Ferndell Trail is one of those spots that feels like a quiet little escape without having to go too far out of the city. It's shaded, peaceful, and has that tucked-away forest vibe that's honestly hard to find in LA. Parking is free along the entrance streets, which already makes it feel more accessible and low-stress to visit. I'd recommend taking the east trail if you're trying to get to the top--it's a bit easier and shorter, especially if you just want a steady, enjoyable walk without overdoing it. It's not a super intense hike, more of a gentle reset kind of place. Perfect if you want to clear your head, get some fresh air, and not feel rushed. Especially if you take the east trail at a steady pace 30-40 minutes. (look on Google Maps it'll show you or alltrails). Definitely one of those go-to spots when you just need a breather. read more

I hadn't walked this pleasant shaded path in years and was happy that I came back. This is a great place to take children as it looks like an enchanted forest which they will surely appreciate. There are restrooms were the playground is located just north of the end of the trail. Free parking is available along the street and if they are full you can park across from the playground in a big parking lot. Hungry? There's Trails Cafe in the same area. read more

This little park is adorable. It's filled with nature and beautiful little ponds everywhere. It literally looks like some kind of enchanted forest from the inside of the park and it's just lovely! When you hit the end of the park there is the cutest little cafe which has lots of out door seating and is for friendly. I happened to visit on a cold cloudy day the ambiance was just amazing! I just stopped in for a water but I will be trying some coffee next time I stop by. Theres also a playground and restroom area. After that, the hiking trails begin. There's multiple to choose from but my favorite has to be the one that leads right up to the observatory. The Observatory is free to the public as well! So after your hike you can explore the inside, use the restrooms or grab a free water cup at their cafe. I really love this spot, would recommend! read more

See all

Really enjoyed this hike. Came here for the first time last week with my fiancé and 2 frenchie. This was a pleasant trail that had minor sections where it could have been considered heavy for new hikers. This trail will lead you directly to the Griffith Observatory. read more

See all

Always always always get fruit from the carts before or after a hike. Food never tasted so good after pushing yourself to the limit!

Absolutely adored this spot. However I definitely thought the trail was longer but it's about .5 miles. It does lead to longer trails that go up to the observatory so you can make it as long or short as you please to venture. There's plenty of benches and a playground so it's a great spot to bring kids or a date. A lot of foot traffic so you never feel alone and you feel safe. Plenty of parking. A coffee shop off the path up by the playground and clean restrooms. There's one two stalls though so keep that in mind. The lines get long. read more

See all

We hiked up this trail which was about a mile up to the Griffith Observatory. Very kids friendly and shaded at the beginning. I also liked that theres a playground and bathrooms so the kids could have a play break. read more

We went to meet up with my daughter's friends for a play date at the play ground. I was dying the minute I got there. All those kids running around, jumping, etc., kicking up unbelievably amount of dust and dirt, I couldn't even hide or runaway from the situation. The amount of the dead leaves are just too much that it made the place not suitable for kids playground. I saw all kids coughed, sneezed, watery eyed, just like myself and all the parents. When I got home, all the dusts came off from inside of my clothes! read more

It was an underwhelming experience. The stream is brackish and smelly, like its runoff from the street. At least it's a short walk and it connects to the trail up to Griffith Park Observatory. read more

The only upside off this trail is it is shaded. Nothing else. It's more like a little walkaway garden then a trail. It is stinky and muddy. I won't ever go back. read more

Fern Dell - Hiking Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

Easy walk with my toddler...reminded me of Seattle, lol! Very lush and this is just like a little hidden treasure, like a mini Runyan. There is a creek with Koi fish, turtles, and tadpoles. There is a giant lot at the end of the park. On the other end is a café and a playground! read more

See all

We had a blast a few months ago at the Fern Dell Nature Center. We did some serious hiking and exercising that really put my but to grips. I had never been here before. But I loved it for my first time away in the Hollywood Hills. I wanna come out here often. read more

A stunning path that ascends to the famous Griffith Observatory! There is something for everyone, including beautiful views, a playground, lots of picnic seats, a fantastic slope for endurance training, and a few public facilities. read more

I found this while searching for something to do outside of the house and away from our jobs (we took a few days off). After looking up some hikes, I decided based on this one due to the great pictures all the other Yelpers took. We parked on Fern Dell, dawned our masks and headed towards the start of the trail. We crossed a small bridge with water flowing underneath and preceded to follow the path up the small river. Overhead there was a bunch of huge trees with huge leaves covering the dirt path. It has benches along the path that you may sit on, or small area's where you can sit down by the water. This trail is great for kids, and it leads out to an open area where you can find a playground (right now it's blocked off). If you want you can continue up the trail that leads to Griffith Observatory. The trail is all uphill after coming out of the forest like area, but it's well worth it as you'll get views of the entire LA area. Also...you'll enjoy the feeling of coming down haha. read more

