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I love, I love love this walk, even if I passed a parade of solid bodies hurtling up and down the infamous 4th street stairs several times before I could giggle and huff to get to the top just once.

So yes, expect labored breathing, but it also takes you through serene and majestically green countryside, gorgeous ocean views, and—quite unexpectedly—a tiny stream during our dry-as-dust summer. There are a lot of stairs – 976 steps, some of the most strenuous – but the sights are so breathtaking that it’s easy to forget you’re near the city center, which makes the effort worthwhile.

1. Park near the beach at Will Rogers Parking lot #1, where Entrada Drive spills into Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Parking here costs $9, and it’s safest to bring cash as the machines don’t accept debit cards.
2. Walk half a block north PCH where Chautauqua Boulevard and West Channel Road merge into PCH in one massive growl of traffic. There are no crosswalks here, so don’t try to cross PCH above ground. Instead, find the entrance to small tunnel descend the 17 steps and safely cross under PCH to the other side by climbing the 17 steps and entering the sun on the south side Canal road.
3. Go south on PCH, past Patrick’s Roadhouse and the gas station, along the sidewalk until you reach the first set of stairs, the colored stairs of 48 steps that go up to Ocean lane. Note: The start of this walk was unpleasant. Traffic is heavy on PCH, the sidewalk is narrow, and as we passed him on the stairs, there was a glassy-eyed man smoking a small pipe. But it gets better, I promise.
4. At the top turn left, down the hill until Ocean lane merges with Entrada Walk above Entrada just beyond 278, a tall white modern building with such a sharp angle that it gives off a surreal MC Escher feel. Look to the right to find a second set of stairs. They begin as a path through bougainvillea bushes, tall eucalyptus trees and tropical greenery to a staircase that climbs 79 steps to Mabury Road.
5. Turn left Mabury and follow the road down to East Ocean Ave (also known as Ocean Avenue Ext. on Google Maps). Carefully move to the other side ocean and head left, down, to the base Stairs of 4th street. (Note: There are smaller stairs to the right ahead Stairs of 4th Street, which you should ignore. The Stairs of 4th street just for 358 Ocean, and they’re pretty easy to spot, as they zigzag up 189 steps to the top, with quite a few breathless athletic types running up them.
6. Fortunately, Stairs of 4th street Have a few stops along the way where you can catch your breath, enjoy the beautiful scenery behind you and, in my case anyway, try to ignore the fact that the same runner has already passed you three times up, down and up again. Just be careful to hug the handrails as you climb these stairs because these runners aren’t shy about asking you to move.
7. At the top, past water bottles left by runners during training, you come to a corner 4th street and Adelaide Drive. Here are some truly breathtaking views of the ocean, Rustic Canyon, and lots of gorgeous homes with mournful signs begging for people Please refrain from artistic physical education in view of their windows.
8. Turn left Adelaidegoing uphill and enjoy the scenery until you reach 526. There is a Santa Monica Stairs, 166 weathered wooden stairs, fortunately, lead down. You will soon realize that this is an extension of the training regime where some runners recharge Stairs of 4th street and then down Santa Monica Stairs again and again in a sweaty circle. Either way, be sure to keep the right stance so they can get past quickly (unless you’re prepared enough to join their ranks).
9. At the bottom of the stairs you return Entrance, where you have to cross the street and turn right, heading uphill for a short distance past 525 and a high jagged concrete wall to find the next set of stairs on the left, about 25 steps down to the end of the cul-de-sac Attila Road.
10. Go straight Attila past Dear Dryad to East Channel Roadwhere you turn left. It is a serenely beautiful neighborhood full of majestic trees, soft birdsong and children playing safely outside.
11. East Channel Road cul-de-sacs, becoming impassable to cars, but we travelers can continue on by heading through a wide gate on the right of the road to the other end of the East Change Road. Keep going straight past Amalfi Drive and Canyon Elementary School, until you see a crosswalk and a pedestrian bridge crossing Santa Monica Canyon Creek bed on the right.
12. Through the bridge you cross Sage Lane, where to go directly while Sage bends to the left and you see the next set of stairs on the right, going up 14 steps and then turning right for another 64 steps through what appears to be a tall bamboo grove.
13. At the top you will come out on Amalfi Drive. Turn left and stay left when Amalfi comes across Sumakhovy ave.
14. follow Sumac about a block until it curves to the right. To your left, on 323 Sumakhyou’ll find another set of steep stairs, 124 steps going straight up to Amalfi again, where you turn left, past just one house, and take a semi-hidden staircase along a steel fence that plunges you down again – no handrails – a very steep 124 steps Mesa Road.
15. Turn right Mass, heading uphill to 475, Stark, hypermodern house built in 1937 by Harwell H. Harris for John Entenza, editor of Art & Architecture magazine. This 850 square foot home looks like a circle attached to a square with some very cool (and private) stairs leading to a rooftop patio. We must, however, proceed to our public staircase, which is behind 491 Massa few doors down to the left.
16. Be careful when you go down because the 61 steps are uneven and broken in places. At the bottom you will come out on West Rustic Road, my favorite part of this walk. It’s so quiet, green and yes, rural, it looks magical, especially when you cross the bridge in front of you, across Rustic Creek (from which there is actually a small stream of water) and follow West Rustic Road left.
17. Turn right at the first bend Gorny prov and walk down a narrow street that turns left, so quiet it seems like a deserted film set with tall, fine houses. Same Brae turns left again, look straight ahead at your last set of stairs, 85 steep, narrow steps that climb up through green, shady courtyards to Vance Road at the top
18. turn left on Vancedescending past the wonderful mosaic of guitarist and dancer on 390, straight and then right as the road turns, alas, towards civilization. On the way there are wonderful views of the village Santa Monica and Rustic Canyon, small comfort Suddenly, all too soon, you’re back in the real world amid rushing traffic Chautauqua Boulevard.
19. Turn left Chotokwa and follow the road down where it meets the West Channel Road in PCH. There is heavy traffic, so use the pedestrian crossings from Chotokwa to south side Channel to return to the tunnel, which will take you down 17 steps to go under PCH, then up 17 steps to your car.