I live this place! It's honestly endless discovery of routes to hike, bike, run, walk and enjoy nature in. On one of my rims I saw bunnies!! So cute! I like coming here for long runs. The hills are no joke but it's a great workout. Plenty of free parking everywhere too! I've also had friends that have tried the horse back riding there and loved it too! As often as I come here, I'm discovering new things to do there! Last Sunday I saw that they had farmers market! So exciting! I was too busy running but I'll have to check it out one day. Go visit anytime with anyone and they will have a good time! read more

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Such a beautiful park with incredible scenery and home of the observatory. We hiked it on a very hot day but it doesn't even matter it was incredible all the way through. The mountains and views were incredible and the wildlife as well! Lots of neat trees and birds and the after sunset hours is fantastic as well! This park is absolutely worth the visit and should not be missed! There is a shuttle through the park that takes you to the Greek theater and the observatory as well. Parking is available all throughout the park although I'm not sure if it's paid or not read more

Oh man this place is huge and we'll definitely have to go back to check out their train. We were able to find Shane's Inspiration Park which is an amazing all inclusive playground. Griffith Observatory was fun and our kids enjoyed it. Love that it's free. Definitely pay for the parking so you're closer up and don't have to worry about walking to your car. read more

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Came here for the first time to see Shakespeare in the Park. Plenty of parking, but because of the mountains/trees there are a lot of bugs flying around. It was also super hot so not sure how often I will be returning, yet glad I experienced it at least once. read more

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The best park Los Angeles has and the biggest! The vastness of GP is jaw dropping. The views from the tops of the trails are really jaw dropping! So many trails that you never feel it's too crowded. Love the trail that runs along the freeway for easy walking trails with the kids and dogs. I take the hills for more challenging hikes. My fave is the trail up to Amir's Garden and continuing up from there to the Hollywood sign and behind the sign. Tough but a cool payoff at the end. I love that you see rangers patrolling and driving around. I've had to ask for help when looking for the Hollywood sign the first time I hiked to it. But you'll find that hikers are always willing to help out. Love seeing the horses on the rails just have to dodge their "piles". So many things to explore at GP. Horse riding, travel town, the zoo, the Autry, golfing (which I don't do), hiking. read more

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Love hiking in Griffith Park Trails- such a beautiful break from the busy bustling LA life. There's a lot of trails here. Parking lots are free by Greek Theater- there's wildlife around, be careful of coyotes and garden snakes. This is a dog friendly hike trail- the trail paths are clear and safe with a lot of people hiking as well. The view when you get to the top is wonderful as always after a nice, effort filled hike up. Always great catch-up activity, hiking in Mother Nature and also getting a great work out. Restrooms at the parking lot before the hike are always clean & well kept. If you enjoy the outdoors- definitely try out Griffith Park hike trails! read more

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Nice park pretty place to look around and take photos pretty cool place to walk around read more

Griffith Park - #photography - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

An essential LA stop and one of my favorite places to frequent. There is no view of the city like the numerous views and angles that you get from up in Griffith Park, especially on a clear, blue-sky day following a rare LA rain. I highly recommend the hiking trails! Super family friendly, and you can basically choose the length and direction that you want to go. Free parking throughout the park is a huge plus (except if there is a show at the Greek theater or if you park in the upper Observatory lot, which is now ridiculously a $10 flat rate even though you can park elsewhere and walk up to the observatory for no charge.) read more

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Classic hiking spot - great for kids and adults. It's surprisingly good for an in-city hike, although do not go during the dead of summer during mid-day. Great morning or evening hike. read more

I've been visiting this urban oasis for over 60 years and never tire of it. Nestled in the Hollywood Hills, Griffith Park is the largest park in Los Angeles and one of the largest municipal parks in the country. Whether you want to hike, relax with a picnic, or enjoy great views of Los Angeles, Griffith Park is for you. The world famous Griffith Observatory is the highlight of the Park, and well worth visiting. read more

I didn't spend a lot of time in Griffith Park. I came in order to get to the observatory but from what I gathered there are a lot of areas to relax and hike and bike and do any sort of outdoor activity that you might think of. Getting out to the observatory is pretty much all uphill so I gave applause to all the people who were hiking up to the observatory from the lower trails or riding their bikes. It's really a steep incline but I guess that's how people get their workout. It's also a really great place to get a spectacular view of Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign so you're really getting like two or three birds with one stone if you visit this park. Just make sure it's not too smoggy of a day or during wildfire season or you won't see much. It's also a cool place to come at night a seem the view of L.A. read more

