Did you know? Los Angeles has a vast network of public staircases hidden all over the city. Many of these secret staircases were first created in the early 20th century to help Angelenos make their way from their hilltop neighborhoods down to the Pacific Electric Transit System near busier streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, all neighborhoods have streets connecting them to the rest of the city (this is a car-centric town), but there was a time when these staircases were the only option for some locals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Looking for a hidden gem in LA? Many of these walkways offer stunning views for those who make the climb or offer the chance to peer into quiet spaces that the stairs pass by. Here are some of the best outdoor staircases in LA worth exploring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Murphy Ranch Stairs are located in Pacific Palisades in a canyon off Casale Road beyond a yellow gate. After passing by the gate, you’ll walk along a quiet, unused graffiti-lined road to reach the top of the stairs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Murphy Ranch stairs are a steep descent made up of 529 steps that lead down to a dirt path surrounded by pine trees. Walking to the end of the path brings you to the fenced-off remains of what was once Murphy Ranch, a community with an unsettling past. Murphy Ranch was an encampment of Nazi sympathizers during World War II.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the attack at Pearl Harbor, U.S. troops raided the ranch, which had over 50 occupants at the time. By the 1990s, most of the larger structures were demolished, and even fewer parts of the compound remain today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n