No review? Impossible! Amir was a Sanitation worker at Toyon Landfill back in the day who created a piece of heaven right here on this spot. His "secret" was not so secret amongst his colleagues who then kept sharing with everyone. So glad there are now legit trails leading to this awesome resting spot. And other trails connect to the Amir's Secret Garden trails. Signs are posted along the way. This is close to the gold course. But if you want a longer hike, you can start at the Hollywood side and work your way through and around Griffith Park to Amir's Garden. So glad we don't have to climd straight up the side of the hill towards it anymore. read more

Old school since 1971. You can park at the Mineral Wells parking lot that's adjacent to the North trail. This garden was on our route to go see Picnic Table 29 which under urban legend a couple making love were killed by a falling tree back on Halloween 1976. read more

The hike part was fantastic straight up the hill lots of stairs good workout, but when you got to the top, there is no garden. There is a bench in the shade to rest before you come back down you're looking for a workout. I recommend if you're looking for a beautiful garden, not so much. read more

A quaint little nook in Griffith Park along one of the hiking trails. A nice little break from your hike. There are some benches and seats. Although I don't think anyone maintains this area. There's also a few steps to a lower portion. Maybe better if you're with someone. Its kind of secluded. I know I'm glad I had some friends along lol. read more

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Great story. Very clean. Never packed. Options to use the stairs or hike from Los Feliz. Very shaded area read more

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Amir's Garden is a really cool little place to hangout at and come see here in Griffith Park. The actual garden itself is a little strange. It's an enclosure of trees and plants and whatnot, and it makes difficult to see the full view of the canyon and the city. However, it's so quiet and peaceful up there and it is a cool place to hangout with friends or possibly bring a date. If you step out of Amir's garden, you can get some really sexy views of the LA/Burbank area. It is absolutely stunning and panoramic. It looks like something taken out of a movie or painting, and the fact that it had rained earlier that day meant clear skies. It was beautiful! Come here to spend some good time in nature but be prepared for a bit of a walk to get there. read more

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Cute spot with fresh bites and good grub. Easy access. Budget friendly. Family friendly.

Love this hike so much. Brought my small terrier and my two kids (6 and 11) and 6 year old complained a little at the beginning and then got really into it. Tough hike at the beginning as you go uphill but before you know it you're at the garden. What a sweet man Amir seemed to be. Can't believe he carried trees up there on his shoulders. Really beautiful garden. Lots of little trails to explore on and you can continue at the top to a Hollywood hike. We just came back down the same way we came. My kids now want to hike every week. read more

Amir's Garden - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Still a nice place but not what it once was. I've been coming here for about 9 years. It's been about 2 since the last time. I'm not sure what has happened but many trees have died and fallen down the hillside. Some were sawed up after they died. Mostly about 5 or more of a pine tree variety however there are other tree species that have died at the top as well. I'm not sure what has happened but if I had to guess I would say they weren't getting enough watering. Trees need a lot of watering. The succulents are thriving though, obviously. read more

It's about a 10 minute uphill trek to get to Amir's Garden, a 5 acre "rest stop for hikers and equestrians." Stair lovers will love this place. Some of the stairs are steep and it's not suitable for kids. Plenty of benches. I put "Mineral Wells Picnic Area" into GPS to find the parking lot. They need to do some work to clear fallen trees, branches, and dead plants. read more

A little slice of heaven amid the big city. Offering peace and quiet with great views.

I love this place!! Yelp only gives "Griffith Park" as the address but it's better to use the address that you find on Google Maps. I arrived around 1:30pm on a Sunday. There's plenty of free and easy parking around here which is already a plus. The hike up is great, and the stairs are grueling but in a good way! Nice views on the way up too. Once you reach the first bench at the top, any path will take you up to Amir's Garden. The Garden is nothing like a Descanso, so don't expect that. I found it really charming and cute nonetheless. You'll notice that plants are different that what you saw on the hike up. Walk around and you'll find a few benches and tables. Decided to hike up further towards Mt. Hollywood which was fun. This connects to a few other Griffith Park trails which I look forward to exploring. It's a moderately trafficked trail and there are some narrow parts on the way up to Amir's, but other than that it's easy to physical distance. read more