Such beautiful views of downtown LA. The amazing trails is a must see. Get some fruits for your drive up read more

Griffith Park - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My #1250 goes to Griffith Park! It wasn't love at first sight! As an European, I expected a park with green lawns and gardens. Griffith Park is huge, the 2nd bigger park in California and number 11 in US. It has many entrances and you have to learn to navigate it based where you go within the park. More like, where you'll drive within the park! Griffith Park is the home to major landmarks: Griffith Observatory, Hollywood sign, Bronson Cave, LA Zoo, Autry Museum, Travel Town Museum, the Greek Theater! And more obscure ones like: the Merry Go Round, Old Zoo, Fern Dell, Amir's Gardens. There are tons of hiking trails and picnic tables. Golf courts, tennis courts, plenty of outdoor activities areas. It's great to be able to be in nature while you're in the city, very unique to LA. You'll see coyotes, hawks, snakes and all sorts of cool birds here. You can horse ride. There's also a lot of kids to ride ponies(super cute). I love the Shakespeare Festival here and spending the evenings while enjoying an outdoor play. So unique (miss it). You can see great views of LA from various angles, breathtaking. Especially during the pandemic, Griffith Park is being a respite for me. I did some hiking, spent some time outdoors and went out for picnics with my husband. I discovered more trails (need to share with Yelp friends), and have plans to try some more. Griffith Park offers so much to Angelenos! It's nature at our back door! It has cool spots if you visit from out of town, just do a tad of research! For me, it's a quick escape to recharge and enjoy nature anytime of the year. It's a place that grew on me so much and now I cherish. A needed escape! read more

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Very few people know that Mr. Griffith was a wife abuser, and that the dedication of his lands as public parks to the City of LA as well as the construction of his eponymous Observatory were done as a kind of bribe to salvage his criminal reputation from the time he was jailed for shooting his wife in the face. (She lived to see another day.) He's far from the only ignoble rich white man behind much of the City's history. However, the 4000+ acre, hilly, natural lands today are a wonderful escape from the central Los Angeles basin notable only for its rude dearth of nature. Block after block of concrete was poured over any available open space--no mitigation for public squares, aesthetic beauty, or nature amenities, nor passing thought for ecological balance. That is the logic of greedy capitalist, imperialist mindsets. Commerce without regard for the source of life, take without limits. I was fortunate enough to live within walking distance of the back entrance along Commonwealth Avenue which is one of the quieter access routes, and had routine scrabbles up a back hill to the "grove" of Cedar trees that gives a vague sense of a square-inch-island of forest amidst the ocean of concrete. What's remarkable is that since the park is largely at height, it affords you remove from the hustle of the city, a genuine sense of escape. As well, the vistas looking out of the river to the east, the downtown skyscrapers to the south, and the grand sky shows are impressive. The moon rises to the east behind Glendale are stunning and to the west, sunsets over the distant Pacific are also epic. In Los Angeles though, commercialism does trump nature. This park is too valuable not be used as a film or photography backdrop. So my walks at night would periodically be interrupted by blinding levels of camera lighting that required heavy machinery/cranes to set up, and the entire hill side might be lit up like a neighborhood to shoot an ad or TV/film scene. Throughout the history of this city's cinematic production history, Griffith Park has been cast as Texas, Missouri, or any western scene, railroad, "battle with indians" and the whole fake mythology of white America. Image always trumps the earthly truths in Los Angeles. Yet occasionally the reality of cinema meets earth as well-- on one of my walks through the park, I recognized the King of Hollywood, Brad Pitt himself, and he kindly obliged me with a photo for the family and friends. One of the best secrets in the city is the fantastic DASH circulator bus that takes one up from the Vermont Avenue approach, and allows you to get off at the Observatory from where hikes to Mount Hollywood and other interwoven trails are a pinch to access. Once you know the back scrabble routes, you'll see signals of California's authentic ecology: there are clumps of native wildflowers in the spring after the rains. One always has a sense of wildness in proximity: bird calls are a reminder that this is their habitat and coyotes are able to roam freely. Most of the park is brown and overgrown with invasive species for much of the 9 months during which Los Angeles is arid. It's annoyingly hot and dry. But the value of nature--left undeveloped-- seems only to increase with each passing year as the consequences of pitiless, ugly, and rectilinear urban sprawl of California's aggressive capitalism demonstrate its ravages. The land has been choked, the skies are murky, years-long drought is the norm, temperatures are too high in the urban megalopolis, the people are left aggressive, survivalist, and poor with medieval disease outbreaks, and southern California is a Frankenstein monster compared to before the invasion of 1848. Leave Griffith Park alone. read more

