Baxter Stairways

15 sections of stairs. I started from the bottom of the steps and the steps end at a private residence driveway so it's a little odd. Once you walk onto the street you are above Elysian Park with a view of the Downtown LA skyline. There are no handrails here!

We wanted to try a new trail and took the Baxster Stairways to get to the Elysian Park Trail. Being out of shape, going up the stairs was tough but the view was amazing and it was a great way to exercise.

Baxter Stairways is a hidden public staircase located in Echo Park and is also known to be the steepest staircase in Los Angeles. It has a total of 230 steps and connects the bottom (Baxter St) to the top of the hill (Park Dr.) Once you are on Park Dr, Elysian Park Trail is just a short walking distance away.

I was able to find street parking fairly easy near Elysian Heights Elementary Arts Magnet on a weekend. If you take a side route in the middle of the stairways, then you'll find a secret bench and it's a prime seclusive spot for a quiet romantic date. I also noticed few "Save Kite Hill" signs too.

A great place for a nice workout.

Used to run, walk then crawl them for conditioning. As a kid played with friends on adjacent Kite Hill, sliding down on cardboard sleds, foxtails everywhere. Great views, fond memories.

I have lived in EXP my whole life... from the time I ducked bullets to it being gentrified to now becoming a very cool and super expensive place to live in (I love my home increasing in value ;) ). These stairs have never changed! They always kick your ASS. I love Echo Park because of all the secret stair cases and hills (Baxter being on the news) that you can use for cardio. I did not know about them for a couple of years but found out about them through my family that they were hidden no more than a block and half away... I have tried time and time again to run them up once without stopping but I have gotten winded every single time and it just never gets easier.

The views from the top are magnificent! On a clear day you can see all of the west side including the observatory and the Hollywood sign. Or if you look to the east you can catch a good view of DTLA and the east side. The stairs lead right to Elysian Park and there are trails that you can take from there if you want to continue your work out. I sometimes run up the stairs once and then take a trail because when I have tried to run up and down those stairs more than once I don't make it to the trail LOL. In the evenings you do have to be careful because we have coyotes that roam around in a pack of three. They can be harmless but I wouldn't chance it with small dogs. I don't know how parking is since I just walk over to them. I have tried counting them and then get so exhausted that I forget I lose count.

This might be the first time I've written a Yelp review for a staircase before! My husband and I were visiting LA this past week, and we were trying to get some exercise in each morning since we were eating SO MUCH. We were staying in Echo Park, so we walked over to the Baxter Stairways and used them for a bit of exercise! As a girl originally from North Texas (is there any place flatter?), these staircases hidden in the hills throughout LA and other parts of California are pretty amazing. A free stairmaster with a view! Great way to get some exercise in on a trip! We ran up the stairways a few times and also walked around Elysian Park, which is accessible from the top of the Stairways. Very cool/very Cali way to exercise on our trip!

16 + 12 + 11+ 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 11 + 21 + 21 + more...

After Alana and I conquered the Laveta Terrace Stairs, we approached these stairs with hesitation after reading reviews. This was the Second day of Summer at midday, so we had some water and did our best...

Gosh... we didn't want to faint from heat stroke... plus, we wanted to get some Bingsoo in Koreatown... so...

We stopped when we were able to see Griffith Park and the Hollywood Sign - maybe about halfway up. We agreed to return in Autumn and maybe on a clearer day for better photos. We felt a slight breeze when we ventured off the stairs on a dirt path... that's where we got a good shot of Downtown LA...

We'll be back!

Ughhhh.... the Baxter Stairs.

No matter how many times I climb up this stairway, it never gets any easier. Running down is so much more fun.

I usually take the stairs on my daily dog walks while we make our way to Elysian Park. The dogs actually race up the stairs and use caution going down... I really wish it was the other way around.

The stairs do tend to have more visitors on the weekend, but I have never seen it out of control full.

Once you arrive to the top, stop and enjoy your view. Use that 5 minutes to catch your breath and look out toward the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory (you definitely need to catch a sunset up here) - or - walk about 50 feet from the top and check out the DTLA skyline (equally beautiful during sunrise and sunset).

Reminder: please be mindful of the houses in the area.

Situated in a nice neighborhood of Echo Park, I was so happy to discover Baxter Stairs via Yelp. Parking was convenient in the residential area near the bottom of the stairs. It wasn't too crowded when I went. It was also a place where I felt comfortable going alone.

Stairs are my weakness so going up and down three times was killer for me. My legs were wobbling, I struggled every time when I get closer to the top, but I kept pushing myself. At the top, you are rewarded with a nice view of downtown LA and the hiking trails of Elysian Park. It felt so peaceful. You will only encounter residents going on walks and people walking their dogs.

The stair steps were the same size and uniformed so it was not a struggle like Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook in Culver City or Runyon Canyon in Hollywood. Yet, sprinting up and down those steps left me sore for the following two days after my workout! I am definitely coming back here and aiming to do five runs of these stairs!

Great views, limited parking. And Ouch, I'm still sore. But a hidden workout should you suggest yourself to such punishment. The Go Ruck guys inspired me to finish my 5 sets.