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Now this is a hike! I came from Rattlesnake Trail (by the Train Museum), so I didn't see the stairs. BUT it was still a great hike! Y'all might be sore the following day. Free parking! Took my pup and my nephew, but both didn't make it up, so we had to carry them there. Bring PLENTY of water! read more

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Very good place to hike. If you take the Stairs to get to the top you'll be sore the next day very good workout and the view from top of the stairs is beautiful. You get to see the golf course. Note : the stairs suck for someone who has short legs like myself but very amazing ! read more

Amir's Garden - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I fell in love with this spot. Thank you Amir, for making such a beautiful oasis. I was yelping hiking spots, and I figured why not hit up Griffith Park. I know it's become super popular but I'll still give it a try. Amir's Garden popped up. Intrigued, I clicked on it. I am so glad I did. I made it a point to make my way here and not get lost (like one other reviewer did). To read more about Amir and his garden, go here http://amirsgarden.org/ . I didn't read too much about this place until after. I made a beeline for it once I arrived at Griffith Park. I took the trail from Mineral Wells Picnic (saw a cute, hungry coyote) and it was quite an incline the entire way up. Passed water tower #73 and before I knew it, I saw it. I felt like I was in a desert and I'd found an oasis. From the beginning, you see greenery every where. At first sight, it's not really big. I thought "Oh...cute!...That's it?" but I was mistaken. There are little stairs on the sides leading down to a dozen little trails and more stairs. It's all green, there's all kinds of trees, shrubs, flowers and plants that you would not normally find on Griffith Park. I did my best to "get lost" on these little trails. They were amazing and enchanting. Amazing for the views, the maintenance, and their aesthetics. Enchanting because you feel as if you're lost in a beautiful, little, secret paradise. I liked finding all the hidden benches. I would have loved to sit on one but because it was so early in the morning, there was a lot of dew on them. This is definitely a wonderful spot for rest and relaxation. I would definitely recommend it as a romantic spot for couples. There are picnic benches too. I found a few little treasures. It was nice exploring. After going up and down so many stairs I began to feel really thirsty. Luckily, there's a water fountain with deliciously cool drinking water. After visiting Amir's garden we continued upward towards Bridle Trail. Amazing views of the valley from the top. I can't wait to explore Griffith Park even more. I will definitely be visiting Amir's Garden. A huge and major thanks to the volunteers who maintain this place. read more

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I can't say one word that would describe it. Definitely beautiful and tranquil. Getting there was a tad bit challenging, best bet is following the directions from Yelp. Once you find it, park and be in a for a pleasant surprise (If first time). It's a beautiful spot filled w/benches, areas to picnic and definitely for lovers to soak in the beauty and mediate. Actually for everyone to mediate & enjoy it's beauty. If your thirsty there is a water fountain at the front of it. Walk/hiking around exploring, you'll see Amir put his heart and soul into planting this beautiful garden. Succulents galore! Hidden stairs throughout. It may seem a little small, but it actually goes on & on. Nice shaded areas and when you walk away you've got views of the surrounding mountains. It's peaceful spot to stop, explore and relax. When your done, you can move on and continue w/your hiking. To read the history, check out the link on Sandra L's review (amirsgarden.org) it's right on. I can't describe anymore than what everyone else has described. It's all true and it's all good. Please take the time to come out and visit. :) read more

Amir's Garden - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I thought the park was just okay. THE AMBIANCE: I was excited to take a stroll with my dog Stella in Amir's Garden. It was a day of adventure for us since it was our first time there. It was quiet and peaceful, but I thought I was going to see a bunch of flowers and greenery. I ended up just seeing a bunch of bushes and trees. I thought as a garden I would see color. There was a person meditating on a rock and there were park tables but no one there. Stella and I took our time going down the garden and at the bottom there's a nice view of the hills. At the same time it was too quiet and kind of creepy. I felt that at any moment a Sasquatch was going to lurch out of the brush. It wasn't for me. read more

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Recently did this hike and it was great. It is moderate hike. I was sweating and almost threw up, but that's cuz I'm out of shape. Anyways it's pretty easy my nephews were running up the hill. We saw a dear, blue jay, hawk, and lizards! The garden is so cute too, lots of nature. You guys should try this! Listen to that one popular review on how To get there it helped! read more

