L.A. Secret Stairs: Admire Echo Park's Victorian-era Mansions
"Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles" is an incredible book written by Charles Flemming. It offers captivating urban hiking experiences that transport you back to a time when Los Angeles thrived without automobiles. In this particular walk, Secret Stairs Hike #12 guides you through the paths around Echo Park Lake and into the picturesque Angelino Heights neighborhood. Here, you'll discover an impressive ensemble of meticulously restored Victorian and Queen Anne mansions that showcase the city's rich architectural heritage. As an added bonus, you'll also have the chance to spot the iconic "Thriller" House, famously featured in Michael Jackson's 1983 music video.
To Get There
Book reference: Secret Stairs Hike #12
I recommend starting your hike at Larchmont Bungalow Cafe for brunch, or you can save your appetite for after the walk. This is a cute little cafe with outdoor seating so you can take in the sunshine surrounded by olive trees.
Secret Stairs Echo Park Lake & Victorian Homes
Start the walk across the street from Brite Spot on the corner of Sunset and N. Alvarado, and walk south towards Echo Park Lake on Park Ave. You’ll see a massive evangelist temple on your left as you near the lake.
As you continue walking, you’ll see this beautiful Spanish Colonial House on your right.
Look for the Kent Street sign and a set of graffitied stairs. Turn right to walk up these to the top where you’ll find a Star Wars Mural.
Walk south along this concrete path, it may be littered with trash and has lots of graffiti, but the views of Echo Lake and the mountains of homes beyond it from this vantage point area really incredible.
At the end of this walkway, you get to Clinton Street, where you’ll find a staircase to walk down. When you get to the bottom, continue walking down the road to the right then cross the street at Glendale to head into Echo Park.
Walk down into the park and turn right to go counter-clockwise around the park’s path.
Echo Park Lake is a manmade, but has its share of wildlife. You’ll see fish, turtles, geese and ducks among the colorful lili pads and tall palm trees.
There are large swan paddle boats you can take out for a ride on Echo Lake if you have the time. You can book these in advance on Get Your Guide.
When you get the the boathouse, turn right onto the staircase leading up to the crosswalk at Laguna Street. Cross the street and walk up Laguna until you see a long staircase on your right to take up to Crosby. Keep your eyes peeled so you don’t miss it. At the end of the road turn left on Kensington. As you walk down this street you’ll see some cute red bungalows with a massive cactus garden on your right (image below).
This pristine mint colored Victorian is on the left side of the street as you continue down the road.
Enjoy the historical homes of old Los Angeles as you wander through this Angelino Heights neighborhood.
Eventually you’ll turn right on Douglass, then left onto Carroll Avenue. This is the most stunning part of the walk, with a wide street of fully restored Victorian mansions. There are even iron hitching posts used for horse-drawn carriages and period lamp posts.
There’s one house on the block that looks a little run down at 1345 Carroll Avenue. This was the house used for Michael Jackson’s Thriller video. I was lucky enough to catch it on a day when this amazing vintage station wagon was sitting out front.
Turn left on East Edgeware, and then left again on Kellam Ave. There are some really great homes on Kellam too but they aren’t as pristine as the collection on Carroll. My favorite home on this street is a a little pink house stamped with colorful flowers, a human sized doll house.
Follow Kellam for about 2 blocks to West Edgeware and turn left. You’ll find the last staircase down just past 1092 that leads you to Wallace. Turn left on Wallace, the left on Laveta Terrace.
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Turn right on Bellavue, across the street is this tunnel that goes underneath the freeway. Take a peek, but don’t head this direction.
Continue on Bellavue back to Echo Park, you’ll see they’ve built a skate park on the left side of the street by the freeway. You can stop here to watch the skaters with a backdrop of downtown Los Angeles.
Cross the street at Glendale, climb the stairs and walk to the corner of Belmont Ave. On your left is a foot path over the freeway. You can wander over this for a look, then head back to walk along the footpath north with the lake on your right side.
Keep walking past the Clinton stairs until you reach the Kent stairs. Take these back down to street level and turn left to head back to your starting point.
I highly recommend you get the book Secret Stairs so you can read all the historical details that Charles Fleming has written about this hike and many others throughout Los Angeles. It’s a great way to get to know the city!
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Los Angeles Tours
Looking for some more fun sight-seeing tours? Here are some fun ones I found on Get Your Guide.
