10 Best Hikes and Trails in Griffith Park | AllTrails

Best Trails in Griffith Park

71,547 Reviews
Want to find the best trails in Griffith Park for an adventurous hike or a family trip? AllTrails has 67 great trails for hiking and walking and more. Enjoy hand-curated trail maps, along with reviews and photos from nature lovers like you. Ready for your next hike or bike ride? Explore one of 6 easy hiking trails in Griffith Park that are great for the whole family. Looking for a more strenuous hike? We've got you covered, with trails ranging from 16 to 2,985 feet in elevation gain. Whatever you have planned for the day, you can find the perfect trail for your next trip to Griffith Park.
Description

Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in all of North America, and the second-largest city park in California. The area is famous for its Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory, and for its spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains. There are many hiking trails in the area for all types of hikers.

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Map of trails in Griffith Park, California
Park information
Park hours
Monday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Tuesday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Wednesday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Thursday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Friday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Saturday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Sunday
5:00 am - 10:30 pm
Helpful links

Top trails (67)

  1. Hollywood Sign via Canyon Drive
    Moderate4.7(4302)
    #1 - Hollywood Sign via Canyon Drive
    Length: 6.0 miEst. 2h 57m
    Visitors should use the Brush Canyon Trail from Canyon Drive, two blocks to the east of Beachwood Drive off Franklin, or Griffith Observatory. Canyon has a parking lot, sidewalks, trash cans, and facilities for visitors. Parking is limited and fills up quickly at Griffith Park so using the DASH Observatory shuttle is recommended. This shuttle runs every 15 to 20 minutes between 10 AM to 10 PM and is wheelchair accessible. Due to multiple portions of the trail having a steep grade above 12%,...
  2. Hollyridge Trail to Hollywood Sign Viewpoint
    Moderate4.6(4991)
    #2 - Hollyridge Trail to Hollywood Sign Viewpoint
    Length: 5.1 miEst. 2h 21m
    As per the city recommendations, this route directs hikers to Canyon Drive, two blocks east of Beachwood off of Franklin, or to Griffith Observatory. Canyon Drive has a parking lot, sidewalks, trash cans, and facilities for visitors. The Beachwood Gate which was previously used to access the Hollyridge Trail was permanently closed on April 18th, 2017 due to a court order. Besides seeing the famous Hollywood Sign, you can also get great views of surrounding peaks and the city skyline on this...
  3. Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Trail and Mt Lee Drive
    Moderate4.7(2798)
    #3 - Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Trail and Mt Lee Drive
    Length: 4.4 miEst. 2h 5m
    This is a relatively easy hike to the iconic Hollywood sign. The views are spectacular and the trail is mostly a gradual climb until you get closer to the top. There is little shade along the way. Bring plenty of water, especially in the summer. The trail is well-marked and easy to follow. This is a very popular trail, so expect to encounter others on your hike.
  4. Ferndell to the West Observatory Loop Trail to Griffith Observatory
    Moderate4.7(5560)
    #4 - Ferndell to the West Observatory Loop Trail to Griffith Observatory
    Length: 2.6 miEst. 1h 23m
    Ferndell (aka Fern Dell) is a woodsy glen at the lower end of Western Canyon in Griffith Park. Your destination is the historic Griffith Observatory. Accessibility: Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers may need all-terrain tires or adaptive/motorized equipment for the surface type and grade. There don’t appear to be any designated accessible parking spaces along Ferndell Drive near the trailhead, but there are a couple of designated accessible parking spots near the...
  5. Glendale Peak via Riverside, Hogback, and Mount Hollywood Loop
    Moderate4.7(5029)
    #5 - Glendale Peak via Riverside, Hogback, and Mount Hollywood Loop
    Length: 3.6 miEst. 1h 54m
    This is a very popular urban hike in Griffith Park offering fantastic views of Los Angeles. There is little to no shade on this route so bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. Glendale Peak and Dante's View are the sought-after summits of this hike. You can take an optional side trip to the summit of Mount Hollywood from this route as well.
  6. Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Drive
    Easy4.6(1434)
    #6 - Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Drive
    Length: 1.7 miEst. 45m
    This is a popular hiking trail for a picture-perfect view of the Hollywood sign. It's a short walk with a slight incline, featuring a mix of dirt paths and roads through a residential area. This route offers amazing views of the city and the sign. There's very little shade, but you'll find a water fountain along the trail.
  7. Griffith Park Old Zoo Loop
    Easy4.5(3381)
    #7 - Griffith Park Old Zoo Loop
    Length: 2.5 miEst. 1h 6m
    This is a dirt trail with many different terrains and decent enough hills. This trail is not well marked; please arrive prepared. Accessibility: Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers may need all-terrain tires or adaptive/motorized equipment for the surface type and grade. There is no designated accessible parking at the trailhead, but there are 6 designated van-accessible parking spaces with striped access aisles in Merry Go Round Lot Three (marked on the map with a...
  8. Fern Canyon, Hogback, North, Bill Eckert, and Upper Old Zoo Loop
    Moderate4.6(2293)
    #8 - Fern Canyon, Hogback, North, Bill Eckert, and Upper Old Zoo Loop
    Length: 5.0 miEst. 2h 46m
    This trail takes you on a loop along the eastern side of Mount Hollywood. Although this trail does not summit the peak, expect stellar views. On a clear day you can see all of Los Angeles. It's a good idea to get there early, especially in the summer in order to avoid heat and crowds. There is little shade on this hike, so hiking later in the day is also a good idea. Bring plenty of water!
  9. Cahuenga Peak via Burbank Peak Trail
    Moderate4.7(2241)
    #9 - Cahuenga Peak via Burbank Peak Trail
    Length: 2.2 miEst. 1h 31m
  10. Ferndell to Mount Hollywood Summit
    Moderate4.7(2058)
    #10 - Ferndell to Mount Hollywood Summit
    Length: 5.2 miEst. 2h 35m
    Begin on Fern Dell near Trails cafe. As you began the ascend, take the east trail (trail to the right) up to the Observatory. This is an all uphill hike so pace yourself. If you end up taking the west trail (left) it is ok because they eventually meet up. There isn't any shade on this trail until you are almost at the Observatory. Once you arrive at the Observatory (0.9 mile hike), take a bathroom break and refill your water. You will find the toilets and fountains near the parking lot. ...
Showing results 1 - 10 of 67