Amir's Garden - Parks Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I really wanted to come here after seeing great pictures on Instagram. The path that my boyfriends GPS suggested took us up a steep path of stairs that led us to a small trail with nothing to help you if you fell. We came down a flatter and much safer trail. When you park at the Mineral Wells picnic area look for the trail map. Do not take the trail to the left. Take the trail to the right of the sign. Be sure to keep an eye out for all the horse poo. The top has several benches that you can sit on and relax. There are no water fountains at the top so definitely bring your own. read more

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I'm so glad that I finally checked out Amir's Garden today! Like everyone, I did have a little trouble finding it but thankfully I found a nice couple that pointed me in the right direction. Up until this point, I think the directions people have left below are still a bit confusing, so I've taken better photos to show you where to enter the trail. I walked straight up the stairs which is quite a workout, but the wide dirt trail just to the right of them will take you up to the garden as well. It is a breathtaking view from the top and what's so great about it is that it's another one of la's hidden gems that not many people seem to know about. I ran into three groups of people along the way, and besides that it was completely quiet and a perfect place to meditate and get away from the city. So, if you go all the way up Crystal Springs, make a left at the stop sign onto Griffith Park, keep winding all the way up just past the golf course. As you pass the golf course, you'll see some parking spots and continue past them to where it opens up to more of the park with lots of green grass and benches. Park there along one of the curbs and walk just down to the entrance to the trail and garden. I've included photos to show the entrance to the trail as well as what will be directly behind you (the nets with yellow sign). Hopefully this helps everyone out. This really is a sanctuary, and I will definitely be back to visit! You can feel that there was and still is a lot of love put into this place. read more

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Amir's Garden is cute - and honestly who would think to call anything at Griffith Park cute?! It's got a cool Secret Garden feel to it, benches, tons of color and a fairly grand arch entrance. The hike up from the fireroad road is easy-moderate - not completely flat but doable. A definite must if you are looking for points of interest and landmarks at the park. read more

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I went to the Amir's Garden expecting a beautiful garden but it was a little disappointing, not as colorful as some of the pictures that was posted on yelp. The stairs were great! If your looking for a good workout. read more

Amir's Garden is located high atop a mountain in Griffith Park, CA. Recently, I've added hiking to the list of things I've become interested in. Griffith Park has many hiking trails that offer a quiet and serene atmosphere which range from moderate to high level of difficulty. A friend of mine told me about an experience she had where a friend took her hiking and and when they reached the top, there was a beautiful garden. I couldn't believe that there would be a garden in the middle of the mountain until I saw it for myself. This Sunday, I took the one mile hike to reach Amir's Garden. The garden is filled with picnic tables and benches. In addition, there are several trails and steps that allow you to explore the garden. I spent a few hours taking photos, eating a picnic lunch, and enjoying the scenery. I say its well worth the experience and would recommend the hike. read more

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A true gem. My dog and I both love it here. There are secluded benches picnic tables throughout the garden... So perfect for a tranquil picnic. Even enjoy some solo time basking in the sunshine among the beautiful plants, reading a book. Just lovely. (I hope no tourists ever discover this local gem) read more

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I love the serenity and peace this place offers you in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the a very busy city. This is on the back side of Griffith Park and is closer to the L.A.Zoo. That being said, it's not that easy to find unless you know what to look for. It is located on Zoo Drive, but you need to turn into the trail that leads you to the old L.A.Zoo and turn right again that leads to Mineral Wells and proceed pass Harding's Golf Course if you're coming from the 5 freeway. The start of the trail to Amir's Garden is at the bottom of a dirt trail currently marked by sandbags with a wooden posted map. The quickest and most direct route to Amir's Garden is the incline on the left. Taking the trail on the right leads you AROUND the garden, not too it. If you have time to kill and don't mind going that way, by all means, take the right. Taking the left means a fairly steep incline of a 1/4 mile hike up with sturdy shoes, a bottle of water and hat. Sturdy shoes because the steps at Amir's garden vary in size from small to large on the trails around it and it's all dirt with some places going down and up the hill. Water because you will need something to drink and I don't entirely trust the water fountain up there. A hat because it can be hot on sunny days even with shade provided by the trees. There are plenty of picnic benches there and seats throughout the garden to catch your breath relax and even a few tables hidden away on various parts to enjoy some semi privacy too. The views are awesome from the top. I saw very few people while up there and since I visited on a weekday, I pretty much had the place to myself. PARKING: The website states you can park at Mineral Wells parkiing area, but I never found it and it didn't seem that close to it. I parked along the sides of the road near the bottom of the trail leading up to the garden. There were no signs that stated I couldn't park there nor any restrictions on how long I could park. WARNING!! Due to the recent drought in California for the last 6 years and even with recent rains in December, January and February, the area in Griffith Park doea have a population of coyotes and some mountain lions. I spotted a coyote crossing the street just after I had parked my car and was getting out. He was very shy of people and when I was about 75 feet away, he took off. So, be aware of wildlife when you do visit the garden and walk the paths. read more

