Overview
Griffith Park is a 4,310-acre municipal park in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, sitting at the northern edge of the Los Feliz neighborhood in Los Angeles. It is one of the largest urban parks in the United States and one of the largest in North America, dwarfing Central Park in New York by a wide margin.
The park contains a remarkable concentration of cultural and recreational attractions: the Griffith Observatory, the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, the Greek Theatre, the Autry Museum of the American West, several golf courses, tennis courts, equestrian trails, and more than 50 miles of hiking and biking paths. The terrain ranges from flat, manicured picnic areas near the main entrances to rugged, chaparral-covered hillsides that offer sweeping views of the Los Angeles basin and, on clear days, the Pacific Ocean.
The land was donated to the City of Los Angeles in 1896 by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith, a Welsh-born mining magnate. Despite its complicated history — Griffith himself was a convicted felon — the park has grown into one of the city's most beloved and democratically accessible public spaces, used daily by Angelenos for exercise, culture, and leisure.
Because of its size, first-time visitors benefit from planning which attractions they most want to see before arriving, as walking the full park is not practical in a single visit.
Before You Go
Griffith Park is a public city park and requires no admission to enter. Several attractions within it — including the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum, and ticketed events at the Greek Theatre — have their own admission fees. Verify current fees directly with each venue before your visit, as prices change.
The park is generally open daily from 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., though individual facilities keep their own hours. The Griffith Observatory is closed on Mondays. Confirm hours on the official Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks website or the Observatory's own site before you go.
Firearms, drones, and open fires (outside designated fire pits) are prohibited. Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times on maintained trails and in most areas of the park. Some backcountry trails prohibit dogs entirely — look for posted signs.
What to pack:
- Sunscreen and a hat; the hillside trails offer very little shade
- Sufficient water, especially in summer when temperatures on exposed slopes can be significantly higher than in the valley
- Sturdy walking shoes if you plan to hike
- A light jacket for evenings at the Observatory, which sits at about 1,134 feet elevation and can be noticeably cooler than the flatlands below
Getting There
Griffith Park is located in the eastern part of the Hollywood Hills and can be accessed from several entry points along Los Feliz Boulevard, Fern Dell Drive, Crystal Springs Drive, and Riverside Drive. The closest major freeway interchanges are the I-5 (Golden State Freeway) and the SR-134.
By car: Most visitors arrive by car. There is free parking at many lots throughout the park, including near the merry-go-round, the Autry Museum, and along Crystal Springs Drive. Parking near the Griffith Observatory is more limited; the Observatory's own lot fills quickly on weekends and evenings. A shuttle operates between the Vermont/Sunset Metro station and the Observatory when the lot is full — verify current shuttle schedules with the Observatory directly.
By Metro: The closest Metro Rail stations are Vermont/Sunset and Vermont/Santa Monica on the B Line (Red Line). From either station it is a steep uphill walk to the Observatory, so many visitors use the park's shuttle service or rideshare for that final leg.
By rideshare: Drop-off at most park destinations is straightforward, though pickup from remote trailheads can involve a wait. Plan accordingly.
By bike: The Los Angeles River Bike Path connects to the park's eastern edge via Crystal Springs Drive, making cycling a practical option from several neighborhoods.
Getting Around
The park is large enough that walking between major attractions is impractical for most visitors. A car remains the most flexible way to move between the Observatory, the Zoo, the Autry Museum, the Greek Theatre, and the various trailheads.
The Griffith Park & Southern Railroad, a small-gauge train ride near the Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, offers a scenic loop through a portion of the park and is popular with families — confirm current operating schedules on-site or via the city parks website.
Trails and navigation: The park's trail network is extensive. Download a trail map from the city parks website or use a reliable offline maps app before entering areas with poor cell coverage. Some summit trails (such as the route to Mount Hollywood) are not well-signed, so a downloaded map is genuinely useful rather than optional.
Things to See & Do
Griffith Observatory
The Observatory is arguably the park's most iconic landmark and a working public science facility. It houses planetarium shows, telescope viewing on clear nights, free exhibits on astronomy and the cosmos, and some of the best panoramic views of Los Angeles available to the public. The Samuel Oschin Planetarium inside charges a separate fee for shows; verify current show times and prices on the Observatory's official website.
