You're standing at the bottom of a dusty hill in Los Feliz, squinting at a sun-bleached wooden board that's supposed to be a trail map of Griffith Park. Your phone's signal is bouncing off the canyon walls like a pinball. You want to see the Hollywood Sign, but every path looks identical—wide, steep, and covered in horse poop.
Honestly? Most people get lost here. Not "Lost" like into the wild lost, but "walking three miles in the wrong direction and missing sunset" lost.
Griffith Park is massive. It’s over 4,210 acres, which makes it about five times the size of Central Park in New York. With 53 miles of crisscrossing paths, the trail map of Griffith Park isn't just a suggestion; it’s a survival tool for your hamstrings.
Why a Static Trail Map of Griffith Park Fails You
The problem with a standard paper map—or even that PDF you downloaded from the city's website—is that it doesn't account for the "LA factors." Closures happen. Mudslides from a random February rainstorm can take out a switchback.
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You’ve gotta realize that Griffith isn't one big circle. It’s a messy web of fire roads and "social trails" created by people taking shortcuts. If you just follow the widest path, you might end up at the LA Zoo when you meant to be at the Observatory.
Basically, there are three "hubs" you need to care about.
The Observatory Hub
This is where 90% of tourists go. It's the "La La Land" vibe. The trails here are wide and usually crowded. If you’re looking at the trail map of Griffith Park from the Observatory parking lot, you’re looking at the Mount Hollywood Trail.
- Mt. Hollywood Trail: It’s about 5.3 miles round trip if you do the whole thing, but most people just go to Dante’s View.
- Charlie Turner Trail: This is the main artery. It’s easy, but it’s a steady incline.
- Berlin Forest: A tiny, shaded grove of pine trees that feels weirdly like Germany for about thirty seconds.
The Bronson Canyon Hub
This is the "local" side. You enter through Canyon Drive. If your trail map of Griffith Park shows "The Batcave," this is it. Bronson Cave was the filming location for the 1960s Batman TV show.
From here, you can take the Brush Canyon Trail. It’s a 6-mile beast that takes you behind the Hollywood Sign. If you want that photo where you’re looking down on the letters, this is your route.
The Ferndell Hub
This is the best-kept secret. Sorta. It’s a lush, shaded canyon with actual running water and ferns. It feels like a tropical rainforest in the middle of a desert.
The Ferndell to West Observatory Loop is about 2.5 miles. It’s a steep "wake up" hike that dumps you right at the base of the Observatory. It's way better than paying $10 an hour for parking at the top.
Deciphering the Mount Lee Confusion
Here is the thing that trips everyone up: The Hollywood Sign is not on Mount Hollywood. I know, it sounds like a prank. But if you follow the trail map of Griffith Park toward "Mount Hollywood," you will get a great view of the sign, but you won't be at the sign. The sign is on Mount Lee.
To get to the actual letters, you need the Cahuenga Peak Trail or the Mt. Lee Drive path. These are further west. Cahuenga Peak is actually the highest point in the park (1,820 feet), and the trail is way more rugged. It’s rocky. You’ll probably scramble a bit.
If you have bad knees, stick to the fire roads. The Aileen Getty Ridge Trail connects Cahuenga Peak to the back of the sign, and the views of the San Fernando Valley on one side and the LA Basin on the other are honestly mind-blowing.
The "Secret" Spots the Basic Maps Miss
Most versions of the trail map of Griffith Park give you the big landmarks, but they miss the weird stuff that makes the park great.
Amir’s Garden
Amir Dialameh spent decades planting this oasis after a major fire in the 70s. It’s a literal garden in the middle of the chaparral. There are benches, shade, and blooming flowers. It’s near the Mineral Wells Picnic Area.
The Old Zoo
Go to the Merry-Go-Round area and look for the stone "cages." It’s the remains of the original LA Zoo. People have picnics inside the old bear enclosures now. It’s creepy and cool and very "Old Hollywood."
Dante’s View
Dante Orgolini was another guy who just decided to plant a garden on a ridge. It’s a shaded rest stop on the way to the summit of Mt. Hollywood. On a clear day, you can see the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island.
Practical Survival: Don't Be That Tourist
Listen, I’ve seen people trying to do the Brush Canyon Trail in flip-flops. Don't.
- Water is Non-Negotiable: The "marine layer" (that morning fog) will fool you. Once it burns off at 11:00 AM, the park becomes an oven. There are no water fountains on the actual dirt trails.
- Rattlesnakes: They live here. It’s their house; you’re just a guest. Stay on the wide trails. If you hear a buzz like a broken sprinkler, stop moving.
- The Sunset Trap: The park technically closes at 10:30 PM, but the trails close at sunset. Park Rangers do patrol, and they will give you a ticket if you’re caught wandering around with a flashlight after dark.
- Coyotes: You’ll see them. They’re usually scrawny and bored of humans. Just don’t bring a tiny unleashed dog, or things might get "National Geographic" real fast.
Navigating Like a Pro in 2026
If you want the most accurate trail map of Griffith Park, don't rely on the big Google Map view. It doesn't show the elevation well enough.
Download the AllTrails or Hiking Project app before you arrive. The GPS works better than your cell data. Also, the Friends of Griffith Park website often has the most up-to-date info on trail closures or restoration projects that might block your path.
Start Here: The "Perfect" First-Timer Route
If you’ve never been, do this:
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- Park at Ferndell Drive (it’s free).
- Walk through the Ferndell Nature Trail (the shady part).
- Take the East Observatory Trail up to the Griffith Observatory.
- Snap your "Hollywood Sign" photo from the terrace.
- If you’ve still got legs, continue up the Mt. Hollywood Trail to Dante's View.
- Head back down the same way.
This gives you a taste of everything: the shade, the architecture, and the high-elevation views without requiring a 6-hour commitment.
The trail map of Griffith Park is more of a puzzle than a guide. But once you figure out that the fire roads are the "highways" and the single-track paths are the "side streets," the whole park opens up.
Stop by the Ranger Station near the Crystal Springs picnic area if you really want the "insider" word on which trails are overgrown this week. Those guys know every inch of the 4,000 acres and are usually happy to steer you away from the tourist traps.
Grab your shoes. Check the heat. Go get that view.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the Weather: If it's over 85°F, skip the mid-day hike; Griffith Park has very little canopy cover on its main trails.
- Download Offline Maps: Cell service is notoriously spotty in the canyons between the Observatory and Mt. Lee.
- Locate the Ranger Station: It’s at 4730 Crystal Springs Dr. if you need a physical, updated paper map or want to check on current coyote activity reports.