Griffith Park

Covering over 4,200 acres at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park is a massive piece of urban wilderness set right inside Los Angeles. The terrain is rugged and arid, defined by chaparral-covered hills and deep canyons wooded with oak and walnut trees. It’s a landscape threaded with miles of trails, many of which are sunny and exposed with steep, uneven inclines that demand sturdy shoes and plenty of water. This is the wilder side of the park, home to coyotes, mule deer, and over 200 species of birds. But the park is more than just a natural expanse. It also contains some of the city’s most significant cultural institutions. Its most visible landmark is the Griffith Observatory, a concrete structure with copper-domed rotundas that sits high above the basin, offering free general admission to the public. Getting there requires some planning – parking at the top is extremely limited and expensive, so the common strategy is to park further down the hill and walk, or use a rideshare drop-off. The park itself was a donation to the city in 1896, given by Colonel Griffith J. Griffith as a place of recreation for “the plain people.” A trust he established later funded the construction of both the Observatory and the Greek Theatre, an open-air amphitheater nestled in a canyon. Beyond these major attractions, you’ll find the Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, multiple golf courses, and a historic Merry-Go-Round built in 1926. The hiking trails are the main draw, offering views of the Hollywood Sign, and are almost always busy with people and their dogs. On some evenings, the Observatory sets up public telescopes on its lawn for anyone to use.