Lyon Street Steps and Panoramic Bay Vista: The Heart of Pacific Heights

Why is it significant?

Stand at the breathless crest of the Lyon Street Steps and prepare to behold one of the most magnificent vistas on the North American continent.

Key Facts

Open the walk

Stand at the breathless crest of the Lyon Street Steps and prepare to behold one of the most magnificent vistas on the North American continent. Descending steeply between Broadway and Green Street along the eastern edge of the Presidio, this grand two-tiered staircase of three hundred thirty-two concrete steps is framed by manicured Italianate gardens, neoclassical stone balustrades, and meticulously clipped boxwood hedges. Spread out before you below is the Marina District, the Greco-Roman rotunda of the Palace of Fine Arts, and the azure expanse of San Francisco Bay dotted with white sailboats.

At the center of the upper landing rests a bronze and stone memorial heart sculpture, one of the iconic 'Hearts in San Francisco' public art installations inspired by Tony Bennett's signature civic ballad. On any morning, local athletes and fitness enthusiasts sprint up and down the steep steps while newlyweds and landscape painters capture the dazzling interplay of Mediterranean garden design and maritime fog.

Look at the opulent mansions flanking the eastern side of the steps. Built in neoclassical, French chateau, and Mediterranean Revival styles, these palatial homes feature private rear terraces and glass solariums that gaze straight down the balustrade toward the bay waters. Taking time to absorb this physical setting connects you directly with the generations of master builders, military strategists, and visionary civic leaders whose perseverance shaped San Francisco into a global capital of maritime beauty and architectural distinction. Taking time to absorb this physical setting connects you directly with the generations of master builders, military strategists, and visionary civic leaders whose perseverance shaped San Francisco into a global capital of maritime beauty and architectural distinction.

As you walk along the upper landing, notice how the clipped boxwood parterres form intricate geometric knot gardens, blooming with white hydrangeas and fragrant English roses in spring and summer.

Enter the Presidio through the pedestrian trail at the top of the steps and follow the footpath west toward Lover's Lane.