Looking for a change of scenery and getting in a workout? This past month, Kevin and I have been exploring the many hidden trails of LA, including the urban jungle of Los Feliz’s Franklin Hills stairs. But this latest hidden staircase couldn’t be any more different. Follow our journey as we take you to Castellammare Stairs, located in the opulent neighborhood of Pacific Palisades just north of Santa Monica. If you love the sound of the ocean and dreaming of the lifestyles of the rich and famous, well, we’ve found your staircase hike.
The 10,277-square-foot private residence known as Villa de Leon, towering above the Pacific Coast Highway.
How Long Does it Take to Hike Castellammare Stairs?
Kevin and I keep active. And it took us about 1 hour and 20 minutes to do the entire loop outlined in this blog post. Though, we think most people could probably do this hike in about 1 hour (without any breaks). We stopped several times to take in the views as well as read through the neighborhood’s history (researched ahead of time…I don’t joke around, clearly!). And yes, maybe we got a little photo crazy on one of the staircases overlooking the ocean. I mean, how could you not? Though, I’m pretty sure we annoyed the one guy using the staircase as his personal StairMaster. I can’t imagine why (as Kevin took around 10 photos of me).
Work it Phil, work it.. Look at me. No, don’t look at me! I feel like Kevin is the ultimate photography director.
Where to Start Castellammare Stairs?
Parking spots available, first come, first serve at 17575 Pacific Coast Highway.
Clearly, parking is always a top concern for anyone in LA — especially if you’re going anywhere near the beach. We recommend plugging in the following address on Google Maps: 17575 Pacific Coast Highway. We went during a weekend afternoon and had no issues at all finding a spot. Best of all? You are just mere feet away from the first staircase on the hike — just walk towards the highway overpass and take the set of stairs up.
Parked and ready to climb the first set of stairs.
Notable Stop: An Old Hollywood Speakeasy And an Unsolved Murder Mystery
Thelma Todd’s Sidewalk Café, a former roadhouse-speakeasy operated by the silent film actress. She was also mysteriously murdered.
The very first stop you should check out is at the top of the stairs, a bright white Spanish style structure that today is an office building for a film production company. But according to the book Secret Stairs LA, this spot had a checkered past as a hidden speakeasy owned by silent movie star Thelma Todd. The blonde beauty starred in several Marx Brother films before dying under suspicious circumstances (found dead in her car by carbon monoxide poisoning). Was it her boyfriend? The ex-husband? A disgruntled business partner? Or was she tangled up with gangster Lucky Luciano with her speakeasy business? Sounds like she had a few enemies! Later on the walk, you’ll get to see her house, located just up the hill from here.
Hidden Trails of LA: Taking the Climb
First staircase up
You’ll see the first set of stairs after passing the speakeasy, rising up along a wooden fence. At the top, make a left and continue your climb up another set of stairs on your right. This will take you to Posetano Road (on Google Maps). At the top, don’t forget to turn around and take in the first view of the Pacific Ocean. You’ll get to see a lot of it on this hike, but it’s pretty exciting to get a sneak peek at the beginning like this.
Looking down the first official set of Castellammare stairs.
Bulleted Guidance on the Staircase Hike
From here, I’ll bullet out the directions to give you the clearest instructions to follow along (even for the directionally challenged!).
- At the top of the first staircase, turn left onto Posetano and walk to the next corner. You’ll see a staircase going up the hill to nothing but an empty lot. This isn’t part of the ‘official’ staircase hike, but if you’re ambitious (and want a good view), knock yourself out!
View from the top of the staircase to nowhere.
- After climbing the staircase to nowhere (or if you’re thinking…hard pass!), continue down Revello Drive. If you’re skipping the staircase to nowhere, turn left. If you did the staircase, turn right.
- After the house at 17712 Revello Drive, you’ll find the 2nd official set of stairs going down, slightly hidden on the left.
Heading down the official 2nd set of stairs, surrounded by a tunnel of trees.
- The 2 flights down will take you to the corner of Breve Way and Castellammare. Follow Breve to the right, where it meets Porto Marina Way.
- Climb Porto Marina Way to house # 17737, and find the 3rd staircase heading back up.
Third set of stairs.
- You’ll climb 86 steps, taking you back on Castellammare.
