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Descanso Stairway

The crumbling stairs are a main access path for people in the neighborhood and provide beautiful views of the Silver Lake Reservoir.

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Nearby Attractions

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Upper Swan Stairs

One of the most famous murals in Silver Lake is the "LA je t'aime" mural. Enjoy not just this picture-worthy spot, but the views of DTLA at the top

Silver Lake Recreation Center

At the heart of this neighborhood, the recreation center sits on the southern side of the Silver Lake Reservoir.

Lower Swan Stairs

The first part of the three sets of Swan Stairs, all three were painted by Evelyn Leigh, who was commissioned in 2015 by the city.

Middle Swan Stairs

The second installment of the Swan Stairs, the middle set utilizes triangles and bright colors to entertain climbers.

Lower Micheltorena Stairway

Though these stairs are due for renovation, they represent the old and new melding together, as is characteristic of the neighborhood.

The Ambassador Hotel

Before this site was Hollywood High School, the Ambassador Hotel stood here. It's known as the place where RFK was assassinated.

Related Tours

Silver Lake's Hidden Painted Stairways: Private Walking Tour

Embark on an exciting journey through the hidden staircases of Silver Lake, a vibrant and beautiful section of East Los Angeles with 52 historic stairways adorned with vibrant colours and geometric patterns. These stairways are reminders of a time when the city installed them to serve as direct routes for pedestrians to get down the hills to school, markets, and transit lines.

During your private walking tour of Silver Lake’s Painted Stairways, you will:

Meet your guide at the Silver Lake Recreation Center;
Immerse yourself in the Silver Lake neighbourhood, where your guide will lead you to the famous painted staircases;
Ascend the Swan Stairs, about 287 steps, where you can stop for breaks and photo opportunities;
Descend the Cicero Stairs (90 steps) until you reach Sunset Blvd where you can grab a coffee break and snack at a local coffee shop;
Go about 200 steps up the Lower Micheltorena Stairs and head towards the Descanso Stairway, where you will descend another 139 steps to a nice viewpoint, with photo ops along the way;
Walk the 90 steps up the Murray Stairs, with a short, steep walk up to the Effie/Rotary Stairs, before heading back down to the Recreation Center.

On this private walking tour, you will step past bright swatches of yellow, orange, purple and green; past painted red hearts and another colourful decor as you ascend higher up Silver Lakes’ famous painted staircases, decorated by local artists.

Here you will find a mix of old and new – and part of the neighbourhood’s revival are these fabulous staircases which have become the shining star of Silver Lake.

Back in the day, the city was alive with the sounds of trolleys, buses, and trains, and these stairways played a significant role in connecting people to their destinations. Nowadays, they are used as an alternative to gyms, providing a killer workout while taking in the beautiful sights of Silver Lake.

Get ready to climb your way to the top and discover the hidden gems of this historic neighbourhood!

Important: This is a very physically demanding tour as it involves climbing stairs for the duration of the tour