I'm continuing my walk around Lake Merritt with my guide who grew up right in this area, like you know, even had a paper route (things boys had in those days) right here on Lakeshore Ave. Looking for iconic Oakland landmarks, he wanted to show me this long stairway. This is called the Cleveland Cascade. At the top it comes out at Cleveland Street, but it's actually Merritt Ave. Cleveland Street just goes into some private driveways. It's a beautiful walkway and been here like 100 years or more. It's a good place to come for photo shoots and romantic walks. There's a bench at the top to sit and make out. Well, that's what I'm told anyways! The stairs make a good shortcut if you need to get from Merritt Ave above to Lake Merritt/ Lakeshore Ave. I'm enjoying seeing these iconic landmarks of Oakland. Who knew stairs would be a landmark, but there's a sign at the top explaining the history. read more

Cleveland Cascade - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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Stair walkway next to Lake Merrit. Good for a gym workout if you don't feel like stair master. Very beautiful part of Oakland. Lots of people jogging around the lake. Lots of life. Many food trucks pop up around here on the weekends. No bbq Becky in sight. read more

Cleveland Cascade is popular for joggers, stair repetitions, and people working with trainers. Berkeley and Oakland are full of many different staircases. Cleveland Cascade is featured in walk #19 for Charles Fleming's Secret Stairs of East Bay book. It stands out more in the sense it's picturesque and originally had fountains with running water modeled after fountains in Italy. It's also much wider with 2 staircases side by side so it can accommodate more people. Worth a visit if already out by Lake Merritt or for someone that likes to explore different stairs. There are 135 steps so by itself it's not much of a walk unless combining with a walk around Lake Merritt which is 3 miles. If you want someone longer but not to walk the whole lake, take a left the top of the stairs walking down Merritt Ave. Right after house 567 there is another staircase descending with 80 stairs. A loop with both staircases is about a half mile. read more

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Sure this spot is great for exercise, if you wanna get your steps in. But exploring the beautiful park and staircase (designed in the likeness of fountains in Italy) is enough to keep visitors engaged. Even though water no longer flows from the monument, the vegetation throughout helps preserve the beauty and appeal of this place, with colorful flowers, including indian cress and lily of the nile, lining the concrete stairways. You can enjoy partial views of Lake Merritt from here as well. Easy and affordable street parking along the lake can be paid via the ParkMobile app on your phone (just input your vehicle license plate number). read more

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Back in the day when running water could be freely used as a garden feature, this Italianate staircase park must've been quite the looker. I'm talking about the 1920's, which believe it or not, was even before my time. It was designed by landscape architect Howard Gilkey, who engineered a fountain with twenty concrete bowls so that a torrent of water would flow from one to the next in a descending staircase pattern like an Esther Williams extravaganza. It apparently had a Venus Rising motif with Vegas-like colored lights. However, it is Oakland after all, so none of that has survived in the intervening years. Fortunately a group of neighborhood volunteers have made sure the landscaping is maintained. It's worth climbing up and down the steps where you'll get a sliver of a view of Lake Merritt. You may find yourself in the way of joggers working on their thighs or personal trainers working on their client's thighs. Just don't touch mine. RELATED - Looking for stairs to climb? Here's a collection of stairways I've climbed and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3UkMHud read more

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Can I say I HATE STAIRS or stair master exercises but Cleveland Cascade is a great side track for a great stairs workout with a good view! Since I hate going to the gym, this is a perfect replacement to get my workout in and then walk the lake. Been going here for years and just recently remembered the name of this place and added my take on Yelp. There are many people that use this place for exercise or just to sit on the benches to bask in the view of Lake Merritt. Love it! I would recommend though not to disturb the neighborhood with noise as this is by residences so please respect. The only thing I noticed lately is this area of greenery and plants are drying up and flowers have not been maintained like it was before or are they conserving water? I hope the city takes care of this place well as this is a nice touristy area for people to check out by the lake. I will be back again for these d*mn stairs to workout my gluteus! Hehe I love the workout burn it gives and the view. Totally recommend to check this place out. [134/100] read more

