When is the San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb, and can anyone do it?
It's held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on a Saturday in late August or early September; 2026's was Sept. 5, with climber registration at $50–$110 for FirefighterAid and free entry to watch. 2027 dates aren't posted yet.
- Venue
- Hilton Bayfront
- 2026 date
- Sat, Sept. 5
- Climber fee
- $50–$110
- Benefits
- FirefighterAid
1 Park Blvd., downtown
2027 TBA
Watching is free
501(c)(3)
The short version
- 2026: Saturday, Sept. 5, 8 a.m.–3 p.m., Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd.; 2025's was Saturday, Aug. 30, at the same hotel
- Climber registration ran $50–$110 through Race Roster; spectators and volunteers get in free
- Proceeds go to FirefighterAid, a San Diego County nonprofit for firefighters and their families
- Each climber honors one of the 403 first responders killed on 9/11: 343 FDNY, 23 NYPD and 37 Port Authority
- Harrah's Resort SoCal in Valley Center held a free, untimed 110-flight climb on Sept. 12, 2026
San Diego's 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb is a public fundraiser, not a firefighters-only event: anyone can register to climb, and anyone can come watch for free. It has been held at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront on a Saturday shortly before the anniversary. We checked the 2026 registration page and event listings on November 5, 2026.
9/11 stair climbs in San Diego County
| San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb | Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 date | Sat, Sept. 5, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. | Sat, Sept. 12, 9–11 a.m. |
| Where | Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd. | South Tower, Harrah's Resort SoCal, 777 S. Resort Dr., Valley Center |
| Cost | $50–$110 to climb; free to watch | No fee listed; sign up on site |
| Format | Fundraiser; each climber honors one fallen responder | 110 flights, untimed, no fitness requirement |
| Benefits | FirefighterAid | Dedicated to FDNY Squad 18 |
2026 date
- San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
- Sat, Sept. 5, 8 a.m.–3 p.m.
- Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb
- Sat, Sept. 12, 9–11 a.m.
Where
- San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
- Hilton San Diego Bayfront, 1 Park Blvd.
- Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb
- South Tower, Harrah's Resort SoCal, 777 S. Resort Dr., Valley Center
Cost
- San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
- $50–$110 to climb; free to watch
- Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb
- No fee listed; sign up on site
Format
- San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
- Fundraiser; each climber honors one fallen responder
- Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb
- 110 flights, untimed, no fitness requirement
Benefits
- San Diego 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
- FirefighterAid
- Harrah's / Rincon Fire climb
- Dedicated to FDNY Squad 18
Sources: Race Roster, KPBS events, There San Diego, checked Nov 5, 2026
Who it supports: FirefighterAid helps San Diego County firefighters and their families in a crisis and runs firefighter health and safety programs. Climbers pick one of the 343 FDNY members, 23 NYPD officers or 37 Port Authority employees who died on September 11, 2001, and climb in their name.
Is this still right?
We last checked this tip against its sources on November 5, 2026, and we re-research every tip on a schedule. Things in San Diego change, sometimes overnight.
Event dates, times and prices are set by the organizers and can change or sell out. Confirm with the organizer's own page before you plan around them.
This is general information, not legal, financial, tax, medical or safety advice.
SOURCES
Everything above traces back to one of these. Follow them — if one has changed and we haven't, that's our mistake, not yours.
Race Roster / FirefighterAid · Checked November 5, 2026
Sept 5, 2026, 8 a.m., Hilton Bayfront, FirefighterAid, 403 responders
KPBS · Checked November 5, 2026
8 a.m.-3 p.m., 1 Park Blvd., $50-$110, free to attend, 343/23/37
KPBS · August 30, 2025
2025 date and venue
There San Diego · Checked November 5, 2026
Sept 12, 2026, 110 flights, untimed, on-site sign-up