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. read more

Baxter Stairways - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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! read more

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. read more

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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. read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

Baxter Stairways - Almost at the top! - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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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. read more

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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. read more

With Baxter being one of the steepest streets in Los Angeles, the United States, and the world (yes, steeper than any street in San Francisco) at a 32% grade, it eventually gives way to stairs. After finding this page, we decided to take these steps on. Starting at the bottom, near Baxter and Avon, we hiked up the hill to the staircase, which only had railing for the first flight. It's 230 steps or so upward with the strairways serpentining back and forth. Stopping with relative frequency it took us about 10 or 15 minutes to reach the top with our legs like jelly afterward. The top puts you out at the driveway for 2101 Park Drive, beside a peach tree. To describe the view from the stairs, as you climb you gain vista points for the Hollywood sign and the Griffith Observatory. It was a bit hazy yesterday, so I couldn't tell you if you'd be able to see the ocean or not. At the very top, on crossing Park Drive there was a very clear view of downtown Los Angeles from city hall to the Ritz Carlton. Standing there we were able to look down at Elysian Park and the back of Dodger Stadium (really all we could see were the hills with the palm trees lining the top). Climbing those stairs for that nice view was worth the burn. Man, Brandon D. and I are really out of shape. If you're interested in L.A.'s hidden stairs, Baxter Street's are a good one, especially for working your way to taking on the Rustic Canyon stairs (about 5 times as many steps as these and at least the Baxter Street ones are mostly uniform and you don't worry so much about losing footing because the steps are wide enough to accommodate the length of your foot). read more

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Do you like it when your legs feel like they're about to melt off? How about having shaky muscles for the rest of the day? Yes? Then the Baxter Stairs are the thing for you! Drive up Echo Park Blvd and turn right at Fix. Find a place to park and get moving! I counted one time. I think there are 236 steps from bottom to top. That's ... a lot of freaking steps, let me tell you. When I go, I plod up and down five times at a comfortable pace. This takes about 40 minutes. Of course, if you're a masochist, you can run up them, or do what one lady does and walk up two at a time with your arms extended outwards like you're trying to do a scarecrow impersonation. Ya know, diff'rent strokes and all that. The pros of course outweigh the cons. Think of the cardiovascular endurance you're building! It's also less crowded than those Santa Monica stairs and feel less sketchy than the ones on Micheltorena. if that still doesn't sway you, the view of downtown at the top of the stairs is actually pretty breathtaking. Just quit whining and start climbing. read more

I love Baxter stairways! Not only because they help me have a good cardiovascular and leg exercise, but the views on top of the stairs are gorgeous! If you cross the street Park Dr at the top of the stairs you can get to Elysian Park trail and the downtown LA view is amazing from there! You can always see people walking their dogs or by themselves, but the place is never that busy. I always try to walk the stairways twice or three times. They sure kick my butt and I take forever though! So if you really want to have a killer workout just give Baxter stairways a try, and please do yourself a favor and bring a water bottle because they sure are tiring and steep. You get to see lizards everywhere during hot weather too. You may really want to take that rest half way if you're out of training! When I am done I sometimes go through Elysian Park to continue with my cardio or I just walk down to Echo Park Ave and Baxter St to get refreshed at FIX coffee shop. If you get to here driving you can easily find parking on the residential area where the stairs starts. Make sure to check street signs if you park on the top on Park Dr. because they're more strict with parking limitations etc. read more

Baxter Stairways - Lizards lizards everywhere! - Local Flavor Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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. read more

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If your looking to get your heart rate going while also enjoying views of the: Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory and the Los Angeles skyline then the Baxter street stairs are for you. The Baxter street stairs shouldn't take that long to climb and descend (it depends on your pace). Keep in mind I am also not the most athletic specimen out there, but I get by. However, the nice part about the stairs is that the Elysian Park Trail is located near the top of the stairs. Just in case you decide to go for a hike/jog. Lights are installed throughout the stairs just in case you run out of daylight. You will have to park on the street, which didn't seem like a problem. read more

