🎨 7 Hidden Art & Stairway Adventures in Greater Pasadena
Hidden art in Greater Pasadena – Tucked away behind familiar landmarks and neighborhood bends are some truly magical spots—colorful murals, historic staircases, and secret paths that make Greater Pasadena a little more adventurous. This week, we take you on a tour of seven unique places that combine public art and walkable history. You don’t have to see them all at once—just keep this list in your back pocket for those in-between errands or afternoon escapes.
1. “Passage Through Pasadena” Mural.
- Location: 2830 E. Foothill Blvd (adjacent to Home Depot)
- Directions: Ample free parking onsite. Walk up to the 86-ft mural on the building’s façade.
- 🎨 Created by street artist Victor Ving and photographer Lisa Beggs as part of their “Greetings Tour,” this vintage postcard–style mural showcases Pasadena’s icons—from orange groves to JPL and Eaton Canyon.
- It’s a bold, colorful tribute to the city’s past and future, painted right on the façade of a commercial building.
2. “Sunset Symphony” Art Deco Mural.
- Location: 1543 E. Colorado Blvd (next to Bubble Puff & Tea)
- Directions: Street parking or PCC lot nearby. Walk west on Colorado Blvd to view the full-color design.
- 🖌️ Designed in 2021 by a local artist collective, this mural fuses Pasadena’s sunshine with Art Deco patterns and the nostalgic pulse of Route 66.
- With soft pinks and sunset oranges, it adds vintage glamour to a small retail strip. Another Hidden art in Greater Pasadena.
3. Route 66 Postcard Mural.
- Location: Lake Ave Parking Garage (entrance on Lake between Green & Colorado)
- Directions: Park inside, then exit on level 2—mural is nestled just beyond the ramp.
- 🚗 This hidden gem was commissioned to celebrate Pasadena’s place along Route 66. Designed in a nostalgic postcard motif, it features hand-lettered script and roadside imagery from a bygone era.
- It’s easy to miss—but worth finding. Hidden art in Greater Pasadena.
4. Cheviotdale Steps.
- Location: Corner of Elmwood Drive & La Loma Road, San Rafael Hills
- Directions: Street parking at La Loma & Elmwood. Walk north one block to the signed stairway. Climb ~98 steps up to Redwood Dr.
- 🚶♀️ These shaded steps cut through one of Pasadena’s oldest hillside neighborhoods. Flanked by 1920s bungalows and sycamore trees, it’s a peaceful escape perfect for a quiet walk or photo stroll.
5. San Rafael Bridge Stairs.
- Location: South side of San Rafael Bridge over Arroyo Seco
- Directions: Park near San Rafael Flats. Walk to the bridge and find the discrete staircase descending into the Arroyo.
- 🌉 These narrow stairs were once part of the route to Busch Gardens—an elaborate public park built by the Anheuser-Busch family in the early 1900s. Now overgrown and quiet, they offer a hidden path into Pasadena’s lush canyon terrain.
- 📷South side of San Rafael Bridge over Arroyo Seco
6. Holly Street Bridge Staircase.
- Location: Beneath Holly Street Bridge near Lower Arroyo Park
- Directions: Park at Lower Arroyo Park. Walk north toward the 134; find stairs leading from creek trail to bridge level.
- 🌲 Dating back nearly a century, these concrete stairs connect the Arroyo’s natural trails to the urban grid above. A great way to connect with Pasadena’s layered landscape—nature, infrastructure, and all.
7. Linda Vista Historic Stairs Trio.
Location: West of Holly Street Bridge (off Linda Vista Ave)
Directions: Street-park near Linda Vista & Holly. Descend the trio of staircases zigzagging into the Arroyo Seco.
🕰️ Built in the 1920s as pedestrian paths between hillside homes and the Arroyo, these staircases are steeped in Pasadena’s early development. They remain open today for hikers, walkers, and curious explorers.
Make Your Own Loop.
Each of these seven spots offers something unique—and you don’t need to see Hidden art in Greater Pasadena all in one go. Try a mural one day, a staircase another, and let your journeys across town reveal new layers of Greater Pasadena.
🌟 These hidden gems are more than photo ops—they’re part of what makes life in Greater Pasadena so special. Whether you’ve lived here for years or are just discovering what sets this place apart, there’s always more to explore. Curious about making Greater Pasadena your next home—or selling the one you’re in?
Hem-young deFazio knows every corner, every stairway, and every story. Call or text her at 626-825-9955 for the insight only a true local can offer.