- At the top, turn left and continue uphill. Make sure you look high above you on the right to see the massive mansion perched on the hill with a cantilevered tennis court and large patio. Enormous efforts have been made to hold the hillside together here along with this massive house built in 1931.
The massive villa on our right. Look at that tennis court. It looks like it’s about to fall off the hill!
- Continue up Castellammare, enjoying the ocean breezes and mountain views.
- At the first corner, turn left and walk downhill to see the stunning Villa de Leon.
Notable Stop #2: Villa de Leon
Villa de Leon
Did we accidentally walk too far and end up at the Getty Villa? This mansion is not the Getty. It was designed in 1928 by architect Kenneth MacDonald for wool magnate Leon Kauffman. The 12,000-square-foot limestone residence features marble floors, a circular ocean-view dining room, nine bedrooms, 11 bathrooms and a seven-car garage with its own car wash. You’ll know you arrived when you see four naked marble statues watching over the road. Oh, and the gigantic Italian villa in front of you! Be sure to check out the stunning view as you wander around here.
Back to the Bulleted Guide (For the Directionally Challenged)
- Turn around and leave Villa de Leon for your multi-million dollar lottery dreams.
- Go back up the hill. You’re on Tramonto Drive now. And if you look close enough, you can see the Getty Villa and its gardens across the canyon.
- Continue uphill, then turn right onto Vicino Way. At the next corner, bear right back onto Tramonto. Admire 17800 Tramonto, the mansion built in 1931 with the cantilevered tennis court you looked at from below (and looked ready to fall at any moment!). Continue along Tramonto Drive.
Notable Stop #3: Views of the Ocean (and Mud Slides)
We recommend stopping once again near the houses at 17646 and 17612 Tramonto Drive. You’ll get one of the best views of the ocean and the sprawling hillside homes.
The ocean views are magnificent. On the hillside below, you can see evidence of the landslides that took out the now-defunct staircase.
Okay, Back to the Bulleted Directions, Almost Done!
- Continue along Tramonto Drive. Then turn right at the T-intersection where Tramonto meets Revello Drive.
- Follow Revello down until it crosses the narrow bridge.
Kevin crosses the ‘bridge’… It’s more of a road with a white guardrail fence along the side.
- After crossing the bridge, be on the lookout for a somewhat hidden staircase on the left. This is the fourth staircase and you’ll head down it.
- The fourth staircase goes down the hill. This is one of the longer staircases and where we annoyed the guy doing his workout (since we couldn’t stop taking photos!).
The staircase where Kevin did my personal photo shoot. I mean, come on? How could you not take 10 photos here?
- At the bottom, you’ll arrive on Posetano Road. Turn right and go to the corner of Stretto Way and stop.
Notable Stop #4: Castillo Del Mar
Castillo Del Mar
It’s worth pausing here to check out Castillo Del Mar. This was the home of Thelma Todd, the silent film who died at the age of 29 by carbon monoxide poisoning. Eerily, she was found by her housekeeper in the garage fully decked out in a fur and evening gown. While it was ruled as accidental some still speculate what really went down. The home is also just up the road from the speakeasy. Was it the mob? A scorned lover wanting her palatial home? I mean, this place is massive. Per the house’s real estate listing, the property consists of a five-bedroom, four-and-a-half bath main house, a detached studio/chauffeur’s quarters and garage parking for four cars.
Bulleted Directions to Wrap it Up:
- Continue down Stretto Way where it meets Castellammare. You’ll see some really pretty homes on this stretch.
- Turn right at the intersection. See some guidance from Kevin below and you’ll know you’re in the right spot.
- Follow this down to the end of the road and you’ll see a little dirt pathway.
The view from the short dirt pathway.
- After you are back on pavement, you’ll pass a house at 17560. And it’s the final staircase — taking you back to where you started.
We did it!
Hopefully you enjoyed the trip, and didn’t get lost! And if you did, well, at least you’re in a pretty neighborhood. Looking to do some other great neighborhood hikes in LA? Check out our story on the Music Box Steps where they filmed one of the greatest Laurel and Hardy scenes ever captured. Want to get away from people even more? Then check out our adventures in the California desert near Joshua Tree away from all of humanity! Or our guide to the best virtual cheese and wine tastings you can do from home.
After the hike, consider a drive up the Pacific Coast Highway into Malibu. This is the ultimate California dreaming.
I couldn’t be happier — driving the coast and clutching my Starbucks (now that takes talent!).
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