Hilltop of the gods

Mount Olympus

A weathered old monument stands on top of a hillside in the Parnassus neighborhood. There's a space for a plaque (which seems to have be eroded away) but no hints why the stone tower stands here. Historic photos reveal a past glory: this is Mount Olympus.

In the late 1800's land baron Adolf Sutro donated a statue, the Triumph of Light, for this spot that was thought to be the geographic center of San Francisco. Development crept up the hills surrounding Mount Olympus, gradually obscuring the sweeping views. The statue crumbled, was eventually removed (and apparently lost) and the hilltop faded into obscurity.

A walk to Mount Olympus today feels a bit like a stroll through an old European village. The streets are narrow and lightly traveled and the houses sit right on the edge of the sidewalks, squeezed into the available real estate and then hanging off steep hillsides.


Street: Upper Terrace
Neighborhood: Parnassus
Length: entire walk 1/2 mile
Character: residential
Starting coordinates: 37.763984° -122.444467°

Mount Olympus Stairs

Walk it:
Park on Upper Terrace or surrounding streets near the intersection with Clifford Terrace. Begin on Upper Terrace, walking south. Note an interesting mix of houses here, some very old. As Upper Terrace ascends, cross to the left side of the street near the retaining wall for a great view to Twin Peaks. Across the street Back Alley Way drops from the hilltop. Continue uphill on Upper Terrace. The houses are packed close together but there are a few gaps where you can enjoy views west past Sutro's old forest. Upper Terrace loops around the hilltop and monument, at a lofty 570 feet. This dead end was very quiet when I visited and the monument was empty. Walk to the top and around, although there really isn't much to see. When you're ready, look for unsigned and very easy to miss steps between 455 and 480. The Mount Olympus Stairs drop between houses and end on Upper Terrace. Turn left and return to your starting point.