Hiking
Griffith Park offers trails for a wide range of fitness levels. The trail to the summit of Mount Hollywood (1,625 ft) is a moderately demanding hike of roughly 3–4 miles round-trip depending on your starting point, and rewards with views stretching to the ocean on clear days. The Fern Dell Nature Area near the Vermont Canyon entrance is a shaded, gentle walk suitable for all ages. The Beacon Hill and Hogback trails are more strenuous options for experienced hikers.
Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
Located at the northern end of the park, the L.A. Zoo houses over 270 species of animals and maintains a botanical collection integrated into its grounds. Verify current admission prices directly with the Zoo.
Autry Museum of the American West
A serious, well-regarded museum exploring the history and cultures of the American West, with rotating exhibitions and a permanent collection covering Indigenous history, Spanish colonial periods, and the frontier era. Admission fees apply; verify with the museum directly.
The Greek Theatre
An outdoor amphitheatre with a capacity of roughly 5,700. It hosts major touring musical acts and performances from spring through autumn. Tickets are sold through the venue and third-party ticketing platforms.
Equestrian Trails and Horse Rentals
The park contains roughly 53 miles of equestrian trails. Pony rides and horse rentals have historically been available through concessions in the park — verify current availability locally, as concession operators change.
Golf
The park contains the Harding and Wilson municipal golf courses as well as the Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course. These are public courses managed by the city. Book tee times through the city's golf reservation system.
Food & Drink
Dining options within the park itself are limited to café concessions. The Café at the End of the Universe, operated inside the Griffith Observatory, offers casual food and drinks — verify current hours with the Observatory, as the café does not always keep the same hours as the building itself. Café kiosks and snack concessions are also found near the merry-go-round area and other family zones, particularly on weekends.
Most visitors eat before entering the park or return to adjacent neighborhoods afterward. Los Feliz Boulevard immediately south of the park is lined with well-regarded independent restaurants, cafés, and bars covering a wide range of cuisines and price points. Vermont Avenue and Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz are the most walkable dining corridors. Atwater Village, accessible from the park's eastern boundary, has a growing independent food and café scene as well.
Picnicking is permitted in designated areas throughout the park, and many locals bring their own food. The picnic areas near Crystal Springs Drive and Fern Dell are popular and can fill up on weekend afternoons.
Practical Information
Restrooms: Public restrooms are available at the Observatory, the Zoo entrance, the Autry Museum, near the merry-go-round, and at several trailhead areas. Availability in remote trail sections is limited — plan accordingly.
Cell coverage: Coverage is generally good near the Observatory and main park roads. It becomes patchy on backcountry trails. Download trail maps offline before hiking into the hills.
Weather: Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are dry and hot, with temperatures on exposed hillsides regularly exceeding 90°F (32°C). Winter is mild but can bring rain and temporarily slippery trail conditions. Coastal fog sometimes reduces visibility at the Observatory in the morning hours.
Accessibility: The Griffith Observatory, the Zoo, and the Autry Museum are wheelchair accessible. Many park roads are paved and accessible by vehicle. The hiking trails vary considerably — some are paved or compacted gravel, while others involve uneven terrain unsuitable for wheelchairs or strollers. The city parks website provides accessibility information for specific areas.
Emergency contact: For park emergencies, dial 911. The Los Angeles Police Department patrols the park. The park's main administrative number can be found on the LA Department of Recreation and Parks website.
Safety
Griffith Park is a generally safe and well-used public space. The areas around the Observatory, the Zoo, and the main picnic grounds are busy and well-patrolled. As with any large urban park, it is advisable to stay on marked trails when hiking, tell someone your route if venturing into remote areas, and avoid isolated sections after dark.
Wildlife is present in the park, including coyotes, mule deer, rattlesnakes (most active in warmer months), and — on rare occasions — mountain lions have been documented in the Santa Monica Mountains range that Griffith Park is part of. Do not feed or approach wildlife. Keep pets leashed and close. If you encounter a mountain lion, do not run; face it, make yourself appear large, and back away slowly. Report sightings to park staff.
Fire risk is significant during dry months, particularly late summer and autumn when Santa Ana winds can occur. Check local fire conditions before hiking. Smoking is prohibited throughout the park. If a brush fire breaks out nearby, follow instructions from park staff and emergency services immediately and do not attempt to shelter in place.
The hillside trails can be disorienting for first-time visitors. Carry a downloaded map and sufficient water, and turn back before you feel fatigued — the return is often as long as the outward journey.