See all

I love this park! It is a nice little getaway from the city life. The nature trail makes you feel like your not in Los Angeles at all. It has shade and a stream with little bridges. The trail will lead you to a play structure for the kids to enjoy and can take you all the way up to Griffith observatory! The trail is stroller and dog friendly, which is a bonus! And there are plenty of street parking. read more

Fern Dell - Hiking Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a beautiful area! We were there today at 7 am and was pleased to see many people (assuming volunteers) cleaning the park. They really maintain this place well. It's so peaceful, with the bubbling brooks running through the entire area. Super shaded too because of all the trees. Dog-friendly, as long as they're leashed. There are some designated BBQ spots. Lots of free parking on the two-way street. There's also a playground with a restroom nearby. read more

See all

The magnificent Fern Dell Nature Center is a wonderfully lovely getaway for those who love the outdoors. I really suggest going, particularly if you enjoy the peace and quiet of nature. I love running on trails, and the center is a perfect retreat at any time of year. The well-planned vegetation, along with the quaint pagoda, water feature, and meandering paths, create an amazing ambiance that is ideal for taking breathtaking pictures. Past the principal draws, there are more gardens to discover, all with their own distinct charm, especially during flowering seasons. Fern Dell Nature Center is a must-see location for anybody visiting the area because of its varied landscapes and floral treasures. It offers visitors an immersive and restorative experience amidst the magnificence of nature. read more

With it's world-wide collection of fern plant species, it is so lush, that it reminds me of Jurassic Park, or something along those lines. It also has a creek right next to you, replete with turtles, frogs, crawfish, etc. A relaxing and beautiful trail that is cooler-than-elsewhere, on hot, outdoor days! -- Highly recommended! read more

Just don't use the Porto potty is all I ask. I didn't use it but I witnessed 11 different people walk near or halfway into it and give up before going. Use the restrooms before you go to this place. Otherwise, really nice playground and fun people watching. Some cool moms. read more

Such a beautiful walking trail. Come early on week days to usually, easily find parking. I would not recommend a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. read more

I love this hike. I've been coming here for years. The greenery entering the hike is so nice. You forget you're in LA. Healthy green foliage with a little stream going through it on the right side. The hike is not that difficult. I'd rate it 6/10 in regards to difficulty. I believe it's only 1.5-2miles to reach the top. There's a nice midway point also where you can take a quick break. The views are great. Griffith observatory overlooking all of LA and you can even see the Hollywood sign at a distance. If you have a little extra time, definitely go inside and explore the Observatory. The shows there are awesome also if you get to go around a show time. read more

Largest city park in the US. Lots of Free parking. Easy to hike trails. Playground for kids. Great views. Lots of wildlife to see. read more

See all

I stopped here last week (midweek) while I was in the noho area for the day. I had eaten a good lunch and wanted to get a good walk in. I found Fern Dell via yelp and headed over. Although I've been to Griffith Park before, I had never been to Fern Fell. I was able to find parking easily and the trail had clear signage. It was really pretty and relaxing, I liked the stream going along. It has been raining so the whole area was cool and humid, and still a bit wet from the rains. This added to the lush charm of the trail. I read that this was the location of a scene in LA LA Land, although I haven't seen the movie. There were some others on the trail, taking pictures, walking their dogs, etc. for the most part thought it was quiet and relaxing. And an easy uphill grade. If you're in the area and want a nice stroll I recommend Fern Dell! read more

See all

I absolutely lost myself for a good hour in nature walking this flat terrain. I am a native Angeleno, and I am in utter disbelief this trail and coffee shop has been around for 15 years! There's also a nice playground for the kiddos too. I went in the early morning around 9:45 a.m., so there wasn't much of a crowd. I decided to go get a cup of Joe and freshly made granola, with yogurt and fruit at the mom and pop shop and it had filled up a bit with customers. The air was so crisp and fresh. I hope the next generation takes better care of Mother Nature as she has taken care of us. read more

See all

I love this park as it is a perfect mixture of beautiful greenery, walkways, and a great place to walk your dogs! It's pretty large and extensive which makes you feel like you're not super close to other people, but also not so vast to the point that you feel like you're the only one at the park. Street parking can take a little bit to find but overall, I consider this a hidden gem. read more

See all

Nice shade and beautiful stream beautiful walk to arrive at the playground. Plenty of picnic tables if you wanted to have a snack, the actual apparatus challenges, children from toddler up until elementary age there are some climbing.boulders that require parent supervision for children not to fall. I'm taking a star off because there's no equipment for children with special needs such as a swing for a with ADA child needs read more