Not the best signage or information online for tourists. I was hoping to take our girls here while on vacation. At our hotel, they recommended this place, even at night. I was thinking of seeing stars or city views. We went at night and could see the zoo signs and Crystal Springs. Very dark. After driving a while, I turned around. Not wanting to get lost in the dark on a einding mountain road with my babies. Tried another day and stopped by the carousel, which was supposed to be opened, but was closed. Also no luck. A fellow Yelper recommended me looking up another business near there to find the observatory. We were out of time, so maybe next time. I wish they posted more signage of what is there and how far. Really pretty and green from what we saw. Saw a naked man walking past the exercise area. Exciting. read more

My friends and I ran a 5k. It was a Santa Run and with the theme everyone was very festive. The trail was a bit muddy but it was a great workout. read more

Griffith Park - Santa Run 5k - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Been coming to this park since my kids were little tykes. Had at least two birthday parties here: one near the merry-go-round and the other near the train station/pony area. Coming here during Christmas time was fabulous because the little train ride would take you to see Santa and you would get to also enjoy the beautiful X-mas lights. Now a days since my kids are older, we come here to hike (there are 12 trails), or jog or walk the dog. So far my favorite hike is the Fern Canyon Trail. Love the adorable little stream with some koi fish. Areas to sit and just relax. You might want to bring a light sweater because it was pretty cool in the early morning. Once you complete that trail, it leads to a kiddie playground and another trail that's dusty. Walking around the golf course is a great place to get your steps in. Be careful at night though. It gets pretty dark and creepy. My kids claim to have seen some bats at one time. Check out the visitor center. Plenty of interesting pictures and stuff to read. There's also a REALLY clean restroom there. Plenty of free parking. Enjoy!! read more

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So much to do at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA. This is one of my favorite areas to take out-of-towners even though traffic driving from my current hometown of Downey drags on and on sometimes... It's close to the 5 Freeway, Highway 101, and Route 134. Parking in most areas is free. Here are the other PROS: + Autry Museum of the American West + Bronson Caves (closed as of this writing on 4/27/22) + Fern Dell / Trails Cafe + Flora & Fauna (as the City of LA refers to it on their website) - so remember to leash your dog(s) where they are permitted + Greek Theatre + Merry-Go-Round (near the zoo) + Griffith Observatory + Southern Railroad + Hollywood Sign + L.A. Equestrian Center + L.A. Live Steamers + L.A. Zoo + Griffith Park Pony Rides + Oversight by park rangers + Two golf courses: Harding Golf Course & Wilson Golf Course + Travel Town CONS - the reliance of others to "pack it in, pack it out." It's simple. Just pick up after yourself and anyone in your group is unable or refuses to do so. read more

This place is the best. It is and always will be my go-to spot in LA for a quick, easy hike.....open, accessible space....amazing views....getting up high above the city....and just having space to myself. I typically park at the top and just walk around the grounds and museum, or I park at the bottom (west side of the whole area) and enter in through the playground to hike. It is peaceful, quiet, serene, and always beautiful. I hope it never gets destroyed. It is truly one of LA's few places of FREE, ACCESSIBLE, EASY solace, peace, nature, tranquility. read more

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Great place to go for a hike or run but watch those hills for trail running! Definitely take sufficient water as well read more

Griffith Park - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

"I have serious problems with ambition. I don't know if I have much of it. I think that if I had ambition the way that other people have it, then I would be in a completely different place in my life. I just like doing things as long as they feel good." - Norman Brannon That quote basically sums up Griffith Park for me, and in a way, even Los Angeles as a whole. There is so much potential here. First of all, the location is great, it's right in the middle of what is happening and what is about to happen. Second of all, the amount of space is ginormous and that is not easy to come by in this city, so definitely some positive points for having that. However, it just feels like things stopped there. I mean, I understand that there is no city park like the wonder that is NYC's Central Park, but where is the ambition to compete with other city parks like Rock Creek Park in DC, Golden Gate Park, Portland's Forest Park or even San Diego's Balboa Park? Parking is not easy to find and it's always crowded here. Although there are some nice views, the air quality is smog infested on most days so that impacts how far you can see, not to mention having to breathe it in. Overall, it's an okay park in the city and it is better than having nothing, but it still leaves a lot to be desired. read more

Griffith Park - Dust all over the cupcakes - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