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"CASH ME OUSSIDE" says no one ever. Bhad Bhabie coined this phrase back in 2016 and I think its perfectly relevant to this post. This is my go to for a good stair workout because its convenient to get to, open, and right across from Lake Merritt. Stairs with a view? And I dont mean the defined calves and big booties *wink*. Include this in your run around the lake or stop by for a quick workout. Another plus is there are nearby by coffee shops and restaurants in case you build an appetite. I'm there, howbow dah. read more

Had a fun time working these stairs to train for an upcoming hike. I counted 115 stairs to the top from the street level. Several other people training and sightseeing, so I felt perfectly safe. There's a marked cross walk at the foot of the cascade to make it less risky for pedestrians to cross the street. But here's a warning about parking on the lake-side of the street (seems parking is free on the other side). There is a pay station for parking on Lakeshore Avenue that someone has spraypainted over in black so you cannot see anything to operate the machine. I mistakenly assumed the machine was broken leaving me unable to make payment. I was ticketed, and so were several cars in front of and behind me. Turns out, you can also pay using an app on your phone, if you happened to read the small print on the signs posted very high above the sidewalk. If you did not bring your phone with you, or if you don't have a phone that can download the app, you are stuck with a $71 fine. The folks who can't afford a phone are going to be the hardest hit. But what else is new? This is a field ripe for harvest to enrich Oakland's coffers, so beware. read more

Cleveland Cascade stairs is a great place to workout and get a little exercise when needed. Your legs will definitely hurt afterwards though lol read more

Cleveland Cascade - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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STAIR WORKOUT: This stair workout is one of the best ones to get you in shape. Used to come here when we first lived by the lake over 10 years ago. My husband and I just rediscovered it again and boy oh boy you will be huffing and puffing by the time you get to the top. Lol!! In these shelter in place days staying active is so important . It's a mental and physical workout but my hubs makes it look soooooo easy and one day I hope I will make it look as easy as he does! Love the view from the top .. it's beautiful with the lush scenery and the beautiful lake it's a perfect ending to the day! read more

Cleveland Cascade - Workout - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

If you want a great stair workout, this is a good place to go!! If you want great views of Lake Merritt, this is a good place to go!! If you just want to sit down, relax and read a book, this is a good place to go!! I used to live in this area back in the day, and I always took these stairs one way or another. There are benches at every level, and the views along with the chill atmosphere here make the Cleveland Cascade a top notch spot to cool out or work out!! read more

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I love coming here and working out!! There is always people here working out however it is not too packed. There are benches at the top and bottom of the stairs. This is the place go when working out your legs!! read more

Cleveland Cascade - About to die. But at least I will die trying shiiiiiiit - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

I like to call this Oakland's local, non fancy, non touristy version of SF's Lombard steps :P !!! No, but seriously! This is such a great place to work out those calves, am I right? This place is always buzzing with people going up and down the steps all day long till evening! Some people run through them? Hats off :) It's great to have the steps and slopes so close to the house for some natural, bio, organic work out :) Get those steps done people!!! Love my neighborhood! read more

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The Cascade is near the eastern edge of the Land of PG & E pole gnomes, in the shade maybe with a landscape that the smaller fellows would appreciate. Perhaps this is where they came from. The history brings a sad shake of the head then a smile - the construction, abandonment, the rising from the dead. Stone Lazarus. That the Cascade is back in a reinvented version of its historic splendor owing to the hands and hearts of volunteers again gives testimony to what it will take to make this city great once again. Greatness floweth not from City Hall, my friends. Greatness will come from you. United Nations all running up and down the stairs last weekend, perspiration and ass on fire knows no demographic boundary. Lovely views over the lake. Two laps around the lake and five trips up and down the stairs and baby you'll know you did yourself something. I think I notched my belt a little tighter this morning, thanks to the sweet Cascade. read more

Cleveland Cascade - Who needs the gym when you have the Cascade! - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

History charms the pants off me.. (but oh, i'm wearing shorts right now). Steps just get me winded. I've come here with a meetup group specializing in walks with a historic bent (hi H!), and have had lunch along the few benches and steps. Great training if you can't make it to the Filbert steps across the Bay, or a stadium's steps.... do all the natural stairclimber that your pretty lungs can handle at this hidden little locale across the east side of Lake Merritt. Cool spot read more

Cleveland Cascade - across the st, from the lake's trail - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

