Bernal Heights: the village and the hill
A small-town main street, a string of secret stairways, and a grassy summit ringed by the city. This is a Claude-drafted route awaiting the editor's walk.

1. Cortland Avenue
Start by walking the 24 bus up, or climbing from 24th St BART, to Cortland — Bernal's main street, a few blocks of independent storefronts, cafés and a small bookshop that feel more small town than big city. Coffee here before the hill.

2. The Bernal stairways
Between Cortland and the summit the slopes are stitched with public staircases — Esmeralda, Prospect, the slide park among them. They're the local shortcut and the best way up; pick a flight and climb. You'll get lost a little, which is the point.

3. Esmeralda Slide Park
A pocket park built around a long concrete slide on the Esmeralda steps — locals bring a flattened cardboard box for speed. Worth the two-minute detour even if you only watch.

4. Bernal Heights summit
The grassy, rocky top is an off-leash dog hill and a 360-degree viewpoint in one — downtown, the bay, the southern hills, all of it. No fee, no gate, often windy. Walk the dirt path around the crown for the full turn.

5. The west slope and Bernal Cut
Come off the summit on the western side, down through the quiet residential streets toward the Bernal Cut, the old railway trench that now carries San Jose Avenue. The descent is gentler than the climb; let it carry you.

6. Glen Park
Walk on into the small Glen Park village around the BART — another pocket main street, a few good places to land. End with a drink here and the train home; you've done the village, the stairs and the hill.

Bernal Heights: the village and the hill