LA's Hidden Stairways and the Communities They Build

Thursday morning, 6:15 a.m. The sun is still tucked behind a cool, foggy marine layer, and at the top of the Santa Monica Stairs, about half a dozen people are already lacing up for a run. They call themselves the SaMo Stairs Club on Instagram (@samostairsclub), but in person, they’re a community of neighbors, athletes, and early risers united by a common goal: to take the stairs.

Los Angeles may be known as the car capital of the world, but hidden in its neighborhoods are more than 100 public stairways, many dating back to the early 1900s. Originally built to connect hillside homes to streetcars and city life below, these staircases were once the arteries of a pedestrian city. Today, they serve as living reminders of LA’s past and double as some of the city’s most Instagrammable workout spots.

In Silver Lake, the Music Box Steps were made famous by Laurel and Hardy’s 1932 short film of the same name. Downtown, the Angels Flight Railway still spares Angelenos the climb up Bunker Hill, yet the staircase running beside it is a much faster way up and down.

While some stairways have fallen into disrepair, others have been kept alive by preservationists and fitness enthusiasts alike. 

On the Westside, the Santa Monica Stairs are actually two sets: one wooden, one concrete. The wooden staircase runs about 189 steps down a steep hillside between Adelaide Drive and Entrada Drive, while the concrete set has roughly 199 steps. They’re often called the “Ultimate Staircase,” or the 4th Street Steps. The climb offers more than just a workout: at the top, the Pacific Ocean stretches into the horizon, picturesquely framed by homes and towering eucalyptus trees.

The Santa Monica Stairs aren’t just for athletes. Beginners, tourists, and casual walkers weave alongside the regulars, tackling the climb at their own pace. Some pause halfway to snap photos or watch the sunrise roll over the city, while friends chat as they ascend. For many, the stairs are less about speed and more about perspective.

Even Steve Martin couldn’t help but fall for LA’s stairways. In a memorable scene from LA Story, he walks down a set of steps in the city, pauses, and declares, “I love LA!” His joy captures what many feel after taking a few steps, sometimes toward new beginnings.

These steps are also part of a culture. In the 1990s, Hollywood trainers often brought clients here for grueling cardio sessions. Today, the scene is more grassroots. The SaMo Stairs Club is one of several informal groups that meet weekly, often before sunrise, to run, walk, or simply climb. The stairs are an accessible way to connect with the outdoors and, at the same time, a growing community that welcomes anyone willing to take their first step. 

“The stairs are such a great vibe. We show up, often before the sun rises, and you climb the stairs not only with our community, but with the individuals who choose to climb them that morning,” said Sarah Carr, a SaMo Stairs Club regular and personal trainer (Instagram: @Sarahcarfit).

This revival isn’t just about fitness; it’s part of a broader rediscovery of LA’s walkability. While cars still remain dominant, urban explorers, fitness buffs, and historians are reclaiming the staircases as spaces for connection.

“The club started during the pandemic when all the gyms were closed,” Carr added, “but we’ve been able to keep and grow the community since then, due to it being a great way to meet new people and it’s such a great cardio workout.”

City preservationists have catalogued and mapped the stairways, and walking tours are becoming increasingly popular. Instagram accounts dedicated to stair runs or walks have turned these once-overlooked structures into social destinations.

For newcomers, the draw is obvious: stairs deliver a full-body workout. A single climb can spike your heart rate, strengthen your legs, and challenge your balance. The stairs force you to slow down, to see the city not as a blur through a windshield, but as a series of neighborhoods, layered in history.

“There’s a thrill in finding a staircase you didn’t know existed,” one casual stair climber said. “It makes LA feel more intimate.”

If you’re curious, start with the Santa Monica Stairs. Show up on a Thursday morning and you’ll likely find the SaMo Stairs Club welcoming anyone willing to climb. Alternatively, wander in your own neighborhood; you might be surprised how many stairways you’ve driven past without noticing.

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