Steepest street(s) in the City

6/19/2006 Dan V. says:

The Steepest Streets in the City
1. Filbert between Leavenworth and Hyde (31.5% grade)
2. 22nd Street between Church and Vicksburg (31.5% grade)
3. Jones between Union and Filbert (29% grade)
4. Duboce between Buena Vista and Alpine (27.9% grade)
5. Jones between Green and Union (26% grade)
6. Webster between Vallejo and Broadway 26% grade)
7. Duboce between Alpine and Divisadero (25% grade)
8. Jones between Pine and California (24.8 grade)
9. Fillmore between Vallejo and Broadway (24% grade)

6/19/2006 mei n. says:

california street is great. start from the bottom at embarcadero and drive up to nob hill. it's not the steepest but it is photographed a lot...

also check out divisadero or filmore in pac heights heading towards the marina/cow hollow area... you get a great view of crissy fields (?)...

6/19/2006 Dan V. says:

that's just off the top of my head.

6/19/2006 Zhanna K. says:

Steepest street in the city : Filbert St. between Hyde and Leavenworth descends at a 31.5 percent gradient.

6/19/2006 Zhanna K. says:

Great list Dan V.!

6/19/2006 Brian M. says:

I like the hills in Pacific Heights heading down toward the Marina. You get good architecture, a beautiful view of the bay, and some decent steepness (think steps cut into the sidewalk). If you hit the top lip at about 30, I'm sure you'd get some good Beverly Hills Cop/Bullitt action.

6/19/2006 Dan V. says:

I was totally joking about the top of my head, unless my head equals #1 google result for 'steepest streets in san francisco'.

I love that some people still don't know how to google.

6/19/2006 Vanessa G. says:

I believe this one is called Watermelon Hill... because they used to roll watermelons down it since it was the steepest.  Not sure what the story with that is though.  (Steepest street in the city : Filbert St. between Hyde and Leavenworth descends at a 31.5 percent gradient.)

6/19/2006 Dan V. says:

Wow, that reminds me:  Does anyone know the gradient decline of Filbert between Hyde and Leavenworth?

6/19/2006 Lainie L. says:

The Filbert Street hill is the FUNNEST hill to take tourists down. . .get a long car . . . the best was my '66 lincoln. . .  and then take the hill at about 25mph and then slow down as your hood hooks over the crest . . most people scream in terror and then laugh with glee as you continue down the hill. ..  it looks like you're dropping off the edge of the city . .. pretty view from there as well.  It's fun and most people say "let's do that again!"

6/19/2006 hen "certified 100% usda organic chicken" a. says:

i thought kearny was the steepest....kearny...between vallejo and broadway...you have to weave through an alley street to go down the short kearny street section.....

6/19/2006 Gil "whoo hoo" S. says:

Lanie, you stole my secret!  Also lots of fun in a motorcycle (but it's hard to stop at the stop sign at the bottom).

For a poor man's lombard street, go to Vermont between 20th and 22nd on Potrero Hill.  Lots of steep streets and good views around there.

Here's some things that go beyond the numbers.  Going up, not down, 17th street or Clipper Street on the way to twin peaks, the inflection point is really cool at high speed.

For some "I can't believe it's san francisco" moments, go down Medical Center Way from Twin Peaks to UCSF -- it's like you're in Colorado somewhere.  Can't describe the location, you have to google it.  Then take the aptly named Hillway down to Carl Street.  Or Oshaughnessy Blvd through Glen Canyon.  Guadelupe Canyon Parkway by San Bruno Mountain?  You think you're in New Mexico.  Heading into the Presidio from Arguello Blvd.  Forest Hill is a trip too.

For endless twisty tiny street hill climbing in residential areas, head over the bridge and try Sausalito, Ross, Tiburon.  They all remind me of the roads above Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood Hills.

The drive up to Coit Tower is great.  There's a great hill moment at Sanchez and 20th St.  Upper Market is great -- high but not steep.

Sadly we have few good car jumps in this town.  The only one that gives consistently good weightlessness without screwing up your car. . . other than Filber Street, is Franklin heading down the hill from Geary Street or so.  You have to time the lights, make sure nobody's in front of you, and take it at 35-40 mph (pace this, don't take my word).  It's kind of daunting.  My friend popped his Mercedes roll bar on that one.  But if you do it right, your guests will love you.

6/19/2006 Alan R. says:

Here's an itinerary I used to consistently good effect on tourists who got into my cab wanting a "streets of san francisco" experience.  

1. Start at the end of Hyde Street (at Jefferson) and head south.

2. Make a left on Filbert and when you get to the sign that says "steep hill ahead" accelerate to 30 MPH.

3. Go two blocks down to Jones and make a savage right turn, accelerating up the hill.

4. Go left on Union and take the next right at Taylor. Proceed up Taylor at a good clip. Acclerate as you pass Green.

5.  When  you reach the crest of the hill, floor it. You will go airborne for a good 30 feet and kill anything in your way on the other side. This stretch of Taylor was memorialized in the chase scene from Steve McQueen's 1968 action film "Bullitt." For details of the chase scene and further ideas for your own touring see: http://www.rjsmith.com...

6. If there are any survivors at this point, I would perhaps continue on Taylor and turn right on Sacramento.

7. Make a left on Jones.

8. Accelerate across the intersection at California and fly off the top of Jones without rearending any cars in front of you. Gradually brake as you approach the intersection of Pine to avoid bottoming out too hard. Notice all the marks in the road left by motorists who failed to brake sufficiently.  

9. Repair to a tavern to drink off the ordeal (I couldn't do this part while driving a cab).

Incidentally, if you want to take your friends down Lombard resist the tempation to do so by car. I generally avoid driving down the crooked block of Lombard. There's often a mob of cars wailting to go down it and you can't go fast enough to have any fun anyway. Drop your friends at the top at Hyde Street, let them walk down, drive around to  and pick them up at the bottom at Leavenworth.

Hope this helps...

6/19/2006 Chris T. says:

Were your visitors so appauled by SF gas prices that they wanted to save up by just "neutralling" it down these steep streets?

6/19/2006 Gourmet G. says:

When I first moved to SF, my car had a 4-cyclinder engine and manual transmission. I couldn't make it up Jones Street at all.

BTW, few people know about it, but even more crooked than Lombard is a section of Vermont Street on Potrero Hill.

6/19/2006 Jen "texting on the" L. says:

Dan V.:  That's some memory.

6/19/2006 Alan R. says:

To me it's not really worth driving out of your way to see that stretch of Vermont Street. I've driven down it numerous times and I'm still not 100% convinced it's more crooked than Lombard. Moreover, I don't really think it matters since Vermont lacks significant other qualities that Lombard has. Although there are some great views on Potrero Hill the ones from that street are not among them. You're facing South, you can't see the Bay, or any of the iconic SF landmarks. And there aren't the elegant floral arrangements all around you.

On the other hand you may find the roar of 101 directly to your right comforting and if you have an accident, well SF General is right around th corner.