Ina Coolbrith Park is a 0.8-acre hillside park on Russian Hill in San Francisco, with paths and stairs climbing between Taylor and Mason streets. The steep uphill approach leads to views of the bay and city landmarks.
- Location: Vallejo and Taylor streets, San Francisco, CA 94133.
- Park hours: Open daily
- Route: The main entrance is at Taylor and Vallejo; paths and stairs descend to Mason Street.
- Views: San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island are visible from the park.
Walking to Ina Coolbrith Park
Ina Coolbrith Park is about an 18-minute walk from the Inn on Broadway. The park’s listed address is Vallejo and Taylor, so use that intersection as your destination; the walk leads to a hilltop park rather than a flat green space.
Chinatown-Rose Pak Muni Station is about five blocks from the park. The park is also one block from the Powell/Mason cable car line, which offers another way to approach the area.
The uphill approach and stairs
The approach is a steep hillside hike, with stairs and paths crossing the park’s tiers. The main entrance is at Taylor and Vallejo streets, and the routes descend toward Mason Street, so expect elevation changes as you move through the park.
You can enter at Taylor and Vallejo and follow the paths downhill, or treat the stairs as part of the climb up from the lower streets. San Francisco’s Recreation and Parks department describes the hills as steep; plan your route with that in mind.
City views from the park
Ina Coolbrith Park gives you views across San Francisco Bay and toward Alcatraz Island. Views from the park and its paths also include downtown San Francisco, the Bay Bridge, Coit Tower, and Telegraph Hill.
The park is named for poet Ina Coolbrith, identified as California’s first Poet Laureate. It was dedicated in 1941, and a Poet’s Corner was dedicated there in 1984.
How long to allow
The park itself is small at 0.8 acres. Allow extra time if you want to follow the paths and stairs across the hillside, stop at the viewpoints, or take a route that climbs rather than descends.
Park hours are 5 a.m. to midnight, while restrooms are open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Hours can change, so check the official site before you go; San Francisco Recreation and Parks operates the park.
Combine the park with Chinatown or North Beach
Chinatown is a practical pairing: Chinatown-Rose Pak Muni Station is about five blocks from the park, and the park is close to the Powell/Mason cable car line.
You can visit the park before or after time in the neighborhood, keeping in mind that the park’s paths involve steep slopes and stairs. The walk through Chinatown from Inn on Broadway pairs naturally with the park.
FAQs
Where is Ina Coolbrith Park?
It’s in San Francisco’s Russian Hill neighborhood, at Vallejo and Taylor streets.
Are there stairs in Ina Coolbrith Park?
Yes. Paths and flights of stairs cross the tiered hillside, with routes descending from Taylor Street toward Mason Street.
What can you see from the park?
Views include San Francisco Bay and Alcatraz Island, along with city landmarks such as Coit Tower and the Bay Bridge.