Alta Plaza Park covers four square blocks at the top of Pacific Heights. It is bordered by Jackson Street to the north, Clay Street to the south, Steiner Street to the east and Scott Street to the west. Wikipedia says the 12.9-acre park was established in 1888 and takes its name from a spring. It overlooks the Marina and Cow Hollow, the Presidio, Fort Mason and Alcatraz. There are three tennis courts, a playground and a big lawn on the north side.
The movie steps
The park’s steps appear in the 1972 comedy What’s Up, Doc? Wikipedia says the filmmakers used them without permission and badly damaged them in the chase scene, where a Volkswagen Beetle, a Yellow Cab and two Cadillacs speed down the stairs. The damage can still be seen. The San Francisco Chronicle says the park is “best known outside the neighborhood as the park ruined by ‘What’s Up Doc?’”
Stairs everywhere
The Chronicle included Alta Plaza on its list of the city’s best stairways. It counts 498 steps across at least 10 staircases around the park. The paper recommends it for panoramic views, quieter climbs and movie trivia, and notes the picnic tables and playground make it easy to stay for the afternoon.
Several Muni bus lines serve the area. Nearby, see our Lyon Street Steps guide and our Alamo Square guide.