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For a route between two San Francisco locations, use Flatten SF to compare the shortest option with alternatives that trade extra distance for less uphill climbing. “Flattest” is a choice: decide how much farther you are willing to walk or ride to reduce cumulative ascent, and check the mode and stairs settings before choosing.
How to compare routes in Flatten SF
Flatten SF is described as a browser-based route tool for San Francisco. Enter your start and destination, select walking or biking if the option is available, then use its route slider to compare alternatives. The slider is reported to move among routes that are not surpassed by another option on both distance and climbing, from the shortest toward the flattest option it considers worth walking. The live site’s current operation and accuracy have not been independently verified.
- Set the two locations. Use the built-in place search or map to choose your start and destination.
- Choose your travel mode. Walking and biking can produce different practical routes; stairs are reported to be allowed for walking and excluded for biking.
- Compare the route options. Move the slider and note both added distance and cumulative uphill gain. Cumulative gain counts uphill sections along the route; it is not simply the difference between the elevations at the endpoints.
- Pick the trade-off you can live with. A shorter route may climb more, while a less-climbing option may take longer. Check the mapped streets and conditions before setting off.
A secondary article about Flatten SF reports that its route graph includes more than 160,000 street segments sourced from Overture and OpenStreetMap, with elevation based on USGS one-meter lidar. It also describes the tool’s flattest boundary as treating a foot of climb like 200 feet of walking. Those are reported inputs and a product-design choice, not independently validated measurements or a universal definition of “flat.” Glonce’s October 6, 2026 description of Flatten SF.
The Tool Desk
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There is no single best route for everyone. A runner may value a direct route, while a person walking with luggage may gladly take a detour to avoid a steep climb. For biking, reducing grade is useful, but it does not by itself establish that a route is safe or comfortable.
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- Distance: How much extra walking or riding does the less-hilly option add?
- Climbing: Does the option meaningfully lower cumulative uphill gain?
- Mode: Does it match whether you are walking or biking?
- Stairs and access: If you need a step-free path, verify the route directly; an available walking route is not necessarily accessible.
- Street context: For cycling, consider traffic and route type as well as hills.
How to cross-check the terrain with city maps
San Francisco Planning slope maps
The San Francisco Planning Department’s Map Library lists a current “Slope Map” and a separate July 2018 poster showing slopes greater than 25% with 10-foot interval contours. These help identify steep terrain across the city, but neither is a point-to-point route optimizer. The listing does not establish the data vintage of the current slope map.
Bike Map and Walking Guide
The city’s SF Bike Map and Walking Guide is dated 2014. It marks street grades in four bands: 0–5%, 5–10%, 10–18%, and over 18%. The guide says its purpose is to help people choose biking, walking, and running routes on less-hilly terrain. It also notes that numbered official bike routes generally avoid steep hills and heavy traffic, while advising cyclists to use caution throughout the city.
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Because it is a static map rather than a route calculator, use it for street-grade and network context—not turn-by-turn directions between arbitrary addresses. Its 2014 date matters when relying on route details.
Elevation contours and profiles
DataSF’s Elevation Contours dataset, updated February 11, 2025, provides five-foot interval contours for San Francisco mainland and Treasure Island/Yerba Island, based on San Francisco Elevation Datum. Contours clarify the shape of the terrain, but do not identify a route or provide navigation.
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A 2013 Google Maps Platform demonstration showed how an elevation profile can help compare a bicycle route, using a draggable route, elevation display, slope coloring, and a chart. It is a historical example, not evidence that the same feature set is available in Google Maps today. Google Maps Platform’s 2013 “Map of the Week: Flattest Route”.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Limits to keep in mind
Flatten SF’s described method and data come from secondary coverage, not an independent route-accuracy study. No verified comparison establishes how closely its suggested paths match current street grades, nor does the description settle current coverage, accessibility, or on-the-ground safety. Treat a route as a useful elevation-and-distance comparison, then check current street conditions and whether stairs or other barriers work for your trip.
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