Twin Top Out

Impress out-of-town guests by leading them on a short walk to one of San Francisco's best lookouts, with a hidden stairway to boot! Starting in the Twin Peaks residential neighborhood, wander up the Pemberton Stairs, a charming three-platform passageway festooned with overhanging trees and lush gardens. At the top, continue on to Twin Peaks Boulevard for a .75-mile final climb, taking you to Twin Peaks. The most popular vista point is usually filled with tourists and buses, but you can escape the crowds by climbing the wooden stairs to one of Twin Peaks' true bald summits. The panorama is even better from here. Do the hokey pokey and turn yourself around to views of the region's biggest scene- stealers: the Pacific, the Bay, three bridges, Mount Diablo, Mount Tam and the Santa Cruz Mountains.

The Pemberton Stairs can be found at the corner of Clayton St. and Corbett Ave. in Twin Peaks (map). At the top of the stairs, turn right on Crown Terrace and walk a few minutes to Clarendon Ave./Twin Peaks Blvd. Make a left and another immediate left onto Twin Peaks Blvd. Follow this all the way up. Walk up one of Twin Peaks' true summits, which are south of the radio towers. Return the way you came. Dog-friendly!