Nice park with beautiful trees and streams that connects to the Griffith trails. Perfect for dog walking. Playground for kids. Free parking along the street. read more

Fern Dell - Beautiful trees - Hiking Near Me - Los Angeles, California

See all

So beautiful here! I went with my parents snd it was so lovely. Easy walk through the trail. There's another hike available to Griffith observatory which is also so nice. The water level is very low and very little maintenance but it was really so lovely going there we loved it. And can't wait to go back. Great fir children too not a difficult trail. read more

See all

This is a hidden secret of Griffith Park. Upon first moving to L.A. a good friend of mine took me here. Sharing with me the peaceful balling brooks, densely growing ferns and foliage among the trees and a lovely walk that winds around and around until you pass under a small bridge. This is a little piece of paradise located in a metropolis. Where green spaces and quiet places are sought after a hard day at work or after the struggle through the traffic madness. Bring you pooch, your children or just yourself. Parking is plentiful, free street parking and while you're here catch a sunset above at the Observatory. read more

Fern Dell should be called Ferngully (like the animated movie about the rain forest ). What an amazingly beautiful, quiet, and serene oasis in the middle of a busy city. I did a search for nature centers and was immediately drawn to this place just from the description. The pictures simply don't do it justice. Fern Dell is located to your left as soon as you make the turn from Los Feliz. There's a large sign that you can't miss marking the entrance. You can still enter through the middle or back further down the road. There are so many trees lining the path, I wish I knew all their names. There is a stream flowing through the entire park. There are lots of small koi fish and crawfish in the ponds. Lots of benches to sit down and take in all the beauty. You can walk the entire trail in 20 minutes or less but that isn't the point. I spent time looking and taking in everything and taking plenty of pictures of course. This park or trail leads into other trails of Griffith Park. If you want to begin or end here you can. I can't get to Hawaii as often as I'd like, this will do in a pinch ! read more

See all

Ferndale is one of the most beautiful hikes in Los Angeles. I discovered it through a ghetto chain link fence at the Griffith park entrance closest to AFI film school. It's right at the entrance to the left 1/4 - 1/2 mile up the road. Most of grasses for hikes are dry/dirt/dusty, but what makes Fern Dell special is the water than runs through it. There are ponds, waterfalls, benches and paved walking paths. When the water is healthy, I've even seen fish and turtles! Dragonfly's too! It looks like a tropical jungle country and it's a treat to have this hike in LA read more

The wonderful thing about living in a large city such as Los Angeles is that it is not only ever-revolving; but there are endless nooks and crannies that even those native to the area have not yet experienced. Griffith Park is a perfect example: it is popular with both residents and tourists but there are lesser-traversed spots within its confines. The Fern Dell Nature Center certainly fits this bill. To set aside confusion, the Fern Dell Nature Center isn't a 'nature center' or a botanical garden. It is simply a small path/side area near the park entrance at Los Feliz Blvd/Fern Dell right when Western turns into Los Feliz (look for the bear Griffith Park statue... Fern Dell is to the left of it). Call it more of a semi-landscaped, foliage-heavy alcove. Yet, even though Fern Dell isn't necessarily anything "fancy"; it does transport you to a lush, leafy environment. Fern Dell consists of a flat, wide, dirt path which curls around a small creek/stream featuring tiny waterfalls fit for fairies, gigantic fern leaves that look like lily pads for mammoth-sized frogs, and small wooden bridges which could house trolls living underneath them. Fern Dell isn't as bright green and vibrant as one would hope (this can chalked up to California's terrible water drought); but it certainly has a fairy tale or "Alice in Wonderland" essence. Hummingbirds zip by and squirrels hop from branch to branch. Meanwhile, your mind clears along the walk as Fern Dell is actually pretty quiet in comparison to many other parts of Griffith. If you continue along the path, Fern Dell opens up to picnic areas with charcoal grills, grassy knolls for sitting, and leads to the other, more popular areas of Griffith. The only gripe? Fern Dell is a bit "dirty" meaning there is some trash laying around, unkempt areas, etc. It is always sad when visitors desecrate natural wonders. But alas; it isn't too bad to deter a visit from Fern Dell. Parking is relatively simple as well with street parking available immediately upon turning into the park (prohibited from sunset to sunrise). Basically, Fern Dell is a charming little spot in Griffith that will excite the imaginations of children but is peaceful enough for parents to take a nice stroll. Plus, it is free so there is really no reason to complain. If you are looking for a lesser-known LA spot as either a resident or tourist; Fern Dell is great nook to check out. read more

