A Rose Walk in Berkeley
Tucked away in the sleepy North Berkeley hills is a system of hidden staircases with a special pedigree. Weaving in and around the East Bay neighborhood’s brown-shingle architecture, these staircases provide a countryside feel with million-dollar views of the San Francisco Bay.
A two-minute drive north from the UC Berkeley campus and a handful of steps away from the terraces of the Berkeley Rose Garden is a staircase called the Rose Walk.
Flanked by lavender bushes, the Rose Walk is a curving double stairway with red walls capped by weathered, moss-dotted concrete. The elegant path leads to secluded benches, well-kept bushes and a collection of Henry Gutterson cottages.
Designed by Bernard Maybeck and built in 1913, the Rose Walk has seen its fair share of history. Maybeck, one of the Bay Area’s most prolific architects, mentored other Berkeley designers, like Julia Morgan and William Wurster, whose work speckles the tree-lined boulevards around the steps. Originally, the stairs were part of a series of paths built for the hill residents to reach the streetcars in the flats below.
With the Rose Walk’s centennial coming up next year, this designated Berkeley landmark is worth a visit.
But if one set of stairs isn’t enough for you, feel free to explore the paths behind nearby Codornices Park or enjoy the roses with names like ‘Amber Queen,’ ‘Liverpool Echo’ and ‘Picasso’ in the nearby public gardens.