Things to Do in Griffith Park | Trails, Views, And Trains

Griffith Park is best for Observatory views, Hollywood Sign hikes, the LA Zoo, train rides, and a half-day escape from Los Angeles.

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The smartest way to handle things to do in Griffith Park is to stop treating the park like one attraction. Griffith Park covers more than 4,210 acres, so the day works better when you choose one side of the park and build around it.

For a first visit, start on the south side with Fern Dell, the hike to Griffith Observatory, and sunset from the terraces. Families often do better on the north side, where Travel Town, Los Angeles Live Steamers, the LA Zoo, and the Autry sit close together.

Griffith Park Activities For A First Visit

Griffith Park rewards a split plan: hike or view early, use the Observatory or museums in the middle, then save sunset for Mount Hollywood. A car helps on the north side, but the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus is the better move for the Observatory when traffic stacks up.

Guided Griffith Park walks make sense if you want Hollywood Sign context, film history, and trail choices sorted before you arrive:

Nature-first travelers should focus on Fern Dell, Mount Hollywood, and Observatory views. Attraction-first travelers should build around the LA Zoo, Travel Town, the Autry Museum of the American West, or a Greek Theatre concert night.

What Are The Best Griffith Park Activities?

Griffith Park activities fall into free viewpoints, paid family attractions, rail experiences, museums, and ticketed nights out. The table below gives the cleanest way to choose without crossing the whole park twice.

Hike To Griffith Observatory And Mount Hollywood

Griffith Observatory is the most useful hiking target because the trail gives you views, restrooms, exhibits, and a clear turnaround point. Fern Dell is the gentler start, while Mount Hollywood adds more climbing and a wider view across the Los Angeles Basin.

The Fern Dell route works well in the morning because the lower canyon has shade and a creekside feel that many Griffith Park trails lack. The climb to the Observatory is still uphill, so bring water and expect sun on the upper switchbacks.

Mount Hollywood is better if you want the park to feel like a real hike, not just a viewpoint walk. The loop from the Observatory area is commonly done as a roughly 3-mile outing, but heat, dusty footing, and limited shade make it feel longer in summer.

• Best short walk: Fern Dell to The Trails Café area and back.
• Best first hike: Fern Dell to Griffith Observatory, then down the same way.
• Best viewpoint hike: Mount Hollywood from the Observatory side.
• Best photo stop: Observatory terraces for the Hollywood Sign and downtown Los Angeles.

See Griffith Observatory Without Paying Admission

Griffith Observatory is free to enter, and that free entry covers the building, grounds, exhibits, terraces, and public telescopes. Planetarium shows are the paid part, and same-day tickets are sold at the Observatory.

The Observatory is usually open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 10 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Monday is the regular closed day. Sunset is the busiest time because visitors arrive for the city view, then stay for night lights and telescope viewing.

Parking closest to the Observatory is paid during posted hours, and roads can close when traffic backs up. A cleaner plan is DASH from Vermont/Sunset or a lower park-and-walk start when Greek Theatre rules allow it.

Ride The Trains And Visit Travel Town

Griffith Park rail stops are the easiest win for kids because the rides are short, low-cost, and clustered near the north side of the park. Travel Town gives you full-size rail cars to see, while Griffith Park and Southern Railroad adds a small passenger train ride.

Current Griffith Park Train Rides fares list adults at $4, children 17 and under at $3, and seniors over 60 at $3, with tickets sold in person. Travel Town Museum itself is a good short stop if your group likes old locomotives but does not need a full museum day.

Los Angeles Live Steamers runs miniature public train rides on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., weather permitting, with a suggested donation of $4 per rider. Riders must be at least 34 inches tall and able to sit upright.

Use The LA Zoo And Autry For A Slower Day

Los Angeles Zoo and the Autry Museum of the American West are the best Griffith Park choices when you want a slower day with less trail time. The two sit across from each other near the north side, so pairing them is simpler than adding the Observatory.

The LA Zoo opens daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with last entry at 3:45 p.m. and many animals starting to go in around 4 p.m. Arrive close to opening if animals are the priority, because midday heat can make some exhibits quieter.

The Autry is better for adults, older kids, and anyone who wants air-conditioned time with Western history and Native American collections. The museum lists Tuesday through Friday hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with free parking for visitors.

How Do You Get Around Griffith Park?

Griffith Park transportation shapes the whole visit. The park is too large to cross casually on foot, and weekend traffic near the Observatory can turn a short drive into the worst part of the day.

The official Griffith Park page lists the park at more than 4,210 acres, with DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus service running daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; the same page currently lists Bronson Caves, the Parkline Shuttle, and the Merry-Go-Round as closed.

Use the south side for Fern Dell, the Observatory, Mount Hollywood, the Greek Theatre, and Los Feliz meals. Use the north side for Travel Town, Los Angeles Live Steamers, the LA Zoo, the Autry, and easier freeway access.

Parking tip: Greek Theatre concert nights change the whole south-side plan, so check event timing before using that area as your free park-and-walk option.

Nearby Bases For Easy Park Access

Nearby Los Angeles hotel bases that work for Griffith Park are Los Feliz, Hollywood, Glendale, Burbank, and Universal City. Los Feliz is best for a local food-and-park feel, while Burbank and Glendale are easier if you are driving in from the north or east.

Use the map below to compare stays near Griffith Park without ending up across town from the side of the park you plan to use:

Pick Your Griffith Park Plan

Griffith Park works best when you choose one clear plan instead of trying to do every attraction. Match the route to your traveler type, then leave space for traffic, heat, and parking.

• First-timer half day: Fern Dell, hike to Griffith Observatory, terrace views, sunset, then dinner in Los Feliz.
• No-car sunset plan: Metro to Vermont/Sunset, DASH to the Observatory, exhibits before sunset, terraces after dark, DASH back down.
• Family north-side day: Travel Town, Griffith Park Train Rides, picnic break, then either LA Zoo or Los Angeles Live Steamers if it is Sunday.
• Museum day: Autry Museum in the morning, LA Zoo or Travel Town after lunch, then skip the Observatory unless you still have energy.
• Concert night: Eat early in Los Feliz, arrive for Greek Theatre parking rules, and save the Observatory for another day.

For most visitors, the strongest Griffith Park day is Fern Dell plus Griffith Observatory if views matter, or Travel Town plus the LA Zoo if kids are driving the plan. Trying to force both sides of the park into one visit usually costs more time than it saves.