See all

This is a serene hiking path that feeds into the Griffith trail system if you're willing to trek up to the observatory. There is a gentle stream that runs through the nature park. read more

Fern Dell - Wide, flat, easy-to-traverse pathways along the stream - Hiking Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Doing another hike in an urban area on my recent Los Angeles trip, I followed Charles Fleming's route through Fern Dell in Griffith Park. He has you starting on the paved trail going behind the bear off Los Feliz Boulevard. I meandered around until I got beneath Griffith Observatory and then came back down and crossed the two bridges that go into Fern Dell. It's a lovely hike with lots of shade and you feel somewhat cut off from the city. I did cross the street to take a look at the Trails snack shop, but then came back and completed my route leaving by the Ferndell sign and the stone with the plaque telling about its Indian past. This is just one of many wonderful hikes in Griffith Park. What a treat!~ read more

See all

If you live in the city and want a quick get away, strongly recommend coming here. Pick your pace. You can walk around and just take in the scenery, or take a hike up to the observatory, or have a picnic, or bring the kids to the playground. Up to you! read more

See all

This spot was nice! It starts off as a calm walk great for strollers, people, and pets! Then it starts the long hike up to the observatory which was a great hike! Love this place and the view. read more

See all

First, I'd describe Fern Dell as a trail. It goes in parallel with the main road from Griffith Park, so it's not as quiet as I'd like it to be. Otherwise, coming from Western Ave, it's easy to find, marked, on the left side of the street. Parking is free (till sunset) alongside of the road, on both sides. I went on a weekend, so it was pretty full, we found a lot further up, past Trail Cafe, and since we don't mind walking, it's all good. The trail took us 10 minutes maximum to walk through. I'm sure this place was very nice at some point in time,it still has some charm, but unfortunately, people trashed it a bit by doing graffiti, not picking up after themselves, so that's sad. The place is shady, has nice greenery, but the ponds are murky, though. There were a bit too many people around, even a teenage couple smoking pot and having a radio on for everyone to hear (not my ideal stroll to enjoy nature). I still tried to enjoy it and imagine its better days. Across from the trail, there's a playground for kids, picnic tables, restrooms (pretty dirty). Past the restrooms there are signs for short hikes you can take if you want to exercise more. The hikes up to the Observatory are short (less than 1 mile), but you can get some god cardio and have beautiful views of the city and the Hollywood sign. And it's just fun to hike up to the Observatory. Near Fern Dell that's the cute Trail Cafe in case you need a snack or lunch. If you're in the area, check it out. Fern Dell is a cute spot. I expected a bit more, a longer trail and more peace around. read more

See all

Pretty cute. VERY touristy which I didn't care for. The trail itself is steep as hell so definitely a challenge to go up. Give your fur babies any chance of shade breaks and water. The trail was cute but I personally love the park area to where you can just go have a picnic. Free street parking which is a plus. The little creek is dried up at the moment. It's a great beginner trail. read more

See all

I've always wanted to check this out and as others have said, this is not so much a hike but a leisurely stroll surrounded by a lush rainforest ambiance. There are cute little bridges, running streams, swimming turtles, and diverse plants and trees. I was disappointed I didn't see any crawfish, though...where are they? Also felt disappointed by the graffiti on the benches which really mars the beauty of this place. By itself, Fern Dell deserves a nice four star rating. What bumps it to a five is that the trail opens up to a steeper, longer trail leading up to the Griffith Park Observatory. If you continue along this trail, you will be treated to sweeping, picturesque views of LA that are truly breathtaking. Once you reach the Observatory, you can continue your enjoyment of the amazing views by walking around the perimeter of the building. It's nice to get such a fantastic macro view of LA from the top. It's also a decent workout, about 3 miles round-trip, with plenty of fellow hikers along the trail. Bonus: easy, free parking along Fern Dell Drive. read more

See all

There is a large parking lot in this area. The West Trail is an lightly traffic trail that will take you to the observatory where every one tries to park up there which is crowded on the weekend. The trail is wide so plenty of room and kid friendly. There is a nice overlook area with table and bench if you want to snack and take pictures. From here you can walk to the observatory or go across the street and straight up to continue to Mount Hollywood trail. This will make an decent hike. But looking for something bigger. There are connecting trails which might not all have signs posted. But you can hike to the Hollywood Sign from here. Griffith Park has plenty of trails to make your hike a nice leisurely hike to a big time hike to add a lot of mileage. Here are two good trail maps of the park. Check it out, so you won't get lost. As always pack accordingly to your trip as there's not much shades from the sun. https://www.laparks.org/sites/default/files/griffith/pdf/GriffithParkMap.pdf http://griffithobservatory.org/about/pdf/Griffith_Park_Map.pdf read more

See all