Hiking in Bernal? Try a stairway walk

October 23, 7:52 PMBernal Heights ExaminerGabriella West

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Bakalinksy's book is still a best-seller.

Wilderness Press

I have a confession to make: I've been planning for months to write a column about hiking in Bernal Heights. Now that we have a few weeks of beautiful fall weather left (hopefully), it's time to share a book I've used over the years for walking in San Francisco. Adah Bakalinksy's "Stairway Walks in San Francisco" (Wilderness Press) is never out of print despite being over 20 years old, and is now in its sixth edition.

There are 27 hikes in the newest edition of Bakalinsky's book. All the walks are carefully described, step by step, with a detailed map, and a particular emphasis on tree and plant life, as well as architectural asides.

The east side of Bernal Heights isn't as scenic as the west, but being on a slope above freeways, it offers a surprising number of stairways, winding streets and good views. Once a working-class neighborhood, the houses on this side of the hill are quite pricey. You will also find streets with charming names like Faith and Joy!

I'm going to present the shorter version of Adah Bakalinsky's walk. The longer version is full of interesting details (eg. "You ascend the timber and metal stairway through a garden of redwoods, pines, a buckeye tree, and annuals.") This walk will take about an hour. Tip: Take the #67 bus to Ripley and Esmeralda to start.

I did this walk on a warm fall day and remember marvelling at all the hidden sights I was being exposed to: The community garden in #11 below was a particular joy.

1. Begin at the corner of 600 Peralta and 1000 Esmeralda.

2. Veer right to descend the (unmarked) Esmeralda stairway.

3. Turn right on the 400 block of lower Franconia; continue to the right.

4. Turn left to descend the (unmarked) Mayflower stairway.

5. Walk left on Hollaway to Joy stairway.

6. Turn left to ascend Joy stairway to Brewster.

7. Right on Brewster to Faith stairway. Descend.

8. Left turn on Holladay.

9. Ascend Rutledge stairway beyond the Mullen cul-de-sac to Brewster.

10. Left on Brewster (past the retaining wall).

11. Bear right up the stairway to entrance of Miller Memorial Grove/Dogpatch garden. Continue left. Walk through community garden.

12. Right on Franconia to Rutledge.

13. Descend Franconia stairway to Mullen.

14. Left turn on Mullen. Ascend the ramp stairway.

15. Follow the path.

16. Turn left on Peralta path and left again to follow garden path.

17. Next to no. 402, ascend the Peralta stairway.

18. Continue on Peralta past Ripley, to the beginning of your walk.