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I'm not sure why I'm writing a review for a stairway that leads from one street to the one above. A fellow Yelper had checked in here and I just felt we needed to check it out. I'm not even sure I would suggest driving up Echo Park Blvd to get to this place. A twisty, narrow street that makes you wish you had driven a smaller car and not the Ford Flex. Had to back up and traverse the oncoming traffic just getting to this place. I was hugging the wheel trying to see what might meet us around the next corner. After finally reaching the destination, we headed up the stairway. More than 200 steps later we reached the top and the pulse was pumping. There is a nice view from the top in both directions, Echo and Elysian Park. We hit the steps a couple more times and decided to take the long way back down through the surface streets to the car. Expensive houses with great character and unique design. They also all reside on less than ideal lots to build on. This spot on the mountainside looks good. Let's build a house on it. It was fun to stop, look, and admire. To top things off, this place is close to The Park's Finest BBQ if you're burning calories to consume them right back, or Sunset Beer Company if you would rather retrieve your calories in liquid form. Glad we checked it out. Hope to be back to repeat the steps we took. Steps up the hill and steps to the beer. read more

Secret staircases like this might be one of the coolest things about Los Angeles. You don't see these too often in the states and that makes them even more special. Not only do you get transported to another time and place, but you get a great workout and epic iconic Los Angeles views. Your eyes and your booty will thank you. Bring water. Or a mini picnic. read more

Ok so the views are definetly 5 stars, the workout is pretty freaking killer, meaning it does tend to make you feel the burn. However it takes me about 3.5 min to get to the top so it's not like a long workout then either walk around and climb back up or step back down. I would def recommend for a quick cardio sesh and enjoy the views! Good stuff! read more

Best stairs for local dt residents. Forget about the hassle to get to SM. -200 stairs on an incline hill. read more

Decent place for a secluded workout. Nothing to really see but stairs are easy to climb. It's not as strenuous as the Culver City stairs but I enjoyed it and best of all my knees didn't pay the price! read more

This is a good place to find a peaceful leg/cardio workout while seeing some pretty nice views of DTLA.  Parking is easily found within the neighborhood at the bottom.  One bit of caution, Baxter Street has a few blind spots (due to the steepness of the hills) so taking that route is a workout for your transmission and driving skills in addition to the work you put in on the stairs.  They are not particularly long, but a few times up and down does the trick. Also, I like to be mindful of not disturbing the people living there because you are basically walking between houses.  Echo Park is a very beautiful area of LA. read more

Love these stairs. 231 stairs! Great place to climb especially on weekdays. Not too many people there. It's peaceful to be there and climb without too much noise. Also it feels like a very safe place to be. I always have friends with me but it feels safe enough to go alone. It's a great workout- legs are shaking the rest of the day afterwards. I usually go up about 5 times in 30 minutes and then I'm pooped. Love it! read more

While it's hard as hell going up them, it's a quick hike to the top and you feel like you did something good for yourself. Once there, walk down the road to enter the park and walk along the path there... it's beautiful and gives you a great view of downtown. read more

Great views of the city, with the Hollywood sign in the distance! Killer workout, too. Once you get to the top of the stairs, be sure to cross the street and check out the view of downtown in the other direction as well. read more

Way better than the SM stairs. There was no crowd and great views of both Hollywood sign and city. I'm a fan!

I finally found this place after going through narrow hills. It's a major place for cardio and once you reach up the hill you can continue your run through Elysian Park. The only downside is people need to tie their dogs on a leash because they tend to jump on people that are enjoying their walks. Nevertheless an awesome place to tone up your legs. read more

Better than the SM stairs. Not as tedious as the Culver city stairs. Baxter stairs are about 265 steps which I did 20 times in about 1hr 15mins. Great burn for leg day. Stretch really well though before and after. read more

It's true! This is a good workout. We went up the stairs in 4-5 mins. but if you wokout on a regular basis then you can probably d it in 3 mins. We proceeded to go on the hiking trail and ended up at Stadium Way/ Elysian Park Dr.. There are many trail options you can take. It was a nice workout in the heart of L.A. read more

Came here for the first time this past weekend and it was bea-utiful! Came here on a late Sunday afternoon and while the steps were a killer, I did enjoy the beautiful view of the sky as the sun was setting. I will definitely come back here again :) read more

Good for low impact cardio workout. No pain no gain and my leg muscles are def in pain. Loved this place

This stairway leads into Elysian Park, and has a few little hidden trails along the way. If you're a newbee to echo park i recommend going exploring some stairways, Baxter stairways being one of them :) read more