What counts as the world’s steepest street?
Baldwin Street in Dunedin, New Zealand, has the Guinness World Record for “steepest paved road over a continuous distance of more than ten metres”. Which is enough to bring in quite a few tourists. What’s the history? And what counts as “steepest street”?
Thanks to Mayor Dave Cull and to Gary Blackman. You can see some of Gary Blackman’s photography in Te Papa’s collection: https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/agent/222
And an interview with him: https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/arts/blackman-still-finding-out-what-camera-will-take
Updates:
In November 2022, Gary Blackman passed away: his obituary, and many of his photographs, can be found here. https://blog.tepapa.govt.nz/2022/12/02/gary-blackman-photographer-1929-2022/
In 2019, the Welsh street took the record: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48992331 — but in April 2020, the New Zealand street appealed and took the record back: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-52215151
CITATION: von Worley, S. (2010). More Steeps Of San Francisco – A New Steepest Street Is Born. Retrieved from http://www.datapointed.net/2010/02/more-steeps-of-san-francisco/
The Guinness World Record data is here: http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/62907-steepest-street-road
And the Welsh street is referenced here: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/jan/10/bricks-dont-usually-roll-welsh-town-harlech-worlds-steepest-street
Edited by Michelle Martin https://www.youtube.com/@OnTheCrux
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@TomScottGo
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I had a technical hitch on the interview with Gary Blackman, and I've tried to recover the footage as best I can. That's an embarrassing mistake when filming a photographer! There are also links in the description to some of his photographs, and an interview with him. [Update: in November 2022, Gary Blackman unfortunately passed away. You can now also find a link to his obituary in the description, and it's worth reading.]
@javimelecio
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
it would be rough to lose a backetball down this street
@billcorley6339
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I think I have a street that is steeper ……… Taylor Hill in Gauley Bridge West Virginia. There is a section that is around a 25% grade
@ninepuchar1
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
Great for hill workout👌👌
@garythegariest
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
There is a very steep street in my city
@planet7694
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
Genuinely wanna know who lives there and how they manage it.
@EbtisamEnan
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
it's not the steepest
@Keara113
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I think this is kind of bs had a trip to Houghton and Hancock in upper Peninsula of Michigan, US and they got steeper streets than this. I think the name of one of them was Montezuma in houghton I think. At least one of them has gotta be like 45°.
@aquacool
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
i live in nz too and i believe the street i live on is signicantly steeper
@mikes16mmfilms.54
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
You know that it's steep when you have steps instead of a flat footpath.
@nandotemplo
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I know at least 5 roads steeper than that in my city alone.
@emzee4742
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
San Francisco begs to differ.
@bsodgamer1234
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I came to this street back in september. Steep AF
@merveural3399
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
Come to Üsküdar, İstanbul
@wyskass861
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
This would be great if there was snow
@Canadian_snowman
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
The hill next to my house is steeper tf?
@AaronSmith-kr5yf
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
There are lots of places in east Tennessee that have roads like that. Hell even where I grew up, Castlewood Drive in Franklin TN has a brief slope that is as steep as this. Lots of fun to slide down on the snow days.
@folarinosibodu
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
Love that he left the man that walked into his frame in the last 2 seconds.
@Devoidarex
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I miss Tom. Come back Tom!
@daerdevvyl4314
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
I would like to nominate Brown Avenue in Neepawa, Manitoba, Canada. Specifically the block between Mill Street and Davidson Street. I haven't done any measurements but it appears to be steeper than the street in this video. And I think longer than 10 meters although I'm not certain.
@Ccarnage8
December 11, 2025 at 4:10 am
Y'all haven't driven some people's driveways around the Appalachian mountains states.
Comments are closed.