Some streets do not just go up. They make your calves file a complaint.
Around the world, there are ordinary neighborhood roads where the slope is so sharp that cars struggle, bikes wobble, and walkers lean forward just to keep moving. Some of these streets hold famous records.
Others are tucked into regular neighborhoods and rarely make it onto a sightseeing map. Each one has a number attached to it, called a gradient, which tells you how steep the climb really is.
Grab comfortable shoes, keep a water bottle handy, and get ready to meet streets that turn a simple walk into a real workout.
Ffordd Pen Llech, Harlech, Wales
For a short time in 2019, this Welsh lane wore the crown as the steepest street on the planet. Ffordd Pen Llech winds beneath Harlech Castle, and early measurements produced an eye-popping 37.45 percent gradient.
Then the rules changed. Guinness decided that gradients must be measured along a street’s centerline, and under that method Ffordd Pen Llech comes in at about 28.6 percent.
That sent the record back to Baldwin Street in New Zealand.
Even without the title, the climb is serious. It remains one of the steepest streets in the Northern Hemisphere, and visitors are encouraged to tackle it on foot rather than by car.
The setting adds to the fun, since the castle sits just above the town. Pair the walk with a look around Harlech and you get a record-chasing story plus a bit of history in one trip.
Canton Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Cyclists in Pittsburgh know the name Canton Avenue the way marathon runners know a certain hill at mile 20. It is one of the most infamous climbs in the city’s annual Dirty Dozen cycling event.
Pittsburgh is packed with serious hills, yet this short residential street in the Beechview neighborhood still stands out. One section is commonly measured at about a 37 percent grade.
Here is a detail that explains the slope better than any number. Traffic is directed uphill rather than downhill on the steepest portion, which says plenty about how extreme it is.
If you visit, walk it slowly and respect the people who live along the street. It is short enough to finish quickly, but steep enough that you will feel every step before you reach the top.
Bradford Street, San Francisco, California
Forty-one percent is a number that makes most hikers pause. That is the approximate grade measured on a short stretch of Bradford Street above Tompkins Avenue in San Francisco.
Over that brief section, it may be steeper than many better-known roads. San Francisco’s postcard hills are only part of the story, and streets like this prove it.
There is a catch, though. Bradford has not earned the Guinness world record, because measurements and record criteria differ from those used for Baldwin Street.
The steepest part is also quite short, so the challenge comes in one sharp burst rather than a long grind. I would treat it as a quick detour for anyone curious about the city’s lesser-known slopes.
Go in daylight, wear shoes with solid traction, and enjoy a climb that is brief but memorable.
Baldwin Street, Dunedin, New Zealand
Baldwin Street holds the Guinness World Records title for the steepest street in the world. Its sharpest section reaches a gradient of 34.8 percent when measured along the centerline of the road.
The street runs roughly 350 meters through Dunedin’s North East Valley. It is a regular residential road, so homes line both sides while visitors make their way up on foot.
Plenty of people walk to the top just to say they did it. The slope becomes most obvious once you turn around and look back down, where the road seems to drop away beneath your feet.
I would plan this as a short, focused stop rather than a full outing. Wear shoes with good grip, take your time on the way up, and remember that neighbors live here, so keep voices and behavior friendly.
It has become one of the city’s most unusual attractions, and it earns that reputation honestly.
Eldred Street, Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is known for freeways, so a street that climbs like a ladder comes as a surprise. Eldred Street in Highland Park is widely cited as the steepest street in the city.
Its eastern portion reaches approximately a 33 percent grade. That is steep enough to rival some of the well-known climbs in other major cities.
The slope is so dramatic that the neighborhood’s stairways can sometimes seem like a more natural way to get around than the roadway itself. Highland Park has a number of these public stairs, which makes the area interesting for walkers.
If you plan a visit, consider combining the street with a short stroll through the surrounding neighborhood. Park carefully, wear shoes with good grip, and take it step by step.
It is a fine example of how Los Angeles streets were laid out over real hills.
Baxter Street, Los Angeles, California
Early city planners drew street grids on paper, and the hills did not always cooperate. Baxter Street in the Echo Park area is a result of that, with a maximum grade of about 32 percent.
It is one of several steep streets created when the early Los Angeles grid was laid over hilly terrain. Its severe slope has made it well known among people who like exploring the city’s less obvious geographical oddities.
In terms of maximum grade, it sits only slightly below Eldred Street and 28th Street. That puts it firmly in the top group of steep roads in Los Angeles.
I would suggest visiting with time to spare, since Echo Park has plenty of other spots worth a stroll. Walk the hill at an easy pace, watch for passing cars, and take a moment at the top to catch your breath.
Filbert Street, San Francisco, California
Lombard Street gets the fame, yet Filbert Street gets the steeper slope. Between Hyde and Leavenworth streets, the road reaches approximately 31.5 percent.
That is considerably steeper than Lombard Street’s famous crooked section. Many visitors never realize a sharper climb sits just a short distance away.
Filbert has another trick as well. A portion of it near Telegraph Hill turns into a staircase instead of a conventional road, creating one of the city’s most memorable pedestrian climbs.
For a good plan, walk the steep road section first and then try the stairs if you still have energy. Bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and take breaks when you need them.
It is a straightforward way to experience San Francisco’s famous hills up close.
Vale Street, Bristol, England
Every Easter, one Bristol street turns into a racetrack for eggs. Vale Street in the Totterdown neighborhood is the setting, and residents have traditionally used the hill for an egg-rolling competition.
The street is widely known as one of England’s steepest residential roads. Modern LiDAR measurements put its steepest 25-meter stretch at roughly 27.2 percent, with shorter sections measuring even higher.
That mix of tough slope and neighborhood fun gives the street a personality of its own. It is a place where a hard climb has become a community tradition.
If you go, take time to look at the colorful homes of Totterdown as you walk. Wear shoes with good grip, especially if the pavement is damp, and keep in mind that this is a living neighborhood.
The hill is steep, but the setting makes it enjoyable.
Herrenstraße, Sankt Andreasberg, Germany
In a mountain town, even the main connectors can feel like trails. Sankt Andreasberg in Germany’s Harz region has no shortage of hills, and Herrenstraße is among the steepest.
It reaches approximately 22 percent. The road connects the lower and upper sections of town, so it is a practical route as well as a workout.
Herrenstraße is promoted as one of the steepest urban streets in the Harz. That gives it a bit of local pride along with its tough slope.
Nearby Breite Straße is another demanding climb, reaching roughly 19 percent. Walkers who like a challenge can try both and compare.
I would plan this as part of a larger day in town. Wear layers, bring water, and take your time on the hills.
Blake Street, Sheffield, England
Fans of The Full Monty might spot a familiar hillside here. Blake Street in Sheffield is one of the filming locations that used the city’s famously hilly neighborhood.
It is generally regarded as the city’s steepest street. Its gradient has been measured at about 16.6 degrees, which makes it considerably steeper than the better-known Jenkin Road.
Sheffield’s hills have long challenged pedestrians and cyclists alike, so the street fits right into the local landscape. It is a good example of how everyday roads can feel like serious climbs.
If you visit, wear shoes with good traction and take the slope at a steady pace. Combine the walk with a look around the neighborhood and you get a mix of movie trivia and real exercise.
It is a fitting finish to a list of steep streets.
Share this story