I actually love Amir's garden, its history, its beauty and tranquility. It's a special, unique place. We visited it a few times in the last couple of years after we discovered it inside Griffith Park and we enjoyed going there. This review and my rating is based on our recent experience over there the past Easter Sunday. As everyone described, the garden has a few benches and picnic tables, perfect for a nice outdoor meal. We packed a picnic and came here before on Sundays, even on Easter last year. It's a peaceful, beautiful place with lush vegetation, with many cool spots in the shadow and great views of Glendale. This time, upon arrival, we noticed water sprinklers on, but didn't think much of it. We picked a table in the shade (the other one had water all over it) and started reading a book before opening the picnic basket. We were enjoying the outdoors and the peace. Usually, there aren't many people around, just hikers, families who come to visit, explore and enjoy the garden also. We noticed a lady that was working for the garden watering big areas near us (we never saw anyone who works for the garden around) and she came to us to tell us that we have 30 minutes to leave this table". What? It was 3 pm. I came to relax, not to be given a clicking bomb on a timer. That kinda spoiled it, thank God we didn't start to spread our food on the table. So we were trying to find another table. Well that wasn't simple. The paths were wet, some were slippery, water was pouring from sprinklers all over the garden, like it was raining! After a little running around to avoid getting soaked which was ridiculous, like an obstacle course, we got to the entrance and sat at a table. Then, the same lady came and started to mess with more sprinklers around, to turn them on. A few hikers gave up checking out the garden since they didn't feel like getting soaked. Frankly, it wasn't safe or enjoyable. I went to ask the lady what's going in terms of watering. She said she'll water everywhere, even on the front picnic tables (guess she couldn't make an exception that day). She couldn't be meaner and ruder, didn't look up to talk to me, too busy looking down at her phone. I did tell her it's Easter Sunday and we came here especially to picnic. She couldn't care less "well, it's a garden, it needs watering, we do it on Sundays". I agree that this beautiful garden needs watering, but why on a Sunday when most people would visit it and why in the afternoon, not earlier in the day when there'd be less people around? I'm sure they can water it during the week, too. If you visit a garden while it's open, during its regular hours, shouldn't you be able to enjoy it? Amir wanted people to enjoy this place. Well, we didn't, we had to go elsewhere and it was disappointing. Also, don't follow the directions on their site, first time I went there I did and got lost. Exit Forest Lawn Dr. Take a Left on Zoo Dr. Then, a Right on Griffith Park Dr., to the Mineral Water picnic area - about 5 min. drive. There's a parking lot down there. Take the trail to the right, hike up, you'll be at Amir's garden in about 10 minutes. It's a bit steep, but there are nice views from up there. It's a beautiful place, normally I'd give it a 5 stars. But it's not well managed and it can spoil a nice outing when you try to relax. I guess going there on a Sunday is a "no-no". read more

Cool little park. Great workout on the stairs. I took them on the way up and down. Wow! Brush is now a little over grown, but manageable. I wore trekking pants and I'd advise them for others due to the bugs and stickers that attach themselves to you on your hike. If you venture take the trail to the right just before Amir's Garden afterwards. Very quiet area and a decent view of Burbank and the valley. I hiked in this area for over 2 hours and didn't see a soul & it was nice to just hear the sounds of nature. read more

Such a serene garden and gorgeous breataking views and a hidden gem the beginning of the hike is a bit much but really isn't bad read more