Helpful reviews of trails in Griffith Park

9 days ago
This is the easy public Hollywood Sign hike! We go at least once a week at sunset. The Signs at trailheads mean stay on trail don’t hike up the side of hill through brush. Free curbside parking is legal on residential streets in all of Los Angeles. Park on paved Innsdale Drive or Tahoe, Canyon Lake or Lake Hollywood Drive (all streets right next trailhead 24/7) Take water. No bathrooms. No shade. Don't take dogs middle of day summer or fall, it's way too hot for them. Griffith Park is a wild nature park, do not let small dogs off leash, there are coyotes that are scared of people but they will grab small dogs. There are no Mountain Lions in Griffith Park. P-22 the famous one has passed away.
20 days ago
Great trail without too many tourists! There are some steep areas without a ton of grip. I usually do Mount Hollywood loop when I’m in Griffith Park, so it was nice to see the different views. If you’re in good shape you can do it much faster than AllTrails says.
25 days ago
I Started at the Griffith Parks Old Zoo and was immediately drawn to the first peak, Bee Rock. Going counter-clockwise, I traversed peak after peak, although I think I would have preferred going clockwise because the steepest inclines were sketchy going down. Mount Hollywood proved to be the most challenging descent, with its super steep and slippery decline towards Glendale peak. I took it slow, staying low to the ground as I made my way towards the next peak. It could have been 10 miles but I missed a turn and had to backtrack to complete the challenge. I’ll definitely do this hike again…
about 1 month ago
Great hike! Mostly starts off with incline but definitely doable. Great views at the top of DTLA and the Griffith Observatory. No bathrooms along the way so make sure to use it at the park near the parking lot. Easy access to parking - type in Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round, and you’ll find several lots with free parking always available and the closest one right by the trailhead. The 5 freeway even takes you right by it :) Great workout, great views, great vibes from other people and pups on the trails :)
about 1 month ago
This is my Griffith Park merry-go-round loop up to the helicopter pad and then a return via other loop
10 months ago
Trail is a bit narrow on the way up but I love this trail and the best part of griffith park is it’s so big there so many ways to detour or go a different way each time

Frequently asked trail questions about Griffith Park

Where is the best place to hike in Griffith Park?

According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Griffith Park is Hollywood Sign via Canyon Drive, which has a 4.7 star rating from 4,302 reviews. This trail is 6.0 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,174 ft.

What is the longest trail in Griffith Park?

According to AllTrails.com, the longest trail in Griffith Park is Ferndell Trail to the Hollywood Sign. This trail is estimated to be 11.8 mi long.

How many trails are in Griffith Park?

There are 67 trails in Griffith Park. These trails have an average 4.5-star rating from 71,547 AllTrails community reviews.

Which trail has the most elevation gain in Griffith Park?

If you're looking for elevation gain, Griffith Park has you covered. Griffith Park 12 Peaks Challenge boasts the most elevation gain with 2,985 ft of total ascent. The park's runner-up is Griffith Park 10 Peaks Challenge, which will get you 2,519 ft of elevation gain.

Are there running trails available in Griffith Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there are 52 running trails in Griffith Park and the most popular is Hollywood Sign via Canyon Drive with an average 4.7 star rating from 4,302 community reviews.

Are there biking trails available in Griffith Park?

According to AllTrails.com, there is 1 biking trail in Griffith Park which is Glendale Narrows Riverwalk with an average 4.2 star rating from 98 community reviews.