When most people think of Griffith Park, they are probably thinking of the iconic Griffith Observatory and its panoramic views of the city, but the park has so much more to offer. Griffith Park is more than 4,300 acres in size and hosts museums, hiking trails, and even a theatre that keep both tourists and locals coming back to the park.
There’s something for everyone, whether you’re looking for family-friendly fun, to get a workout out in nature, or learning more about the history of the area. You can spend multiple days exploring the trails and venues, so to help you narrow it down, here are some of the best things to do in Griffith Park.
Griffith Observatory is the most visited part of Griffith Park, yet many visitors stay outside to enjoy and take photos of the views and the Art Deco-style building. While the area around the observatory indeed offers one of the best views of LA, you’ll be missing out on a lot if you don’t go inside.
The landmark is also an astronomy museum, and there are multiple exhibits at Griffith Observatory, from a demonstration of the Tesla coil to a meteorite that is billions of years old. There’s also a planetarium show that you should absolutely watch.
Local tip: Take a guided tour through Griffith Observatory to ensure you don’t miss a thing.
Another icon of Los Angeles is the famous Hollywood Sign. The sign is perched on Mount Lee, on the southwestern part of Griffith Park. Sure, you can see the sign from afar from different locations in the city, but it’s better to get up close and personal.
There are different trails you can hike up to the sign depending on where you want to start. Keep in mind that the sign is 1,578 feet above sea level, so all the trails would have quite the elevation gain.
The shortest trail is the Cahuenga Peak trail at just 3.5 miles, but it’s also the steepest one.
If you want to learn more about the park, Hollywood, and the sign while hiking to the most up-close view possible — behind the Hollywood Sign — go with a local who knows the way. Bring walking shoes! We don’t call it our Hollywood Sign Adventure Hike for nothing. If you don’t want a private tour and want something more leisurely, no worries — our Hollywood Sign Tour is for you.
The Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Garden is home to more than 1,400 animals and 800 species of plants.
The zoo is a nice place to get away from LA’s busy city life, especially for families with younger children. You can encounter various animals from around the world at the LA Zoo, including babirusa from Indonesia, the endangered blue-eyed black lemur, and a snow leopard.
The zoo hosts various daily activities and talks about some of the zoo’s animals, so you can learn a bit more about residents like gorillas and condors. With 133 acres, exploring the zoo will take some time and lots of walking, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes and set aside enough time.
The Greek Theatre is an amphitheatre on the southern part of Griffith Park. The theatre opened in 1930 and has been one of LA’s favorite performing art venues since. With 5,900 seats, the Greek Theatre is big enough to attract some big names but small enough to still feel intimate.
In the past, the outdoor venue hosted legends such as Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. These days, the Greek hosts concerts of all stripes as well as comedy shows. Check their upcoming event calendar and grab tickets to one of the shows.
Not all trails in Griffith Park are steep hikes. There are trails that are great for relaxed, easy strolls as well. My favorite among these is the Fern Dell Nature Trail. It’s only half a mile long, and it’s shady thanks to all the trees on the trail.
While short, the trail is lovely and scenic. It’s lined with ferns and meanders over bridges that cross a small creek. There are also benches where you can take a break and just take in the scenery.
If you’re ambitious and looking for more of a workout, though, you can continue on from this trail to hike all the way up to Griffith Observatory.
Griffith Park’s Travel Town Museum is always a fun one for the kids, especially for kids who love trains. Travel Town is a railway museum started by a group of railroad enthusiasts. The museum is free to visit (but they accept donations) and houses over 40 historic locomotives and cars.
Some of the trains and cars are open so you can even go inside and explore. There’s plenty to keep kids busy for a couple of hours. Adults can head over to the exhibit gallery and learn about railroad or railroad-adjacent history. Children will love riding the miniature train that runs along a one-mile track, passing a replica of an Old West town (there is a small fee for the train ride).
The northeastern corner of Griffith Park is home to the Autry Museum of the American West. As the name suggests, the museum is dedicated to the art and history of the American West, and it was founded by actor Gene Autry (known as the Singing Cowboy) back in 1988. The rotating exhibits may include anything from Native American culture and art to the stories of the Old West.
Tickets to the museum are $19 for adults, but admission is free from 1-4 p.m. every Tuesday and Wednesday. Keep an eye on the calendar as well for various events throughout the year, from movie screenings to festivals.
With so much to do inside Griffith Park, you’re bound to have to refuel for the day. Bringing your own food and having a picnic in the park is certainly a great option, as there are many scenic spots for a picnic. If you didn’t bring your own food, though, The Trails is a good option to grab a quick bite.
The cafe is located right near the Fern Dell Nature Trail and offers sandwiches, baked goods, and espresso drinks. You can also find breakfast items like quiche and frittata. The cafe is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
Yes, among Griffith Park’s more than 4,300 acres of land, there is a golf course. In fact, there are two public golf courses: Wilson Golf Course and Harding Golf Course. They are both 18-hole courses.
“Golf Digest” has named Harding Golf Course as one of its Best Places to Play, so it’s certainly worth checking out if you’re an avid golf player.
Griffith Park is certainly a family-friendly destination. Another attraction in Griffith Park that’s perfect for families is Shane’s Inspiration Playground.
This particular playground is special because not only is it one of the largest play areas in LA, but it’s also an inclusive one. That means the playground is designed to be accessible to kids with disabilities, including those in wheelchairs and walkers. The playground is located right next to the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round.
Griffith Park is full of nostalgic charm, and one of its most iconic attractions is the historic Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round.
This vintage 1926 carousel has delighted generations of Angelenos with its hand-carved horses, colorful pantings, and organ music. Walt Disney himself was famously inspired to create Disneyland by watching his daughters ride this carousel.
It’s a beautiful spot to pause, take in the history, and share a moment of old-fashioned joy with the family. Even if you don’t catch it in motion, the carousel’s ornate design and storybook atmosphere make it a must-see while exploring Griffith Park.
Note: The merry-go-round is currently closed due to a court case relating to its private ownership. Hopefully, the LA Department of Recreation and Parks will be able to acquire it so it can reopen soon!
The Bronson Caves is a series of man-made caves and tunnels carved into a rock quarry located on the southwestern part of the park. The caves have been used as filming location for many movies and TV shows. Locally, it’s known as the Batcave because one of the caves was used as the Batcave entrance in the 1960s Batman TV series.
The caves are accessible via a short (0.7-mile) out-and-back trail, so it’s pretty easy to get to. The trail connects to one of the trails leading up to the Hollywood Sign, in case you want to continue your adventure.
Note: The caves are currently closed and fenced off due to safety concerns. While you can’t enter the caves, you can still explore the surrounding area.
The trails in Griffith Park aren’t just for hiking — some of them are also used for horseback riding.
There are a couple of horse ranches around the park that offer guided horseback rides on one of Griffith Park’s trails. The most popular one is perhaps Sunset Ranch Hollywood. This ranch offers guided rides on Mulholland Trail or Mt. Hollywood Trail, both during the day or at sunset. Either trail offers a great bird’s eye view of the park and the city.
Biking is not allowed on the hiking trails in Griffith Park, but you can bike on paved roads in the park, which makes it possible to explore more of the park in a shorter time. Three of the paved roads are closed to car traffic so you can bike safely.
These three paved roads are:
Local tip: If you’re visiting LA without your own bicycle, there’s a bike rental company called Spokes ‘N Stuff on the eastern side of the park.
