Ferndell to the West Observatory Loop Trail to Griffith Observatory is a 2.5 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Los Angeles, California that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
dogs on leash
kid friendly
birding
hiking
nature trips
trail running
walking
forest
views
wild flowers
Ferndell (AKA Fern Dell) is a woodsy glen at the lower end of Western Canyon in Griffith Park. Your destination is the historic Griffith Observatory.
One of the first hikes I’ve done in L.A. Love the observatory so this easy hike is a given. At night you get the full E.T. View from near the top. At the bottom during the day you can stop at Trails cafe. Great spot to take visitors from out of town.
Easy hike with good incline. Love this hike up to the observatory for sunset
Came early in the middle of the week and was able to find parking pretty easily on Ferndell. Beginning of the hike was nicely shaded, but the majority of the trail up to Griffith Observatory was not. Pretty much a steady incline up to the top, but great views from the observatory and bathrooms at the top! Was a breeze to go back down the hill. Able to see the Hollywood sign and on nice days able to see downtown LA.
Beautiful views, and I saw at least 5 different bird species, but I don't appreciate how brief and crowded the hike is. Getting to the observatory at the top is a treat, though.
Was a great hike they have these little water creek spots that the kids (toddlers) will love turtles frogs and birds so they won’t get bord , comforts of pine smells :)
Really cool hike! One moment it feels as if you're in the wilderness (ignoring the perfectly manicured trail) and then you look off in the distance for a spectacular view of downtown LA, or the Hollywood sign, or the Griffith observatory. Truly a unique experience we'll never forget.
easy enough to do for someone who may not be very fit!
The lower portion of the hike is on paved paths and the upper portion is on wide fire roads. There is a bit of climbing, but not too challenging due to how short the hike is. Cool views from the Observatory, as always.
It’s steep. Scenic. Decent feel of a natural setting in LA, which is no small feat. The walk is easy but steep. Not technical by any means but my 7-year-old would struggle with it. My teens loved it. Great views of the LA skyline.
heaven!
Short hike up to the observatiory, the veiw from the top is amazing.
Jessica S.
I do this hike on a regular basis. Its great for people of all fitness levels. You can park free on Ferndell till sunset. Weekends will be very busy. For a longer hike and awesome views, continue past the Observatory to Mt. Hollywood.
An iconic L.A. hike you need to do at least once.
As a hike, this trail probably only merits three stars: a short, fairly easy path up a wide track, to views you can more easily getting driving up. What really makes this fun (especially if you're with an outgoing Golden retriever) are all the people you meet from all around the world. Ferndell, as the name implies, is a nice, shady dell, and seeing the Observatory get bigger as you get closer is fun.
This is a great hike up to the Observatory. We parked near The Trails restaurant, cutting about 1/2 mile off our hike, which is really just walking up the road. There are some steeper spots, but my 3 1/2 year old grandson did great.
Moderate trail. Moderate traffic. Going early in the morning was a good idea. The observatory was getting crowded by 9am.
Nice view!!
Just beautiful, serene , calm and amazing place !!
Nice hike in the city!
this hike was an absolutely wonderful way to spend a beautiful day took my little dog this time and he was a real trooper.I would rate this hike as moderate because we didn't stop at the observatory instead I decided to keep going to the summit of Mt Hollywood, not to be confused with Mt Lee which is where the Hollywood sign is.The 360 degree views are incredible, as is checking out the observator would be a great place to take friends from out of town,or your own staycation day trip and if you park on ferndell you won't have to pay 4 dollars an hour parking!Pack a lunch,water,and sun block.
Simply love this place in its entirety
Enjoyed the short walk through the quaint park w/all the foliage & waterfalls. The trail was easy to follow & steep enough to get my heart rate up. There was a rest room on the way just in case!
Great place for a long walk. The benches area plus. Drink coffee and unwind.
Amazing hike to the observatory
Great for kids! Hard to find parking.
All up hill, hardly any shade. Take lots of water during the Summer. Hollywood sign view and Griffith Observatory at the end of the trail.
Pretty fun. Nice lush area at the bottom. Parking is fairly do-able. Plenty of restroom access. Hike is mostly fire road, but some challenging grades. Fabulous reward with Observatory activities at the top.
Great trek
Beautiful trees and bird watching
Best to go when cooler
this trail is awesome - if you're not in at least ok shape it'll be tough
Nice walk. There's a couple of trails you can walk. The one with all the greenery and ponds is cooler as its shadier and doesn't feel so hot.
A good warm up before hiking the rest of Griffith Park.