Secret Stair Master!

Workout Stairway Hike in Pasadena California

Step up to a wonderful 2-mile, nearly 1000-step workout in peaceful Pasadena that is part leg labor, part suburban stroll, and all serene secret.

Head to west Pasadena, bordering Eagle Rock, and find street parking at the corner of La Loma Road and Elmwood Drive. Head north on Elmwood Drive for one block to find your first set of stairs (in Charles Fleming’s books, these are called the Elmwood Stairs), 98 steps that lead you to Redwood Drive. You may not see a single soul on your concrete ascent, but you will see a variety of architectural designs, including Craftsman (a Pasadena favorite), Victorian, Spanish adobe, and modern homes. It’s a beautiful suburban setting with roses, birds of paradise, and other flowers, which is also often shaded due to towering pines, sycamores, and oaks throughout the walk.

From Redwood Drive all the way to Cherry Drive, you have three sets of stairs—266 steps up (take a breather between sets to rest and ogle the homes) and a handful down, which soon lead you to views over Eagle Rock. Take a right at Cherry Drive and head down the paved road, noting a descending staircase on your right, next to a healthy Moreton Bay fig and passing a beautiful succulent garden with bright aloe blooms. Ignore the stairs for now and continue to the junction with Juniper Drive; turn left, followed by another left at Capinero Drive and then an immediate right to stay on Capinero. Here is a small staircase that deposits you at Cheviotdale Drive.

You’ll now turn right onto Cheviotdale, followed by another right, which takes you north back to Juniper Drive to complete your mini lollipop loop. Back at the Moreton Bay fig, take the descending stairs and look for bougainvillea and Indian paintbrush. There are two sets here that take you to La Loma. You could head back to your car here, but we will make the case for more stairs! Turning left at La Loma takes you to another descending knee-buckler that drops you at Evergreen Drive. From here, turn right to get back to La Loma and another quarter mile to get back to your car. Stairmaster indeed!

BONUS SECRET: Pasadena is full of hidden history, and one important claim to fame exists just a 1-mile walk from your car at the corner of Avenue 64 and Colorado Boulevard. Here, under a business park flagpole, you will find the plaque commemorating the site of the supposed 1924 invention of the cheeseburger.

To get to the Pasadena Elmwood Stairs and the start of your suburban workout adventure, take the CA-134 and exit Figueroa St., heading south. Right after crossing Colorado Blvd., take a left onto La Loma Rd. and reach the junction with Elmwood Dr. after a quarter mile; find street parking here. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Hiker taking a photo of sunset at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

    Sunshine and Skyline

    Head to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve for a 4-mile out-and-back hike on the Bay Area Ridge Trail that offers a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View