Vulcan Stairs, Urban stairway in Corona Heights, San Francisco, United States.
Vulcan Stairs is a concrete stairway that climbs across two city blocks, linking different elevation levels throughout Corona Heights. Residential homes and gardens line both sides of the steep route, creating a densely settled neighborhood passage.
Built in 1925, the stairs were created as San Francisco expanded infrastructure into the hilly terrain of Corona Heights. They are part of a wave of stairway projects from that era that allowed neighborhoods to develop on steep hillsides.
The name references Roman mythology and connects to nearby street names like Saturn and Mars around Mount Olympus. Over the decades, residents have created a tight-knit community shaped by the challenges and rewards of living on such a steep route.
The stairs are accessible on foot from nearby parkland or the residential streets around them. Keep in mind that no vehicles can use this route and there are no public services or parking along the way.
At its highest point, the stairway divides into two separate paths, with a wooden plank bridge linking the split sections back together. This unusual split design turns the climb into a winding exploration rather than a straight ascent.
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