Hike #1422
Silverlake Stairs
September 25, 2019
Hike Leader: Jim Carlin
Meet at 9:00 am for start at 9:30 am
Please print your own hike descriptions and maps. This will avoid the inconvenience and save costs to the hike leader.
Distance: 4 miles RT
Elevation Gain: 800 ft.
Comfortable street shoes are recommended. Probably no need for treking poles.
Summary: The Silverlake neighborhood east of Echo Park varies from quite modest, small homes, weed strewn empty lots, small stores along Sunset Blvd. to large mansions overlooking the lake itself. If all goes well, we will traverse 11 separate stairways (2 stairs twice) containing a total of 1,408 stairs -- some of them going up, some going down. Eight of these stairways have paintings either on the stairs themselves or else on their retaining walls. We start and end at the "Music Box Stairs" made famous by the Laurel and Hardy movie depicting them trying to deliver a piano up the stairs (watch the movie). Please note: pianos will not be provided on this hike, so if you are so motivated, bring along your own.
Directions to Trailhead: We meet at the bottom of the Music Box Stairs located near 921/923 Vendome Street (north end of Laurel & Hardy Park). Exit the Hollywood (101) freeway at Silver Lake Blvd. and head north. Our goal is to reach West Sunset Blvd. headed north-west, but Silver Lake crosses under Sunset so you either have to take a left onto Parkman Ave, or else a right on Ellett Place - before the Sunset bridge. Either one will get you up to Sunset, where you will turn left to go north west on Sunset.
Look for North Vendome Street on your left just after you cross North Reno St., turn left and procede southerly until you reach Laurel & Hardy park - a small triangular grassy area appearing on your left. Park on any of the surrounding streets being mindful of their one-way directions. The Music Box Steps are on the west side of Vendome at the north end of the park. There is an identifying sign on a post at the foot of the stairs, and a plaque on one of the steps.
Suggestion: Google "Painted stairways of LA" for a complete orientation of these art projects and various stairway tours. We will traverse 6 of these painted stairs (look for a Painted notation in the table below).
The Hike: The hike can only be described in tabular form. See Silverlake Instructions. Each stairway is numbered (i.e. S1, S2...). The direction (up or down) is given next. The number of stairs and a cum number of stairs is next. The presence or absence of a handrail is given next. The final column gives directions to follow after traversing the stairs.
End of hike gathering for those who survive will be at the Laurel & Hardy Park. Please bring chairs.
Silverlake Instructions - Must print and take on the walk, otherwise you are guaranteed to get lost!!!
Google Earth Photo - Silverlake Stairs
2019-09-19
