By Alyssa Valentine + Anselm Clinard
Long before Silver Lake became known for its coffee shops and creative energy, its hillsides were shaped by a practical problem: how to get residents from the streetcar lines below up to their homes on the ridge. The answer was a network of public staircases built into the hills, many of which are still climbed daily nearly a century later. Today, exploring the Silver Lake stairs is one of the best ways to experience the neighborhood's history, art, and views all in one walk.
Key Takeaways
- Silver Lake is home to 52 historic public stairways, most built in the 1920s to connect homes to the Pacific Electric Railway lines below.
- The Music Box Steps, made famous by Laurel and Hardy's Oscar-winning 1932 short film, have 133 steps and were officially designated a Los Angeles landmark in 2024.
- The Micheltorena Steps, known locally as "Stair Candy," have 177 painted steps connecting Sunset Boulevard to Micheltorena Street.
- The Loma Vista Stairs are the longest in Silver Lake at 182 steps, originally built to reach the Pacific Electric's Glendale-Burbank line.
A Neighborhood Built on Stairs
Silver Lake's public stairways date back to a time before cars dominated Los Angeles, when residents relied on the Pacific Electric Railway to get around the city. Homes built on the hillsides needed a way to connect to the streetcar stops below, and staircases became the practical solution.
Why These Stairs Still Matter Today
- Most of Silver Lake's public stairs were constructed in the 1920s to link hillside homes to Pacific Electric streetcar lines
- The neighborhood contains 52 historic public stairways, more than almost any other district in Los Angeles
- Several stairways appeared in early film comedies, since their steep, awkward geometry made perfect slapstick settings
- Many of these staircases remain the only direct pedestrian route between certain streets, even today
Walking them now offers a rare chance to trace the same paths residents used a century ago, long before Silver Lake became a destination in its own right.
The Music Box Steps
Of all the neighborhood's staircases, none carries more film history than the Music Box Steps at the intersection of Vendome Street and Del Monte Drive. These 133 steps earned their fame in the 1932 short film "The Music Box," in which Laurel and Hardy attempt to haul a crated piano to the top.
What Makes This Staircase a Local Landmark
- The 1932 film shot here won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject Comedy
- A marble plaque at the base was placed by the Hollywood Heritage Museum, the Society of Operating Cameramen, and the Silver Lake Improvement Association
- The Los Angeles City Council officially designated the intersection a historic landmark in 2024
- The steps sit adjacent to Laurel and Hardy Park, home to the annual Music Box Steps Day celebration each October
Fans travel from around the world to climb these steps, and the surrounding Laurel and Hardy Park makes for a natural stopping point before continuing on to the neighborhood's other staircases.
The Micheltorena Steps, or "Stair Candy"
A short walk from the Music Box Steps sits one of Silver Lake's most photographed staircases. The Micheltorena Steps connect Sunset Boulevard to Micheltorena Street, and their painted surface has made them an unofficial neighborhood icon.
Details Worth Knowing Before You Climb
- The staircase includes 177 steps rising from Sunset Boulevard to Micheltorena Street
- Local artist Corinne Carrey first painted the stairs in 2013, adding the now-famous heart design
- In 2015, Carrey worked with artists Carla O'Brien and Mandon Bossi to repaint the steps in the rainbow colors that earned them the "Stair Candy" nickname
- Alfred Coffee sits directly across Sunset Boulevard, making it an easy stop before or after the climb
The combination of public art and exercise has made this staircase a favorite for both longtime residents and visitors discovering Silver Lake for the first time.
Planning Your Own Stair Walk
Several of Silver Lake's staircases can be combined into a single loop, giving visitors a genuine feel for the neighborhood's hills and history in one outing. Comfortable shoes and a bit of stamina go a long way, since some of these climbs add up quickly.
Tips for a Better Stair Walk
- The Loma Vista Stairs, at 182 steps, are the longest in the neighborhood and once connected to the Pacific Electric's Glendale-Burbank line
- Cafe Tropical, open on Sunset Boulevard since 1975, makes a fitting stop before or after a stair walk
- Morning hours tend to be quieter and cooler, especially during the warmer months
- Pairing two or three staircases into one loop, rather than driving between them, gives the best sense of how the neighborhood's terrain shaped its layout
Whether you climb one staircase or several, the experience says as much about Silver Lake's character as any restaurant or shop on Sunset Boulevard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many public stairways does Silver Lake have?
Silver Lake is home to 52 historic public stairways, most built in the 1920s to connect hillside homes to streetcar lines.
Which Silver Lake staircase is the longest?
The Loma Vista Stairs hold that distinction at 182 steps, longer than both the Music Box Steps and the Micheltorena Steps.
Are the Silver Lake stairs open to the public year-round?
Yes. All of these staircases are public rights of way maintained by the city and open to walk at any time.
Get to Know the Neighborhood Behind the Stairs
As real estate professionals, we curate a tailored, thoughtful experience for our diverse and creative client base across Northeast Los Angeles, from the cultural energy of Silver Lake and Echo Park to the quieter foothill communities of La Cañada and Altadena.
We bring a deep appreciation for architecture and design, with numerous renovation projects of our own, but our real fulfillment comes from guiding clients through the Los Angeles market with clarity and care. That approach has earned us strong relationships within the local agent community and a reputation for integrity and collaboration. If Silver Lake's hills, history, and stairs have you curious about calling this neighborhood home, we would love to help.
Connect with Valentine + Clinard today.
We bring a deep appreciation for architecture and design, with numerous renovation projects of our own, but our real fulfillment comes from guiding clients through the Los Angeles market with clarity and care. That approach has earned us strong relationships within the local agent community and a reputation for integrity and collaboration. If Silver Lake's hills, history, and stairs have you curious about calling this neighborhood home, we would love to help.
Connect with Valentine + Clinard today.
