Griffith Park is a 4,310 acre municipal park in Los Angeles, located at the far eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains within the Los Feliz community. Glendale is to the north and west.  Included within the park is the Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, and the Greek Theatre. The park also includes numerous hiking and equestrian trails, and extensive picnic areas. Griffith Park is one of the most often utilized sites for movie and television filming. The famous "Hollywood Sign" is located on the southern flank of Mount Lee which is part of the park.

 

Los Angeles Zoo - Griffith Park

Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens

The Los Angeles Zoo is a 133 acre zoo located within Griffith Park in Los Angeles at the east end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The City of Los Angeles owns the zoo and is directly responsible for the operation of the facility. In 2002, the zoo became a certified Botanical Gardens and the name was then officially changed from the Los Angeles Zoo to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens. The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association was formed in 1963 as a non-profit association to support the zoo and provide various programs and events.

 

Autry National Center

The Autry National Center, founded in 1988, is a museum headquartered in Griffith Park which is within the City of Los Angeles. A second location is the Southwest Museum of the American Indian Collection which is located nearby in the Mount Washington section of Los Angeles. The museum was established by actor and businessman Gene Autry and is dedicated to sharing the story of the American West. The museum is clearly worth visiting. It offers numerous exhibitions, including paintings, costumes, firearms, tools, musical instruments, and much more. Year-round programs are offered for both children and adults.

 

Griffith Park Recreation Center

The Griffith Park Recreation Center features the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, a bird sanctuary, picnic areas, restrooms, a large children's play area, lighted soccer fields, the Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, Griffith Park Miniature Train Rides, tennis courts, the Greek Theatre, golf, a merry-go-round, pony rides, Travel Town Museum, and more. All of the facilities are maintained and operated by the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.

 

Griffith Park Boys Camp

Griffith Park Boys Camp is located in the hills of Griffith Park next to the Los Angeles Zoo. Established in 1926, the camp operates year round programs for the youth and families of Greater Los Angeles and beyond. Griffith Park Boys Camp has 13 large cabins, restrooms, an arts center, an archery range, a large swimming pool, lots of hiking trails, a great wilderness program, a large campfire ring, a sports field, and more. The camp is operated by the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks and welcomes boys age 7 through 14.

 

Travel Town Museum - Griffith Park

The Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park provides a history of railroad transportation in the western United States covering the period from 1880 to the mid 1930s. The primary focus is on Los Angeles and Southern California. The museum includes 43 full-scale railroad engines and cars. The museum also includes a collection of cable cars and trolleys.

 

Travel Town Railroad

The Travel Town Railroad travels around the perimeter of the Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park two times. The train has been operating since the early 1950s.

 

Griffith Park & Southern Railroad

The Griffith Park & Southern Railroad is a miniature train that since 1948 has taken passengers on a one mile plus ride through Griffith Park. The train passes through an authentic Native American Village and Old Western Town.

 

Griffith Observatory

The Art Deco Griffith Observatory and Planetarium, completed in 1935, is located on the southern face of the Hollywood Hills section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Griffith Park. It is to the north of Los Feliz and Hollywood, and commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including Downtown Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. Griffith Observatory and Planetarium offers shows and exhibits for a nominal fee. On a clear day, the views are priceless.

 

Los Angeles River Bicycle Path

The Los Angeles River Bicycle Path, also known as the L.A. River Bicycle Path, is a four mile bicycle path in the Greater Los Angeles Area near Griffith Park that parallels the Los Angles River. Plans by the City of Los Angeles include an expansion of the path to 51 miles.

 

Greek Theatre - Los Angeles

The Greek Theatre, built in 1929, is a 5,870 seat open air theater located in Griffith Park which is in the City of Los Angeles at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The theater is owned by the City of Los Angeles, but is operated by an outside firm. The Greek Theatre is used for stage shows, concerts, and graduation ceremonies. It is commonly referred to as "The Greek."

 

Mount Lee - Griffith Park

Mount Lee is a 1,640 foot peak in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains located in Griffith Park. The famous Hollywood Sign is located on its southern slope which can be seen from several miles away. Mount Lee can be hiked except that the area where the sign is located is closed to the public due to fire danger. The views from the top are superb.

 

Cahuenga Peak - Griffith Park

Cahuenga Peak is a 1,821 foot peak in Griffith Park and the eastern Santa Monica Mountains located just west of the Hollywood Sign and Mount Lee. The peak provides a spectacular 360 degree view of the Los Angeles Basin and San Fernando Valley and is adjacent to Burbank Peak. It is the 12th highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains.

 

Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is a landmark and cultural icon located on the south side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park. It is in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains overlooking the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. The Hollywood sign, once known as the Hollywoodland Sign, is constructed of 45 foot high white capital letters and is 350 feet long. It was originally constructed in 1923 to advertise a new home development. Cahuenga Peak and Burbank Peak are to the west.

 

Harding Municipal Golf Course

The Harding Municipal Golf Course is an 18 hole 72 par golf course in Griffith Park. It was designed by George C. Thomas and opened in 1923. Amenities include a clubhouse, driving range, practice putting greens, a pro shop, a restaurant and banquet room, a snack bar, locker rooms, and a cocktail bar.

 

Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course

The Roosevelt Municipal Golf Course is a nine hole golf course located in the Hollywood Hills across the street from the Greek Theater in Griffith Park. The course offers beautiful views of the Griffith Park Observatory and the entire Los Angeles Basin.

 

Wilson Municipal Golf Course

The Wilson Municipal Golf Course is an 18 hole 72 par golf course in Griffith Park. It was designed by William P. Bell and opened in 1927, replacing the original 9 hole course. Amenities include a clubhouse, driving range, practice putting greens, a pro shop, a restaurant and banquet room, a snack bar, locker rooms, and a cocktail bar.

 

Sunnynook River Park

Sunnynook River Park is a beautiful 3.4 acre public park located between the Golden State Freeway to the west, and the Los Angeles River and Los Angeles River Bike Path to the immediate east. The park is in Atwater Village which is a small community in the northwest section of Los Angeles, east of Silver Lake and Griffith Park, and south and west of Glendale. The park is within walking distance to Red Car River Park.

 

Los Angeles Astronomical Society

The Los Angeles Astronomical Society (LAAS) meets at the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, as well as at Garvey Ranch Park and observatory in Monterey Park, on a regular basis. The group sponsors many events related to astronomy, provides various classes, and is a wealth of information.

 

Rancho Los Feliz

Rancho Los Feliz was the 6,647-acre Spanish land grant given in 1795 in present day Los Angeles County that included Griffith Park, the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles, and parts of Hollywood. Historic sites in Rancho Los Feliz include Maugna which is a former Tongva Indian settlement, and the Los Feliz Adobe built in 1830 in Griffith Park.