

If you’d like to keep exploring the hillside lanes and paths, turn left on Princess St. and turn uphill past the old Alta Mira Hotel, how a drug rehab center closed to the public.  Click here for the next phase of the walk.

If you have had enough hillside walking, turn right and follow Princess St. back down the hill to downtown Sausalito.  Turning left at Bridgeway and Princess allows you to retrace your steps to the Sausalito Ferry.

Click here to continue to the walk’s second segment.