SUCH a BEAUTIFUL park!! Oh my goodness! Multiple people recommended this park to me for an amazing view of the city and just an overall great park and the park still blew my mind! I didnt realize how amazing it'd be. I've been twice on my visit to LA and both times took the bus up to the observatory and hiked to the top of Mount Hollywood. It was a great hike and the view is amazing! I personally love finding spots to meditate up there, it is such a deeply connecting place, especially in LA where I've been missing nature so much! The park near the bottom also looks beautiful and I will definitely be back if I come back to LA. read more

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This park is a natural wonder where it connects through residential and the observatory and music concerts . When you need to get away for a short bit you can endure peace and serenity in this park I highly recommend this park for everyone read more

Trail to the top doesn't take very long at all. If you stop and admire the views you can see the city, the Hollywood sign, the LA towers, and enjoy the fresh air. Observatory is at the top, where you'll find the view even more beautiful. It's fairly easy, children shouldn't have too much of a problem. There's parks and pic box tables, playgrounds and tons of shade at the bottom. read more

Griffith Park - Trail to the top - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I had a fantastic time hiking a trail At Griffith Park. The scenery was beautiful. We ran into the old abandoned zoo. It has a very eerie vibe. It's a great loop hike if you want to get three or four miles in. The park is so well mai twined and it's huge. I can't wait to explore more. read more

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Griffith Park is one of the reasons I love visiting LA. I only wish my city had such an amazing park for great incline hikes and scenic views. I was told there are over 50 trails here and they vary in difficulty level. You can find free parking by the Greek theater, where there is also a free restroom and water fountain (was not working the few times I have visited the park). I love the trail that goes near Griffith Observatory and up to the top of the hill for sweeping 360 views of LA and the mountains surrounding the city. Stunning! read more

Popular recreational area with a bunch of interconnecting hiking trails. Some of the trails are out-and-back, but you have the option of taking a quick hike or extending your trail to take up a full day. The trails are exposed so bring lots of water and wear sunscreen. The trails are popular, particularly on weekends, so try getting there earlier. There are a few picnic tables/benches scattered around. No bathrooms unless you head over to the Observatory. Dogs are allowed on leashes. There are parking lots by the Greek Theater (free) as well as street parking, or you can park up by the Observatory ($15 per hour). There's a separate lane for ride share so you could get dropped off in front of the Observatory (currently closed during covid). You could chill at one of the green spaces and have a picnic (Jitlada is only a 1.5 mi/10 min drive away!) or just enjoy some urban nature. You can see the hollywood sign or take in views of Downtown or Burbank (assuming there's no smog or wildfire smoke). Griffith Park is LA's answer to Central Park, and good for both locals and tourists alike. read more

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I love Griffith Park! It's such a natural beauty! I love driving through the park to Burbank! Taking in all the greenery, sometimes spotting a deer, or coyotes. I have yet to see a mountain lion. I shouldn't even say it! Lol. I'm gonna jinx myself. Haha. Ooooo...perfect way to connect with nature. So many things to do here. Never a dull day! This is a MUST SEE/ MUST DO while in Los Angeles! From the beautiful observatory, with it's breathtaking views of the city, to the many many hiking trails. Things to do in Park- *Griffith Observatory- I love it at night, cause it's so romantic seeing all lights overlooking the city! *Pics with the Hollywood Sign in background. *Hiking trail across from Observatory-this is beginner-moderate hike. Worth the view! Approx time up and down for beginner 1.5 hour. *The L.A Zoo-It's a hilly zoo. Wear comfy shoes. Be ready to zoo-hike! *Pony Rides for kids *Horseback riding *Golfing *Biking *Multiple playgrounds *Travel Town Museum (outdoor train museum). Fun spot for everyone. There's ample amount of parking!! So grateful, to be in close proximity, to this gem. Get your Griffith Park on! read more

Griffith Park - Today's walk! - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Omg!!! Yes and yes and yes. So much to do!!! So much shade too. There is hiking, there is a Mary go around, train ride, and playground. If you have a child on the spectrum the playground is created for all inclusive. Must go and try it out. read more

I made a trip to Griffith Park with my sister and dog this past Sunday. It was fun! We arrived in the afternoon and stayed until the evening. We checked out the Old LA Zoo and walked some trails. The trails we walked were the Lower Old Zoo trail, Upper Old Zoo trail, Fern Canyon trail, Coolidge trail, Cadman trail, and Main trail. Our wildlife encounters included: a woodpecker, bats, a coyote, and an owl. I enjoyed my time at the park. The trails we did weren't too intense and I loved the scenic views we got of the city at high elevations. I love that Griffith Park is dog-friendly and that there's always a chance to see wildlife while visiting. For the record: We also made a brief stop at the Griffith Park Visitor Center during our visit. It was closed when we arrived, but we looked through the windows. Gazing through the windows we could see vintage photographs of the park on display, as well as some taxidermied animals. It definitely looked like something to check out sometime. read more