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Ive has this hike on my bucket list for months and finally had the time to go today ( Sunday). This place is a paradise. On top of its beauty,It's so peaceful, refreshing, and quiet. We took the dirt trail up to the garden. It's pretty steep and was the hardest part of the hike due to the elevation and no shade. I don't know how people take the stair trail up to the garden because we were ready to tap out lol. Just kidding it was just extremely hot. TAKE LOTS OF WATER! The garden has several little trails in every direction going downward with lots of greenery, flowers, and pretty aloe plants. There's so many rest spots with hidden benches that were fun finding. I think we stopped at every one of them and it gave us the same excitement each and every find. The trails are narrow and if I'm sure someone could slip if they aren't paying attention, but for the most part the manmade steps help guide you up, down and around. I'd keep a good eye on a kid if you decided to take them. There's a lot of horse poop going up the dirt trail so be careful. We found parking on the right side of the street at the beginning of the trail. We found it pretty difficult to find the trail entrance. The only advice I can give for that is to use the directions given from the yelp address and keep an eye out for a small brown trail sign that says Amir's Garden. read more

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So the directions are hard--I took pics for everyone! First, Mineral Wells is to the RIGHT of Travel Town. So the opposite direction of where most of us go to explore Griffith. **take a right on zoo drive, go straight, you'll pass the recycling facility and run into the parking lot for Mineral Wells Picnic Area*. Type in 5400 Griffith Park Drive into your GPS!! This will totally help. Park on the curb next to the Mineral Wells sign. *there is a lot of parking, but this will help* you'll see a picnic table on the left in a grassy area when you park here. Remember if you see the golf course, you've gone too far. BRING WATER for you and your pet with his bowl. Look straight ahead. There's a sign about dogs on leashes on a wide trail. That's it!! You'll see 2 paths: If you go to the right on the path, you'll wind up for gorgeous views. It's steep, but not too hard. Our 10lbs dog walked it as well as our medium and big dog. It's also a horse trail. If you have to stop, keep going up--it's worth it and it does end :) On this trail, you'll walk right into the garden with a bench that says, "Amir's Garden." If you go to the left, you'll see another beautiful way up, through an open gate. This is the hike we took first, not knowing anything. Well, we found STAIRS on the trail and took them ALLLLL the way up to the top. Our dogs did this with us, and we found the easy trail, mentioned above, on the way down!! Kicked our butts!! So if you're looking for a killer workout, that's also doable, take the stairs. You'll pass by one set of stairs on this hike and then another--we took the 2nd staircase. I'm scared of heights and my 50lbs dog pulls me, but I had no problem going up, besides my legs were starting to feel like jelly LoL the stairs wind up, and right when you want to stop, keep going up a few more flights. It does end and it's worth it. At the top, you'll see hidden benches with amazing views. It's shady, too. As you explore the top, you'll also see Amir's Garden sign with his bench. You'll just come up a different way than the first trail I mentioned. I posted a ton of pics of my hike so you can find it and enjoy it with your furry friend. I hope this helps everyone and I hope you have fun!! read more

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My los angeles secret garden. Amir's, sigh, the reasons why I love it are the same reasons why I don't want to share it. But, in a city where the only waterfalls are blurry red streams of traffic, we all deserve a little patch of wonderment. One step you are on the same ol' dusty fire road and the next ,you are surrounded by little bursts of color, succulents wild and on the loose, trees with full-grown-man shade, purple flowers dotting a ridge, views peeking out through the trees. It's a strange feeling seeing the garden perched on the dry mountain, it's like walking through a Serat painting, where one moment it's all spots and the next it's a painting. You honestly can't help but giggle in pure kid wonderment at this mysterious oasis. Where did you come from and how are you here, funny alien garden? It takes your heart by surprise, this imperfect wild garden with hidden benches and tiny terraced paths. I am so grateful it was created and continues to be live on by volunteers. Thank you, fellow garden friends. So, how do you find this super secret place? Well kids, get your zen on because it's a stumble your way there experience. To me, this is a part of the magic, a process of organic discovery but to others it is freakin difficult! The easiest way is to take the fireroad that heads uphill from mineral springs rec area or, the more fun/work-out way, would be to hang a left at the trail that runs along the base of the mountain and intersects the fireroad. Keep a steady watch on your right for the tiny stairs, start climbing and keep left at the forks, 231 steps later you are there! See you in the garden... read more

