Lombard Street’s one-block section between Hyde and Leavenworth on Russian Hill is the most crooked paved road in the United States, dropping 27 feet in eight switchbacks through hydrangea-lined brickwork. The postcard shot is taken from the base looking up, or from the top looking down at the city and Coit Tower beyond. Getting either empty of tourist vehicles requires planning.
Best Time to Shoot
Sunrise on weekday mornings is the best window for an empty street. Traffic starts by 9 a.m. on weekends. Morning marine fog often descends on Russian Hill from the west, adding atmosphere. Summer evenings with post-sunset sky work from the base looking up, especially with car headlights as light trails.
How to Get There
The street is on Lombard at Hyde, in the Russian Hill neighborhood. Take the Powell-Hyde cable car to the top, or walk up from Fisherman’s Wharf. No permits or fees. Parking on the block itself is prohibited; park on surrounding streets or use public transit.
Camera Settings
From the top (Hyde Street level): 50-85mm to compress the switchbacks and show the city skyline behind. From the base: 35-50mm, f/8, tripod for long exposure car-light trails at dusk. Night shots: ISO 400-800, f/8, 20-30 seconds to accumulate headlight streaks.
Recommended Gear for This Spot
Common Mistakes
- Arriving in the afternoon expecting an empty street — you will wait for hours.
- Shooting at f/2.8 from the top: the switchbacks extend too deep to stay in focus wide open.
- Composing without the city skyline in the background: the context is what makes the top-angle shot work.
- Not scouting the base angle: most visitors only shoot from above, missing the strong upward perspective.
A San Francisco sunrise photography tour covers Lombard Street, Coit Tower, and the Embarcadero before the city wakes up. Browse Lombard Street photography tours to find options that fit your schedule.
For more location guides like this, see the Travel Photography Guide on Shut Your Aperture. Browse all spots on the USA CA photo spots hub.