It is called the crookedest street in the world. Situated in San Francisco, Lombard Street gets its nickname from the 8 closely placed hair-pin bends that make driving here quite an adventure.
Actually Lombard Street runs through 12 blocks but it owes its fame to a quarter mile stretch on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets. History has it that this road came into being in 1922 and it came to be what it is now because this part of the hill was hardly motorable, given its steep slope. Today, this part of the road is a one-way that allows vehicles to only come down the hill.
When we visited Lombard Street for the first time, we were in a group tour, and since our van wouldn’t have been able to navigate the sharp turns, we walked down the hill using the walk-way on the left side of the winding road. The downhill walk was not as exciting as driving down but we did get to have a better view of the cars maneuvering the famous curves of the crookedest street.
If you visit this place and would rather walk down — remember — Hyde Street is a good place to start. The best place to take pictures (second only to aerial shots ) would be the lower end of the crooked street.
Added later:
I’ve been on Lombard the Crookedest a few times since that first time when I was in a group tour. On my subsequent visits, we driven down those tight city switch back and I’ve gotten to take a few pictures and even a video from that drive down the hill.
Here’s a map of the area showing you how crooked this part of the street is.
And here’s what it’s like to drive down this Crooked Street in San Francisco —
More from —
The City of San Francisco
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Wow! Why do people use this street? What kind of shops are here or is it a street that connects to another street? Interesting photo shots!
Hi Judy,
Thank you.
There are no shops on this part of the street; only some expensive houses ('coz of the location). It is a mainly a tourist attraction. As it is said to be the `crookedest street,' everybody wants to try a hand at driving here.
hmmm at least no one will be SPEEDING there 🙂
Bikram's
That's so right, Bikram.
Is that your profession talking for you? :D.
And I thought Shimla deserved the cake! Thank you for the great share. Wish a Happy New Year to you and your loved ones!
I guess it's the closely paved hair pin bends that did the trick and earned it this title. Marketing it this way works for SF considering the large number of people visiting the city.
Just after we visited this place I read that there were a couple of lesser-known roads vying for this title, one of which is also in SF. I should go check that one out, sometime. 🙂
Thank you USP
Here's wishing you and your girls (all 3) a very happy new 2013.
Wow! Would be a thrill driving there! In Bandra on Pali Hill we have a small stretch that has 3 hairpin bends and is called the zigzag road 🙂 That too is on an incline. But Mumbai is not marketing it for tourists 🙁
Shall post a pic sometime.
Zigzag Road? That's a nice name. Lombard should also be called that instead of crooked road. It would be apt. 🙂
I look forward to seeing the Pali Hill picture. Your photo blog is a great way to see Mumbai. 🙂
Happy New Year, Magic Eye.
It will be really interesting to drive there! It actually reminds me of our 'Thamarasshery churam'. This street looks like a miniature of that.
Yeah, nice place for a fun drive; only there are too many people wanting to try it. We haven't driven that way yet.
Indeed, a miniature version of that. Ah, we miss those drives through Thamarassery Churam. 🙁
Divya, this post is so fascinating and having travelled to Leh and Kinnaur valley in India, I can imagine the thrill one gets to traverse on these roads!! Wishing you many more happy journeys and thrills in the New Year and beyond:)
SF has several super-steep roads and when you go down some of them, you see the San Francisco Bay down below. That is most thrilling. Shall put up a pic of one of those roads sometime soon.
Thank you so much, Mr. Bhatia. Happy New year to you to you too. 🙂
🙂 Never drove the car through this street. Always been on the back seat
🙂 Next time, maybe.
Wow, A thrilling experience indeed for those car travelers.I was also amazed at people owning those properties around the street. I wonder how they feel, elated or tired of tourism!
I for one, liked SF very much. Given a chance , I will visit again.
Thanks for sharing and wish you a Happy New Year!
I know…it must be crazy living there with all that noise. But I'm sure they're proud owners of Lombard Street properties. 🙂
Me too; just love the city. SF really is place we can fall in love with so easily. Let me know if you're visiting again. 🙂
Thank you so much maam. Here's wishing you and your lovely garden a very happy 2013. 🙂
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