Very beautiful place. You can plant your own flowers and plants if you would like. At least that's what my friend did. It's pathways are very thin so walking carefully is a must. There are also usually people riding on horses around this area. The climb up to this garden is pretty short and not too bad so if you want to try a hike path but aren't too fit or just want something small than this is it. read more

Amir's Garden will forever hold a special place in my heart. My dad shared a newspaper article with me about this place about 10+ years ago. I just remember him going on and on about this dude named Amir and how he took care of this area in Griffith Park. I was a kid; it went in one ear and out the other. Fast forward years later and here I was standing In Amir's Garden planting memorial trees for the family members I lost over the past two years. My father being one of them. Amir is long gone, but his garden is still in tact. It is now overseen by Kristen whom you can get in touch with about planting your own memorial tree. It was really a great experience being up there with my crazy family planting these 8' trees. Now we can go up there whenever we want to enjoy a short hike, a great view and reminisce about good times. read more

This is on the back side of griffith and somewhat hard to find the start of the path (only cause there are so many, we didn't know which one was the right one). You know you're on the right path if the path you're on is pretty steep and completely out in the sun lol. It's not too long (distance-wise) of a hike to get to the top, but the steep incline definitely had me huffing and puffing and asking my boyfriend for frequent breaks (the fact that its all in the glaring sun contributed to that). Once you get to the top where the garden is, there's lots of nice shade and a few benches and tables (so you could have a picnic and enjoy the view if you wanted to). The small paths that take you into the garden a bit hard to navigate. They're very narrow and there are several of them that go off in every which-way. We only navigated around the ones at the top and found a nice shaded, secluded bench that gave us a nice view of the backside of griffith and a view of burbank. At the top there's also a water trough for the people with horses as well as a water fountain (for you to refill your bottles or water for your dogs), albeit the water tasted VERY metallic. Will definitely be back to explore more of the garden. read more

Bless Amir's heart for providing shade for future hikers or inhabitants. When I reached his garden, I just appreciated all his hard work even more. It was a hot hike up, even for March! Once you reach this, you have time to sit and re-energize. When you arrive at the garden, there a hidden picnic tables if you go down the steps from the top. It's the perfect place to bring a packed lunch, read a book, or even have a romantic little date. We took the steps down, the way I would recommend to go up as well. There is more shade, albeit a little more dangerous and harder on your knees, but at least you get more lush scenery. This can be found closer to the golf ranges, a little walk to the left at the base (where the website originally tells you to go with Tank #73 as the halfway point.) You can keep on going further, but you may not want to after being in this nice shade provided by this lovely garden. read more

I love the hike up to Amir's garden both by path and by stairs. The garden itself is such a tranquil hidden gem among the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. There are plenty of small paths and benches. Just keep an eye out for wildlife especially snakes. read more

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Very cool place. Gps hard to find, but relatively easy hike off the Griffith golf course. Some uphill, but definitely worry it. Take a picnic. read more

This gem of a garden is truly as good as it gets. Located within the magnificent Griffith Park, Amir's Garden is an oasis of shade, water, benches and beautiful flowers. My favorite part of the story is that of Iranian-American Amir Dialameh who showed great determination, passion and class when creating and maintaining this public space. His legacy lives on. read more

Great cardio. Gasp Gasp. Amir's Garden is an oasis thanks to Amir who spent three decades hauling stuff up, beautifying, maintaining. Two hundred steps lead to the top, and there are two sets of stairs. Very popular. All ages can make it to the top. Bring water, go at your own pace, rest when you need to. There are picnic benches, a water trough for horses, and a spigot to refill your water bottle. read more

I don't even want to review this on Yelp, because it's still a little oasis in GP that many don't know about. But the lack of outdoor spots that I reviewed on Yelp is a shame and it's time to bring some attention to our great parks and mountains. This is a short, but steep hike to a beautiful garden with great views of the park all around. The hike to get to it is maybe a little over a quarter mile but it is steep. On the way you can see woodpeckers banging away on trees. Our dogs love running around the park trails once we are up there and considering that it's almost always empty we let them off the leash. Great spot for a picnic as well as there are tables and benches. read more