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At the top of any to do list for LA is Griffith Park. Not only will you get the chance to hike some great trails overlooking the LA area but you will also get some great photo opportunities. Firstly, the park is free to access There is free parking available on the lower slopes. I would not recommend the $10/hour parking near the top as that is a huge ripoff in my opinion. There are miles and miles of trails and the trails are dog and group friendly. The great views and a great workout is hard to beat here. read more

Perfect place to go hiking. The trail becomes steep which makes you work for it. Such a great place with great views too!

One thing Los Angeles incredibly excels in as a big city is their nature. I love hiking, and there are plenty of AWESOME parks and trails to peruse through. Griffith Park happened to be a new one that I've discovered on a recent trip, and my oh my is it beautiful. We were originally planning on going through the park, just to the observatory. Unfortunately, the parking was a bit insane to where we had to park all the way down at the bottom, but I guess it led us to even more beauty on the way up. There are all kinds of trails to take that lead to beautiful views of LA, and even the Hollywood sign. Once you get to the top, you can head on over to the Griffith Observatory to see some science exhibits and get an even better view. This is a tourist attraction that you cannot miss. Plus, it's FREE. And in an expensive city like LA, that is much appreciated! read more

Griffith Park - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I used to live in Little Armenia. Griffith Park was practically next door. From the street, in front of my apartment, I could look north and have an unabstructed view of Griffith Observatory. What a sight, especially at night ( I didn't mean to rhyme). My wife and I would go all the time. Sometimes we would drive, sometimes we would walk. We would play tennis, hike (I would even hike alone sometimes) most of the trails, visit the obsevatory (day or night), visit the zoo, The Greek. We did the Haunted Hayride, we rented bikes one time. I even played in a soccer league over at the John Ferraro Atheltic Fields. Basically, the only thing we didn't get to do was play golf, ride horses, and visit the Gene Autry Museum. I love Griffith Park. To me it is the best place in LA. I have so many great memories. I don't live nearby anymore so it is hard to visit, but I hope to go back with my son so he can see how great it is. read more

Wanted to take our granddaughter to the MerryGoRound but it's only open on weekends.... disappointed but discovered this really fun creative new addition to the park next to the MerryGoRound my granddaughter loved it and had a great time. Lots of swings climbing and fun rides . Everything is free so creative and fun for the kids and grownups. I think it's called Shane's inspiration park read more

Great place to get outdoors at - plenty of things to do from running/walking trails to hiking to soccer fields and more. Right next to LA zoo with plenty of parking and many park rangers on patrol. Also a merry go round for the little ones. Running and walking trail is dirt but covered with some sand but your shoes will get dusty. Some green areas as well for kids to play on. read more

Griffith Park - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

It's a good place for a nice hike. I do come here often and always love it. Parking is never a problem, though I do come here on weekdays. Its worth checking out. read more

So I'm not a hiker in any shape or form but when I'm done with my homework and not at work this is definitely somewhere that is beautiful todo a hike the view of the city is unreal and so relaxing and quiet it's beyond peaceful as definitely somewhere that is a cute date idea I honestly would think this is so romantic if someone took me here so I definitely think this is a cute date idea or even just with friend. read more

Griffith Park - View from the top - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Fantastic space for outdoor recreation minutes from the center of a large metropolis, not to mention it's also a cultural icon recognized around the world. read more

Griffith Park - Griffith Dawn - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Another in my series of weekend hiking excursions, and I had to visit the iconic Griffith Park. There are various trails all around the area, and I used the AllTrails app to find the extended trail that was a 7-mile loop. There was free parking at the start of the trail and it was not too packed when I went on a Saturday afternoon. It was a pretty challenging climb with the 1st 4 miles being a good incline/climb. There was a great breeze which helped to keep me cooled down. The views are spectacular and you can see straight to downtown Los Angeles from one side, and Hollywood sign on the other along with a great overlook of the Observatory, and the trail leads right to it. There was not too much wildlife when I made the trek other than some bugs and birds flying overhead. Make sure to take lots of water and cover up with sunscreen and something for your head when going on a sunny day. I will definitely be coming back when the Observatory is open(it was closed due to COVID-19) to get a tour inside. read more

Griffith Park - Griffith Park Observatory closed for COVID 19 - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California