Griffith Park: Wilderness Oasis in Los Angeles
Griffith Park Guide
Use our realistic Griffith Park Guide to plan your next adventure in this Los Angeles park.
Griffith Park is the largest municipal park in Los Angeles, CA. It is also one of the largest wilderness parks in the nation.
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Sights & Places of Interest
Griffith Park has been featured in countless Hollywood movies. It is hardly a surprise since the park borders Hollywood Hills and Hollywood neighborhoods. Griffith Park is also home to the famous Hollywood Sign.
Following the visits to Joshua Tree and Channel Islands National Parks near Los Angeles, we proceeded to explore the city. Our time in Los Angeles, CA was short due to the flight schedule and traffic delays. We decided to visit Griffith Park to hike and enjoy the iconic views of the city.
The park features several attraction clusters.
- The northeastern part of the park includes Los Angeles Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Travel Town Transportation Museum, and Autry Museum of the American West.
- The southern part of the park features Griffith Observatory, Greek Theatre, Hollywood Sign, and Bronson Caves.
Several trails connect the two areas, including the Mt Hollywood Drive, Vista Del Valle Drive, and North Trail.
This Griffith Park Guide will focus on the attractions of the southern attraction cluster.
Western Canyon Drive
We decided to drive to the Observatory via the Western Canyon Drive. This winding road gains 610 ft (185 m) over 1.5 miles (2.4 km).
After securing street parking, we embarked on the Mt Hollywood Drive. The drive is a former road that is now closed to vehicles. It gains another 154 ft (47 m) over the next 0.5 miles (0.8 km).
But the views of the Western Canyon Drive and the city in the distance make up for this tiring uphill hike.
Mt Hollywood Drive
Despite high visitation and large number of pets, the park is full of wildlife. You could encounter deer, coyotes, raccoons, and foxes in the park.
Bobcats and mountain lines would be a rarer occurrence. Several bird species call Griffith Park home. See if you can spot a Nuttall’s woodpecker.
Hollywood Sign
After the overlook the Drive started to flatten out. The Mt Hollywood Drive soon lived up to its name and revealed the famous Hollywood Sign.
3-Mile Trail
After hiking another 0.7 miles (1.1 km) of the mostly flat Mt Hollywood Drive, we arrived at a trail junction. We had multiple options.
- First, we could continue on the Mt Hollywood Drive and turn to the Mt Chapel Trail to reach the Hollywood Sign.
- Alternatively, we could hike the North Trail downhill to Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens.
- Or we could start another uphill hike to the Mt Hollywood Summit via the 3-Mile Trail. This was the option we choose.
Dantes View
The 0.6 miles (1 km) to the summit involved another 220 ft (67 m) in elevation gain. Once we completed the wooded uphill section, we reached the ridge. There we got a clear view of the park’s northeastern side and Vista Del Valle Dr.
An unobstructed view of Burbank, CA, Glendale, CA, and Pasadena, CA with the San Gabriel Mountains in the background served as a reward for nearly 500 ft (150 m) in elevation gain.
Mt Hollywood Summit
In 0.3 miles (0.5 km) we arrived at the main destination of our hike, the top of Mt Hollywood. At 1,625 ft (495 m) this overlook offers unbeatable views of Los Angeles, CA and surrounding cities. It is incredible to see the straight streets that continue for miles and reach the horizon.
A view towards Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica. The Pacific Ocean is in the background. The foreground depicts the Captain’s Roost and water tank below. You can reach them via the Mt Hollywood Trail.
Griffith Observatory
And, of course, Mt Hollywood Summit offers amazing views of the park’s signature building, the Griffith Observatory.
Our time in Griffith Park came to end since we needed to catch a flight back. There were two options to reach the parking lot outside of the 3-Mile Trail and Mt Hollywood Drive.
- You could take the longer but more accessible Mt Hollywood Trail.
- Or you could proceed on an unnamed trail towards the Observatory and Bird Sanctuary.
We chose the latter option and regretted this decision halfway through the trail. This path is extremely steep and poorly maintained. You might need to climb over rocks and bushes. Unless you are craving an adventure and are physically fit, we could not recommend taking this trail.
Continue with our Griffith Park Guide to learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.
Getting to Griffith Park
Griffith Park is in the heart of Los Angeles, CA, a short drive from Downtown LA. The park borders Burbank, CA on the north and Glendale, CA on the east. A part of the park is in the famous Hollywood Hills neighborhood.
You could reach Griffith Park via the Interstate Highway I-5, and highways CA-101 and CA-134. You could also get to the park’s attractions via the public transport.
- For example, you could take the Metro B Line (Red) to Vermont / Sunset station and an Observatory/Los Feliz bus.
- Or you could travel through a combination of Metrolink Antelope Valley or Ventura County Lines and Bus #96.
Budget about an hour to get to the park from Downtown LA.
Where to Stay
Griffith Park’s location offers visitors a rich selection of hotels and vacation rentals. You could stay in Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Burbank, or Glendale and still be within a 30-minute drive to the park.
If you prefer public transport, you take a closer look at properties along the Metrolink Antelope Valley and Ventura County Lines.
Hotels and vacation rentals along the Metro B Line (Red) could also represent a viable option. Given the abundance of choice, you will very likely find a place to stay within your budget and requirements.
Entrance Requirements & Passes
The park is free to use. However, some individual attractions charge admission fees. Here is the overview of the major attractions and their admission requirements, accurate at the time of writing:
- Los Angeles Zoo: $22 per adult; from 10am to 5pm with last admission at 3:45pm; timed reservation required
- Autry Museum of the American West: $14 per adult; from 10am to 4pm (5pm on weekends); closed during major holidays
- Travel Town Museum: free, accepts donations; from 10am to 5pm
- Griffith Observatory: free, open from 10am (12pm on weekdays) to 10pm; closed Mondays
If you visit the park by car, parking could represent an issue. Parking at the park’s major attractions is quite limited. Parking cost averages $4 an hour to $20 a day. Your other bet is to secure street parking. It is scarce but costs only $1 per hour.
Takeaways: Griffith Park
Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA is definitely worth a visit. Parking could be an issue during weekends and holidays. Plan to arrive early or on a weekday to beat the crowds. And give yourself time to reach the park in the infamous LA traffic.
Do not settle for a distant view of the Hollywood sign from the Griffith Observatory’s parking lot. Instead, consider hiking the Mt Hollywood Summit for fantastic views of the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area.
Take a look at our Griffith Park Video Guide and visit our YouTube channel for the latest videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
Griffith Park is the largest municipal park in the United States. It houses the Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles Zoo, Hollywood Sign, and several museums. The park was featured in many movies, which only contributed to its popularity.
Weekday mornings would be the best time to visit the park to avoid crowds.
You can enter Griffith Park free of charge. If you drive to the park, you would need to pay for parking. Some park sights charge separate admission fees.
No, there is no free parking within Griffith Park. Street parking is the cheapest at $1 per hour. Other parking lots range from $4 per hour to $20 a day.
The majority of Griffith Park hiking trails involve some elevation gain and can be classified as moderate.
Mt Hollywood Trail, Hogback Trail, and Glendale Peak have the most picturesque views in the park.
Reservations are not required to hike Griffith Park trails and visit its attractions.
Griffith Park in Los Angeles is much larger than the Central Park in New York City.
Safe realist travels!
