Griffith Park

The Basics

Griffith Park is an ideal escape from LA’s bustling city center. Visitors can rent bicycles and tour the park on two wheels, join a guided hike or horseback ride up to the Hollywood sign, or explore a multitude of museums, golf courses, tennis courts, and hiking trails. Budding astronomers can visit the landmark Griffith Observatory, which boasts rooftop telescopes plus the world’s most advanced star projector, while kids love the Los Angeles Zoo and its 250 animal species. Don’t miss the Travel Town Museum, which features dozens of vintage railcars and locomotives; the Museum of the American West, where kids can pan for gold and explore a stagecoach; and the Griffith Park merry-go-round with its carved and colorfully painted horses. If you’re short on time, visit the park on a Los Angeles day tour to also see city highlights such as Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Bring comfortable walking shoes, sun protection, and plenty of water.

• Pack a lunch to enjoy the park’s many scenic picnic areas.

• Dogs are welcome but must be leashed at all times.

• A trip to the observatory is ideal for visitors with limited mobility thanks to its plentiful parking, expansive views, and relatively flat ground.

How to Get There

Griffith Park is located at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, in LA’s Los Feliz neighborhood. Access to the park is easiest by car, and parking is free. For information and maps, stop by the Griffith Park Ranger Station at Crystal Springs Drive. On weekends, holidays, and during summer, the park’s higher elevations can be congested with heavy traffic, so it’s best to use the DASH Observatory Shuttle to access Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign.

When to Get There

Griffith Park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Opening hours for attractions within the park vary. Summer is LA’s busiest season, but spring and autumn visitors can benefit from decreased smog levels and fewer crowds. January and February can be rainy, so pack an umbrella if visiting in winter.

Movies Filmed in Griffith Park

Being in La La Land, it’s no surprise that Griffith Park stars in more than a few films and TV shows. James Dean and his classmates take a trip to the Griffith Observatory inRebel Without a Cause, and the park’s Bronson Caves were featured in the 1960s TV showsBatman andStar Trek. Ron Burgundy ofAnchorman fame fights bears in the Los Angeles Zoo, Conrad Birdie serenades Ann-Margret at the Greek Theater in the classic musicalBye Bye Birdie, and the tunnel to Toontown inWho Framed Roger Rabbit? leads to the Griffith Observatory.

Ways to explore

Griffith Park is an ideal escape from LA’s bustling city center. You can rent bicycles and tour the park on two wheels, join a guided hike up to the Hollywood sign, or explore a multitude of museums, golf courses, tennis courts, and hiking trails. Budding astronomers can visit the landmark Griffith Observatory, which boasts rooftop telescopes plus a star projector, while kids love the Los Angeles Zoo. If you’re short on time, visit the park on a Los Angeles day tour and also see city highlights such as Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Accessibility

Several trails are friendly to people using wheelchairs, including the Ferndell to West Observatory Loop Trail.

Age limits

None

What to pack

Bottled water, bug spray, camera, snacks

What to wear

Layered outdoor clothing, walking shoes, hat

Not allowed

Venturing off trails, drones, littering

Amenities

Restrooms by the observatory, parking, picnic benches

Address 

Griffith Park is a vast urban green space in Los Angeles’ Los Feliz area, easily reached from downtown or Hollywood. You can drive, use a rideshare app, or join guided tours to major trailheads or the Griffith Observatory access point.

Driving

From downtown Los Angeles, take the I-101 north to the Vermont Canyon Road exit, and then head to the Griffith Observatory parking lot, which requires payment for most of the day and evening.

Public transportation

It’s hassle-free to travel to the park by public transportation. Just get the DASH Observatory bus at the Metro’s Vermont/Sunset station, or use Metro bus routes to Hillhurst Ave/Hollywood.

Best times to visit

Mornings or early afternoons are good for avoiding crowds. Come at sunset for scenic views, but expect more people then.

Best days to visit

Visit midweek (Tuesday–Thursday) when parking is easier and fewer visitors are present; weekends often bring heavy traffic and crowded trails.

Best months to visit

March–May or September–October bring mild weather for trails and views, with less heat and fewer tourists than in the peak summer season.

Special events

It’s worth checking the events schedule for the Griffith Observatory, as there are sometimes shows, telescope observations, and exhibits.