San Francisco is filled with many scenic parks, and while sprawling parks like Golden Gate Park and Dolores may be the most popular, sometimes the smallest, hidden parks are the best.
Tucked away on Telegraph Hill, one of the city’s smallest parks offers incredible, sweeping views of the bay from its perch on the hill. Jack Early Park is accessible via a small, unassuming staircase. It’s easy to mistake for the entrance to a private residence, as it is only marked by a small plaque.
The winding stairs are under a canopy of trees and lead up a steep hill. While the distance from the street is very short, it instantly feels secluded. After the brief climb, the trees give way to a beautiful view of the Bay, with the city below. You can spot Alcatraz and the waterfront’s Ferris wheel from the small deck built into the side of the hill.
Creating SF’s tiny, scenic park
The tiny park is a result of one local San Franciscan’s vision many years ago. Jack Early, the park’s namesake, created the small park himself beginning in 1962. Early saw an unused patch of Telegraph Hill owned by the city, but previously thought to be unusable. Early saw the potential for the small spot and began planting trees and shrubs along the stairs. He created stairs out of old railway ties and would haul buckets of water up the hill himself to water the plants. The small park was officially named after Early in 1986, after being reconstructed with the help of the Telegraph Hill Dwellers.
Today, the park is still a quiet oasis perched on the north side of Telegraph Hill. While small, the views are big, and it’s definitely worth the visit.