Love coming by this place to burn some extra calories before and after a run around the lake. There are several flights of stairs and lush vegetation in the surroundings. You can get a great workout - all you need is your running shoes, music and willpower! read more

Okay, so you've conquered Lake Merritt. You can walk or jog around the lake without getting out of breath. What do you do now? Simple: when you're on the east side of the Grand Lake area, look for an open green spot among the old houses and apartment buildings. There's a small staircase leading to a concrete plaza. There you go: The Cleveland Cascade. Cleveland Cascade is a little shorter than the 16th Ave. Steps in San Francisco. And there are several flat spots where you go straight ahead with no stairsteps. But it gives a good workout. Mostly because it was built before government lawyers required safer, more boring staircases on public property. This cascade could never be approved today, and neither could the 16th Ave. Steps nor the famous steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art that Rocky Balboa charged up. But I don't see Oaktown tearing it up, it's too popular. It's 4 stars because, after you get a little ways up, the old oaks have large branches that cut off the view of Lake Merritt. Be careful going down; these are shallow stairs, and one wrong step can easily take you to the hospital. It's historic, it's well taken care of, it's not ghetto, and it really works those calves, quads, and glutes. read more

Street parking in the neighborhoods or along Lake Merritt. According to a sign, there are 139 steps to Cleveland Cascade. I tried counting, but I lost count! Going up definitely was a killer for me. Totally got in a nice little workout making a couple rounds on these beautiful steps. read more

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I run these steps every morning, and sometimes at night...really depends on the mood I am in. This place is so tranquil. I have enjoyed so many moments here simply mentally relaxing as I kill myself running up the stairs, and then decompressing as I run down the stairs. I live exactly 1 mile from the steps, so I gear up and run over via Lake Merritt. The scenery is impeccable. I love the area, the neighborhood, the people. There are usually a lot of people working out here with different "boot camp" instructors, then there are a few people doing cardio workouts here, there are always kids running around and lots of people to exercise with or at least near :) I have a gym membership and even a personal trainer, but with these steps so close to home who needs all the accouterments to make it special or more meaningful? Not this hippie chic for sure :) Thanks Oakland for keeping it simple. #imadethesesstairsmybish Stephani Sweats and Smiles for Cleveland Cascade ;) read more

Cleveland Cascade - My favorite steps - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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The Cleveland Cascade in Oakland has a wonderful history, and photos of her glory days (1920-30s) are easy to find online. The water is no longer running down the hill, but certainly lots of people are. I walked up and down the stairs once, and then ran them up and down, holding onto the handrail for safety as I descended. There are garbage cans at the bottom of the stairs and thankfully we didn't see any trash around or on them. All we saw were the pretty views of the lake, the plant life around us, and a couple other people walking/running the stairs. read more

Cleveland Cascade - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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This pretty little staircase is bursting with history, and has come back from utter rubble and disrepair because of the hard work of volunteers who work together to restore and maintain it. It is a spectacular testament to the good things we can accomplish when we put our hand to labor for the common good. Also, because there is no elevation for hill training on the 5K lap around the lake, this offers a good place to add that variation into your workout if you need some hills. read more

Cleveland Cascade - Sunny January day. - Parks Near Me - Oakland, California

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This place is beautiful. It overlooks the lake and stairs will kick your ass for a workout. Great places to sit. I just wish, the local community would take more interest in keeping it clean. Seriously people if you see trash, pick it up once you start the trend other people will follow. Also how about focus on some more plants that bloom! Green is color but anyone benefits from a little more color in their lives. Lastly you meat heads. If your going to work out here, please be courteous to everyone else around you. Don't hog up the the stairs doing your workout and people can't get around you. Don't play your music so loud I can hear about your gangster bull shit song about killing people. Men, keep your sexual conquests to yourself unless you're writing for penthouse. Ladies, spandex is great, but if you have to butter up before you put it on, it might be a little tight SHENAWKUA. Do the rest of us a favor and don't be THE distraction. Lastly, smile, say good morning freaking be friendly oaklanders..too many folks around there in their own little world. Ya that was me cleaning up that morning, saying hello and smiling at everyone. You only live once, put a freaking smile on bitches. read more

