Griffith Park spreads over more than 4,000 acres of chaparral hillside above Los Feliz. Beyond the famous observatory, it has the city zoo, the Autry Museum, a merry-go-round, the Greek Theatre and the trail network people use to get near the Hollywood Sign.
Routes from the Griffith Observatory, from Canyon Drive to Bronson Caves, and from the Griffith Park merry-go-round area all lead toward viewpoints of the sign.
Free exhibits and terraces on the park's southern slope, with the best-known city and sign views. A separate visit in its own right.
The Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, Travel Town's trains and the 1926 carousel cluster in the park's north-east.
The park and its trails are free. The observatory building is free but its planetarium and the zoo, Autry and Travel Town charge admission. Parking near the observatory and popular trailheads fills early; some roads close to cars on busy days.
It is too big to see at once. Choose the observatory and sign trails, or the zoo and museums cluster, for one visit.
Trailhead and observatory lots are full by mid-morning on weekends. The DASH Observatory shuttle helps for the southern side.
The trails are exposed chaparral with little shade and can be very hot from late spring onward.
Can you walk to the Hollywood Sign from Griffith Park?
You can reach viewpoints close to it on several trails, but you cannot legally walk up to or behind the letters themselves.
Is Griffith Park free?
The park, roads and trails are free. The zoo, the Autry Museum, Travel Town and the observatory's planetarium charge admission.
How do I avoid the parking problem?
Come early, or use the DASH shuttle from the Vermont/Sunset Metro station for the observatory side.
How much time should I plan?
Half a day for one area, a full day to combine a hike with the zoo or museums.
The land was given to the city of Los Angeles in 1896 by Griffith J. Griffith, a mining magnate, as a public park.
It is managed by the LA Department of Recreation and Parks and left largely undeveloped as hillside wilderness, with the observatory, zoo, theatre and museums around its edges.
This page is an independent guide for visitors. It is not affiliated with the City of Los Angeles.
