Going Hollywood--Bike Ride of Griffith Park and the LA River

While Angelos love their cars, it also has a growing and enthusiastic bicycle movement. One area with lots of bike activity is Griffith Park and the nearby seven mile section of the LA River bike path.

Griffith Park is a 4,300 acre wilderness park that houses the LA Zoo, Travel Town Museum, Los Angeles Live Steamers Railroad Museum, and famous landmarks: the Greek Theatre, the Griffith Park Observatory and the world-famous Hollywood sign.  No mountain biking is allowed on the trails due to the high number of hikers and horse riders, but anyone can ride on the paved fire roads.

One challenging loop starts at the LA Zoo and Autry National Center of the American West parking lot. Travel west on Zoo Drive past the LA Steamers miniature trains on the left and then past the bigger trains at Travel Town. Continue up a steep hill on Griffith Park Drive to the summit and exit right onto a paved fire road for the climb up and over the saddle back between Mt. Hollywood and Mt. Lee.  As you’ve earned a break from the climb sit back and get your speed up but take a quick look to right and across to the Hollywood sign. Make the turn up to the GP Observatory for a great city view and water stop. This is frequent film location from James Dean and 1955's Rebel Without a Cause to 2010's Get Him to the Greek starring Russell Brand.  In sum, 22 movies have been shot at the observatory in addition to countless television shows.  

Climb back on and enjoy a quick downhill ride past the Greek Theatre. Then detour left through the eclectic mix of houses in the city’s Los Feliz section. Finally end up on Los Feliz Ave at the park entrance on Crystal Springs drive. Give thanks to the park’s benefactor Colonel Griffith J. Griffith’s statue at the entrance and continue east on Los Feliz, cross over the 5 freeway (Interstate 5) then jump onto the LA River Bike Path heading north for the Autry Museum.

After the ride enjoy two new craft beer establishments within an easy ride from the park--Golden Road Brewery/Restaurant on San Fernando Road West and Eagle Rock Brewery near the intersection of Fletcher and San Fernando Road.  While ERB does not have a restaurant, its tasting room is open several nights a week serving up its line of fine brews with a few guest beers on tap.  They also have some of the most famous LA food trucks stop by if you get hungry.  Check their website for hours and food truck schedule.

There are two well-supported annual rides that use the LA River Bike Path and Griffith Park. The annual Firecracker Ride (one ride of ~30 miles) during the Chinatown’s New Year’s celebration and the annual LA River Bike Ride (usually in June) that starts and ends at the Autry Museum and LA Zoo in Griffith Park. It has rides from five miles up to a 100 mile century traveling down to Long Beach and back with most of the ride on dedicated bike lanes along the LA River.

 

Check out some LA photos that correspond to this post below...

The LA Zoo opened in 1912 and the organization's breeding program help save the California Condor.

The Greek Theater opened in 1929.

An excellent example of Art Deco design, the observatory dates back to 1935 and offers free admission.

Built in 1923, the famous sign is maintained through a special trust fund and board of directors.

 

Griffith J. Griffith left his considerable fortune (made in the mining business) for the creation of the park that bears his name, the observatory and the Greek Theater. 

The Los Angeles River was once a meandering, lush waterway.  It was rerouted and encased in concrete to alleviate flooding.  Began in 1938, the project was completed years later.  Today, revitalization efforts are underway to bring back the green and natural aspects of the river.