11 Best Parks in Los Angeles

Grand Park covers 12 acres of greenery in Los Angeles’ civic center. You can find tree-shaded walking paths, botanic gardens, casual sitting neighborhoods, and historic fountains. It was founded in 1966 as a place where residents can unwind throughout the day.

Grand Park offers excellent views of Los Angeles, stretching from the Music Center to City Hall. It has 4 distinct sections that work together to provide a wide range of recreational activities. Some of its highlights include a community terrace with a diverse array of drought-tolerant plants and a small lawn hosting cultural events and weekly farmers' markets. A must-see is Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, which has a membrane pool that's open for wading.

Palisades Park offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean and coastal mountains of Santa Monica. You can find all sorts of fun in this family-friendly park, including walking paths, a collection of art installations and diverse tree species. The best time to visit is in the evenings – from the cliffs, you can take in the breathtaking sunset, ocean, and mountains.

Palisades Park is well worth the 16-mile drive from downtown Los Angeles. You can see a Civil War cannon and a Native American totem pole, as well as sculptures of Santa Monica and Arcadia Bandini de Baker. Over 30 unique plant and tree species are in this park, including palm trees, European and Mexican fan palms, and Senegal date palms.

Griffith Park is one of the most famous parks in Los Angeles and one of the largest municipal parks in North America. Within its 4,310 acres, you’ll find over 50 miles of trails leading to many waterfalls and lagoons. The park lies at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, about 2.5 miles east of the Hollywood Bowl.

The park offers a variety of things to do for all ages, including hiking, golfing, cycling, and horseback riding. Some of the must-visit attractions in Los Angeles are within Griffith Park – check out rare wildlife at the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens, watch a live show at the Greek Theater, and enjoy panoramic views of Los Angeles at Griffith Observatory.

Elysian Park dates back to 1886, making it the oldest park in Los Angeles. Within the 600-acre park, you’ll find palm groves, baseball fields, picnic neighborhoods, and playgrounds. Don’t be shocked if you hear gunshots in the early morning – next door is the Police Academy, where officers usually practise at the firing range.

Visit the Chavez Ravine Arboretum to see over 100 varieties of trees from around the world, including Kauri, Tipu, and Cape Chestnut. Angels Point is a great place to enjoy views of Hollywood Hills, Dodger Stadium, and Downtown Los Angeles. There’s also a hidden gem called Secret Swing Angels Point, at the intersection of Angels Point Drive and Park Row Drive.

Lake Hollywood Park provides an idyllic escape from Los Angeles, with fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign and Hollywood Reservoir. Hiking, jogging, and cycling are popular activities here, thanks to a flat, 3.3-mile paved loop bordering the reservoir. You can also visit nearby attractions like Garden of Oz and The Last House on Mulholland.

Lake Hollywood Park has picnic tables, barbecue pits and a small playground, making it very popular with families on weekends. There’s a grass field for dogs to roam around, but make sure to keep their leash on to avoid a hefty fine. Located right below Mount Lee, the park is around 11 miles northeast of Downtown Los Angeles.

Echo Park has been around since 1860, making it one of the older recreational parks in Los Angeles. This former reservoir attracts couples and families with its colorful gardens, walking paths, and picnic neighborhoods. There are also many alfresco cafés, where you can enjoy excellent coffee and desserts with excellent views of the lake.

A great way to explore Echo Park Lake is by rowboat (or swan boat), which you can rent from the onsite Wheel Fun Rentals. You’ll cruise past many resident swans and beautiful lotus beds. Annual celebrations such as the Lotus Festival and Dragon Boat Race regularly take place in the park.

Bronson Caves is a series of caverns within Griffith Park that also serves as a popular filming location. Anyone looking for some outdoor adventure can explore these easily accessible caves. The main trail to the caves is easy enough that you can bring your kids along. Additional trails in and around the Bronson Caves are notably less easy to traverse. 

The trail to and through the caves is just over a half-mile long, which takes around 1 hour at a steady pace. You can see the iconic Hollywood Sign from a convenient vantage point in the foothills. Bronson Caves appeared in many classic movies and TV shows, including Batman (1960s), Flash Gordon (1980), and The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981).

Descanso Gardens is a 150-acre botanical park in La Cañada Flintridge, about 5.4 miles northwest of the Kidspace Children's Museum. Founded by E. Manchester Boddy in 1937, the garden has oak trees, rare herbs, medicinal plants, and beautiful flowers, as well as North America’s largest camellia collection.

The Sturt Haaga Gallery has exhibits on contemporary arts, botany, horticulture, and conservation. A fun way to explore Descanso Gardens is by taking the Enchanted Railroad, a scaled-down replica of a diesel train. The botanical park is home to over 100 species of birds and mammals such as squirrels, mule deer, and bobcats.

Runyon Canyon Park attracts hiking enthusiasts with its challenging trails and hilltop views of the famous Hollywood Sign. The 160-acre park has several roundtrip routes ranging between 1 and 3.5 miles, so there’s always a trail that suit just about every level.

Rock Mandala is a must-see in Runyon Canyon Park. It's a public artwork consisting of several large rocks, some of which are around 300 lbs. You can find locals meditating and exercising around this landmark. It’s also a popular spot for dog owners as there are off-leash neighborhoods and water lawn bowling throughout the park. Depending on your fitness level, it takes about 1.5 hours to reach the top of Runyon Canyon Park.

Exposition Park attracts many with its range of cultural venues and museums in Downtown Los Angeles. The 160-acre urban park is directly south of the University of Southern California’s main campus. You’ll find a historic 7-acre sunken garden with over 200 varieties of roses. Marble statues by Danish sculptor Thyra Boldsen are installed at the garden’s 4 corners.

Several notable museums are within Exposition Park, including the California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and the California African American Museum. You can get to the park by taking the Metro E Line to Expo Park/USC Station.

Los Angeles State Historic Park is a 32-acre recreational space for all ages. The park is in Chinatown, just next to the Metro Gold Line Chinatown Station. While the California State Park was established in 2001, it was once home of the Tongva Native Americans and the Zanja Madre irrigation canal during the 1800s.

There are public art installations, a mile-long trail, Valencia orange trees, and a scenic overlook bridge. You can enjoy excellent views of the skyscrapers in Downtown Los Angeles throughout the day. The Los Angeles State Historic Park is less than 2 miles from Elysian Park and Dodger Stadium.