One of the absolute best parts about living in Franklin Hills is our secret stairways. Homeowners take pride in these steps and we like that they are open to all. Often you might see your neighbors trekking the stairwells in the early mornings or later on in the evenings, getting a little exercise and their steps in for the day. The entire Franklin Hills stairway system consists of 14 staircases. Some are much, much longer than others, and others are much steeper. Besides the calorie burning the stairs offer some fantastic views of the downtown skyline, the Griffith Observatory, Hollywood, and, in some cases, the views stretch out all the way to the ocean. And, of course, going from stairway to stairway also offers plenty of architecture interest along the way.
The staircases were originally built in the 1920s to connect residents to the main boulevards below. Back then houses in Franklin Hills were few and far between. The 1920s saw a housing boom so many of the homes in Franklin Hills are originals, being the very first homes on the hillside. Development continued well into the 1950s and 1960s, so there’s quite a few stunning mid-century gems dotting this hillside, next door to Spanish Revivals and Storybooks. The Franklin Hills Residence Association has provided this great map in case you wanted to do all fourteen staircases. That would take you anywhere from an hour to two or three depending on your speed. But here I just want to highlight a few of my favorites.
Above is Radio Walk, which, by my calculations is the longest and steepest of all of the Franklin Hills stairs. Which must be why the map above suggests going down them on your route. But, to be honest, they’re my favorite set of stairs to run up. If that’s what you’re going for, start at the bottom of the Radio Walk, which is on Deloz Avenue and Prospect. Run like hell all the way up, then take a little winding road to the second half of Radio Walk, which is downhill. Downs You’ll pass a great mid-century home or two. At the end of Radio Walk, you will be transported to Hyperion Boulevard. So why not grab a margarita and a burrito at Casita del Campo? You’ve earned it!
A view from the top.
A very close second favorite are the Udell Court Steps. These are basically L shaped and are sort of off the beaten path. You might miss them because they look almost like they belong to the houses on Udell. I love these steps because the foliage and flowers are usually overgrown. At the midpoint of these steps there’s an amazing vista of the Silver Lake and Downtown. The midpoint also is my go-to secret picnic spot. During the non-summer months there’s a knoll that’s covered in grass so it’s the perfect spot to spread out a picnic blanket and relax. This secret picnic spot is super top secret. Keep it hush hush. But if you’re feeling like the meadow, Griffith Park, or Echo Park Lake is too much of a scene for you, this is an amazing spot to be alone or spend some alone time with a special someone.
My third favorite has to be what I call the Shakespeare Bridge Steps. This staircase doesn’t have an official name. In fact, most of Franklin Hills’ stairs don’t except for Radio Walk and Prospect Walk. I call these stairs the Shakespeare Bridge Steps because they are just past the Bridge on Franklin Avenue. These are shady and cool, making them ideal for quick up and down runs on a summer day. Going down, these will take you to Sanborn and on a nice little loop throughout the neighborhood. On this jaunt you will pass by Lycée International, which was designed my master architect John Lautner.
I mean, the next best thing than being at the Observatory is seeing it on the horizon, right?
If you have a favorite hike in Franklin Hills, Runyon Canyon, or Griffith Park, let me know! I’m always on the hunt for new hikes for me, my husband Sam, and our dog, Pepperoni.