Griffith Park
4730 Crystal Springs Dr
Los Angeles, CA
A rugged mountain wilderness in the middle of Los Angeles, with an Art Deco observatory, trails to the Hollywood Sign, and the whole basin spread out below.
Griffith Park is proof that a great city can hold a real mountain wilderness inside it. Spreading across the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, it is one of the largest urban parks in North America, a rumpled expanse of chaparral ridges, oak canyons, and dusty trails where coyotes trot and red-tailed hawks circle, all within sight of skyscrapers and studio backlots.
At its heights sits the Griffith Observatory, a gleaming Art Deco landmark that has watched over Los Angeles since 1935 and starred in countless films. From its terraces the whole basin unfolds, from the downtown towers to the distant ocean, and behind it the trails climb into country that feels a world away from the streets below.
What Guests Love
- The Griffith Observatory, free to enter, with its planetarium, telescopes, and a terrace looking over the whole city
- Trails that climb to close-up views of the Hollywood Sign
- Miles of ridgeline hikes that feel genuinely wild despite the city all around
- Sunset over the LA basin, the lights coming on from the mountains to the sea
Worth Knowing
- Parking near the observatory fills fast on clear evenings and weekends; going early or using the shuttle saves frustration
- The trails are exposed and dry, and summer afternoons get hot, so carry water and hike in the cooler hours
- You cannot legally reach the Hollywood Sign itself, but several trails bring you to excellent viewpoints of it
- It is a real mountain park with coyotes, rattlesnakes, and steep terrain, so stay on trails and mind the heat
Details
Los Angeles, CA
Learn about Griffith Park
The gift of Griffith J. Griffith
The park bears the name of Griffith J. Griffith, a Welsh-born mining speculator who bought this land as part of an old Spanish and Mexican-era rancho and, in 1896, donated a large tract to the city as a public park, saying it should be a place of recreation for the people.
He later funded the observatory and the Greek Theatre, which opened after his death. His life was far from tidy, but the park and its landmarks have become some of the most beloved public spaces in Los Angeles.
The Griffith Observatory
Perched on the south slope of Mount Hollywood, the observatory opened in 1935 with the mission of bringing astronomy to ordinary people. Its planetarium, its telescopes open to the public on clear nights, and its exhibits on the sky and the solar system are all free to enjoy.
The building itself, with its copper domes and sweeping terraces, is one of the most recognizable structures in the city and a fixture of movies. The view from its front lawn, over the basin with the Hollywood Sign to one side, is among the best in Los Angeles.
Wild trails in the city
Beyond the observatory, a web of trails and fire roads climbs the ridges, linking viewpoints, the old zoo grounds, and quiet canyons. Some lead to overlooks of the Hollywood Sign; others wander into oak and sage country where you can lose the sound of traffic entirely.
The park is genuinely wild in places, home to coyotes, deer, and even, for years, a famous mountain lion who crossed freeways to reach it. Hikers share the ridges with rattlesnakes and hawks, and the dry, aromatic chaparral is classic Southern California.
More to do in the park
Griffith Park packs in an unusual number of attractions. The Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, a vintage merry-go-round, pony rides, a train museum, and the old-fashioned Travel Town rail yard are all within its bounds.
The Greek Theatre hosts outdoor concerts under the stars in the warm months, and picnic areas and ballfields fill the flatter ground near the entrances. It is the kind of park you can return to many times and still not see all of.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Safari Inn, a Coast Hotel
Honorable Mention1911 West Olive Avenue, Burbank, CA
4 miles away|Learn More ›
Things to Do Near Los Angeles
The Hollywood Sign
On the park's western ridges
The famous 1923 hillside sign, reachable by view on several park trails, with Mount Lee behind it and the city below.
Los Feliz
At the park's southern edge
A leafy, walkable neighborhood of cafes, bookstores, and 1920s architecture at the foot of the park.
Downtown Los Angeles
About 7 miles southeast
The city's historic core, home to Grand Central Market, the Bradbury Building, Walt Disney Concert Hall, and Olvera Street.