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Middle Swan Stairs

The second installment of the Swan Stairs, the middle set utilizes triangles and bright colors to entertain climbers.

Adults: 2 Children: 0

Nearby Attractions

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Lower Micheltorena Stairway

Though these stairs are due for renovation, they represent the old and new melding together, as is characteristic of the neighborhood.

Pershing Square

A small square in the heart of downtown LA's historic district.

James Oviatt Building

Is an Art Deco building in Downtown Los Angeles.

A luxury hotel in Downtown Los Angeles with an Art Deco style.

PacMutual Building

Three interconnected buildings built between 1908 and 1926 represents an impressive example of a beaux-arts style.

Offering a fashionable atmosphere and drinks named after famous designers and sewing machines, Pattern Bar is one of DTLA's hottest cocktail bars.

Related Tours

Silver Lake's Hidden Painted Stairways: Private Walking Tour

Embark on an exciting journey through the hidden staircases of Silver Lake, a vibrant and beautiful section of East Los Angeles with 52 historic stairways adorned with vibrant colours and geometric patterns. These stairways are reminders of a time when the city installed them to serve as direct routes for pedestrians to get down the hills to school, markets, and transit lines.

During your private walking tour of Silver Lake’s Painted Stairways, you will:

Meet your guide at the Silver Lake Recreation Center;
Immerse yourself in the Silver Lake neighbourhood, where your guide will lead you to the famous painted staircases;
Ascend the Swan Stairs, about 287 steps, where you can stop for breaks and photo opportunities;
Descend the Cicero Stairs (90 steps) until you reach Sunset Blvd where you can grab a coffee break and snack at a local coffee shop;
Go about 200 steps up the Lower Micheltorena Stairs and head towards the Descanso Stairway, where you will descend another 139 steps to a nice viewpoint, with photo ops along the way;
Walk the 90 steps up the Murray Stairs, with a short, steep walk up to the Effie/Rotary Stairs, before heading back down to the Recreation Center.

On this private walking tour, you will step past bright swatches of yellow, orange, purple and green; past painted red hearts and another colourful decor as you ascend higher up Silver Lakes’ famous painted staircases, decorated by local artists.

Here you will find a mix of old and new – and part of the neighbourhood’s revival are these fabulous staircases which have become the shining star of Silver Lake.

Back in the day, the city was alive with the sounds of trolleys, buses, and trains, and these stairways played a significant role in connecting people to their destinations. Nowadays, they are used as an alternative to gyms, providing a killer workout while taking in the beautiful sights of Silver Lake.

Get ready to climb your way to the top and discover the hidden gems of this historic neighbourhood!

This is a very physically demanding tour as it involves climbing stairs for the duration of the tour