Let me start by pointing out that is no ordinary set of stairs. And while there are other challenging stairs around the greater LA area, these present their own unique challenge. These are carved out of stone from the mountain and are not the same level of step up from one step to another. The steep incline doesn’t help either, which is why these stairs come with wire ropes on both sides to aid you on the way up and even on the way back down.
My first attempt at the Culver City stairs took place on July 4th, 2024 and took an entire 10 minutes to climb my way to the top, with needing to use the available wire ropes about half the way up. There of course were a few reasons for this: I had my backpack on me so as to add weight to add to the difficulty up and because this is a popular spot and was rather busy the day and time I went. That led to frequent stopping and waiting for slower climbers in front of me. I made it about half way up and nearly gave up and headed back down. Thankfully I pushed through the fatigue and reached the top. And the scenic views from the top of the stairs made the climb worth it.
An Alternative Path
If you wish to see the view from the top and the stairs are too challenging or you simply wish to not take the stairs, you can alternatively take the path near the stairs which winds up and bisects each landing area of the stairs. While that’s a little extra walking, this winding path also serves as an alternative for coming back down from the top as well.