I remember a friend telling me about volunteer efforts to unearth the original "Cascade" - which had been buried for years. This area has cleaned up nicely - and it makes a great spot for a detour on my run to Lake Merritt from Mills (get in a little hill, down some stairs and back up again after a loop around the lake). Wear whatever the hell you want (I can't believe someone criticized folks exercising for wearing spandex - what a shameful thing to do!). Just remember - people live nearby - so respect their right to peaceful enjoyment of their surroundings and don't play loud music or otherwise make lots of noise. read more

Beautiful views adjacent and situated above Lake Merritt! This is a great place to get cardio and stairs in with fresh air and a small flat garden area at the top with flat areas. I would just advise caution during the pandemic to make sure to mask up because everytime I've trained there i see a few other joggers, stair climbers, and athletes conditioning. read more

I got good work out running up and down the stairs. But my calves were hurting for a week afterwards.

Came here to get a great view of the skyline and lake Merritt. There are many active people that run up and down these stairs throughout the day so it does get a bit crowded at times. There are flowers planted in between the set of stairs and at the very top you can take a picture of the beautiful city. read more

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5 stars no doubt A city block long full of steps... right side to gu up.. left side to come down... great for beginers aswell as fit athletes.. its 7 levels with benches in between if you need a break or just enjoy the scenery.. its surrounded by trees and plants so it always feels fresh.. and its great for goal makers because you can work your way up in the amount of work you can handle.. if at first you can only make it halfway.. keep coming back until you can make it all the way to the top... then keep working until you can do it twice, three times and so on... You can maybe walk around the lake and do these steps as a bonus.. Even if you dont wanna workout.. its a peacfull place to just come hang out.. read more

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Doesnt look much as too what I expected. A little small hidden place. Alot of tweakers randomly trying to start something when your trying to work out. Would NOT recommended this place. read more

Take the stairs two at a time and you'll be bouncing quarters off your ass for sure! That's what I do. Next time you see me, get a quarter and try it out on my tushy. You won't be disappointed. As I huff and puff up the stairs (did I mention that I take them two at a time? oh, I did?) I am propelled by the throbbing rap stylings of Chris Bridges (aka Ludacris) and his sexually suggestive lyrics that, strangely enough, is the motivation I need to get my lycra covered ass up these stairs: "And I...just wanna take a lil ride on your curves And get erotic giving your body just what it deserves and.. Let me give you some swimming lessons on the penis Backstroke, breaststroke, stroke of a genius...YUPP Call me the renaissance man Get up and I stay harder than a cinder block mannn....HEYY I'm just a bedroom gangster And I been meaning to tell ya that I really must thank ya when ya.." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_UQYXV1mc0 Oh, I'm shaking my money maker alright. All the way up them damn stairs. Shit. I'm tired. This review inspired by Laura B's review of the Lyon Street steps. Check it out: http://www.yelp.com/biz/5ZoeIusBHVOP1Fip5Hydtw read more

Gotta *work* for that Oakland BOOTY! Okay, I'm not sooo close to a big ole Oaktown booty, but I do run up and down steps as a shortcut to get places down by the Lake and keep it toned! Safety was a bit of a concern for me here this long winter/spring, because they took forEVER to get the lights installed, but now that they've wrapped up the project, the stairs are illuminated at night. I feel much better. They have really been making an effort to spruce it up along with the rest of the landscaping and redevelopment by the Lake. Move to the right if you are slow, and run up and down those stairs! Keep it moving! The garden and landscaping can be a bit random (like the toilet tank filled with geraniums), but the people who take care of the landscaping really care, it's cute. read more

Aaaah, my legs are aching after a strenuous workout at the Cleveland Cascade (CC)! After being stuck in an office all day, it feels good to be outdoors, taking in the colors of the sunset; the cool evening air on my skin. Too bad Lake Merritt has this stenchy algae growing in it and making it smell bad lately! Ambiance: CC is like a free gym. There's all kinds of peeps running up and down the stairs. Some folks come solo; some meet up with trainers or do boot camps. Parking: Residential parking at either the top or bottom of the cascade. Watch out for street cleaning on the top. Park rules: CC is situated between private homes/apartments so please watch your voices and music-playing especially in early mornings or late evenings. Gardens: The grounds are kept by volunteers so you will see random plants that look like they have been discarded by local residents vacating their apartments. I always fantasize that one day, I'll have the free time to adopt a patch of the garden. Maybe I'll win the lotto and buy an adjacent building, so I can be the Old Lady of Cleveland Cascade! read more

Great, quick workout. Do the stairs two at a time to get your thighs and butt into it. One at a time is boring. I do at least 15 minutes at a stretch, usually about 8 times up and down all the way from the lake to the top steps, going a little slower every time as my legs tire out. I can't think of a quicker, faster workout. Maybe Claremont Canyon is more intense, but that's more of a calf workout since you're going uphill at an angle, not using steps. If you really want to be able to climb mountains like a billy goat, do each one on alternate days, but I can't be responsible for the whistles you get on the street as a result. My current favorite workout. If I lived near the Lyon St. steps in SF, I might change that tune, but for now I'll leave that as a special workout on my weekends. read more

Holy smokes! What a workout! I know I'm gonna be hurtin' tomorrow but I want to be able to bounce quarters off my ass like Kiki G. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because I watched a woman let her dog pee at the top of the stairs. Everytime I got to the top it smelled like urine. I'm guessing she's not the only one who does that. The city needs to powerwash frequently since there is no beating common sense into some people. read more

This is a long overdue review of a nice workout spot in the heart of Lake Merritt. The Cleveland Cascade brings you a challenge and provides shade on those warm sunny days. You can catch boot camps and groups of friends getting their fitness on. Steep and challenging, you'll feel the burn after going up and down twice. The bottom area is also a nice spot to get in some body weight exercises such as dips, push-ups, squats, and Bulgarian squats. The stairs will lead you from Lakeshore to the beginning of the East Lake community. But remember, there are some people that live in the apartments surrounding the stairs. While I feel they've signed up for extra noise being in Lake Merritt, they may not feel similarly! read more

great place for public health! -all bodies -all speeds -all ages -super efficient workout read more

So you want a butt like J-Lo or Twerk like nobody's business (wanna de-Miley Cyrus your ass?) well then, you've come to the right spot. So git-tah-steppin'!!!! 135-step closer to a better behind. Love the Cascades? Here's the history behind it. http://oaklandwiki.org/Cleveland_Cascade You can take a lovely stroll or sprint up. One-way or round-trip. Passing through? Sure- The Cascade is a shortcut from Lakeshore Ave and Merritt Ave Cleveland Cascade is one of the seven wonders of Oakland. Enjoy! I do everyday. read more

Woooooo!!!! GREAT neighborhood gem for many reasons. Historical landmark... ....beautiful landscaping... ....close proximity to and view of the sparkling lake... ...lots of friendly Oaklanders working out gives it a community vibe... ....HOT bods (some of the people, er, ATHLETES who work out here are LEGIT) ...and of course the AWESOME workout you can get just by using the stairs and benches... I've been looking for a good place to run/exercise near Alameda that doesn't require going on the freeway, since I'm getting kinda bored of the same ol' paths along the beach. PLUS I gotta balance that cup on my booty, and plain ol' running ain't enough! Although with the lake right there, I can do the stairs without neglecting the wings on my feet. read more

Don't tell my boss, but when I call in "sick" from work, or are at home in the a.m. for some reason, I go do these stairs. I should be doing them right now. Two at a time is the way to go, and the best thing about them is that because they are somewhat of a circle with ever expanding arcs, you can increase or decrease your workout based on what kind of mood you are in. And how quarter bouncing you want your ass to get. I'm shooting for a vertical distance of 2 feet at this point. read more

Free workout!! These stairs are the death of me. I try to start my run around the lake with these stairs - I did it 10 times once! I thought my legs were going to fall off..... lol, but definitely had buns of steel the next day! It's also very pretty at night especially since they have lights now. Make sure you make a couple rounds before running the lake. I will be back!! :) read more

Wanna work out in Oakland? This week I discovered this "cascade". Aka: 3 flights of stairs to run up and down...joined by the rest of the Oakland community. Best part is you can watch the sun set across the beautiful Lake as you accomplish your sweaty workout :). Fyi: there are notices all around telling you to not be loud bc it's a residential park. Respect the peace and get your sweat on! read more