Never before have we been as connected to screens as we are now. And while social media and streaming platforms offer an excellent way to escape reality, there are even better ways to do so. The best one? “Go touch grass!” If you’re looking to escape the stress of daily life without leaving the city, among the many hidden gems of Los Angeles, its museums, and restaurants, the parks are another major attraction for locals and tourists looking to reconnect with the outdoors. Let’s discover the best parks in Los Angeles to disconnect!
Best parks in Los Angeles to catch great views
If you’re in need of some great reconnection with nature, a leisurely stroll and some Instagram worthy photos, then you might want to visit some of this parks in the city
1. Griffith Park
If you’re an Angeleno, you’re no stranger to the enormous Griffith Park, one of the largest municipal parks with urban wilderness areas in the entire country and an iconic filming location. The park spans across 4,210 acres of wild chapparal terrain and manicured parkland complete with the cutest picnic areas.
For the hikers among us, the parks boasts 53-mile network of trails, fire roads and bridle paths. There’s something for everyone at Griffith: bike rentals, pony rides, horseback riding, picnicking, tennis, swimming, soccer and other sports fields. And it goes without saying, but be sure not to miss the extraordinary views and mind-bending planetarium shows at Griffith Observatory.
📍 Location: 730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027
2. Palisades Park
Breathe in the salty ocean breeze at this enchanting park in Santa Monica (a bit of a misnomer as this park is not in the Pacific Palisades). This 26.4-acre green space stretches along Ocean Avenue, offering panoramic views of the Santa Monica Bay.
This park is perfect for a solo sunrise walk or a dreamy sunset picnic, with golden hour bathing the greenery in mesmerizing light. The grounds are kept impeccably clean, making it one of the best places to catch a breath of fresh air and disconnect from the hustle and bustle of the day. To top it all off, there’s plenty of shade on hot days thanks to the majestic old trees dotting the park.
📍 Location: Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
3. Point Fermin Park
You’ll find this tranquil, oceanside park situated on top of a rugged coastal bluff in San Pedro. Point Fermin Park is home to 37 landscaped acres of green lawns, shaded pergolas, lush gardens and a charming old lighthouse. The expansive ocean views make this park one of the most serene places to have a picnic in Los Angeles.
Bonus: it’s a short distance from the Korean Bell of Friendship, a gorgeous structure that was gifted to the United States by the Republic of Korea to celebrate the bicentennial of the U.S. in 1976. Make a whole day out of it and be sure to visit both spots.
📍 Location: 807 W Paseo Del Mar, San Pedro, CA 90731
4. Vista Hermosa
Last but not least, Vista Hermosa is a tucked-away treasure hidden in the middle of Historic Filipinotown. Walking into this lush natural park feels like you’ve stumbled upon a magical mirage in the city. The rolling meadows, the stunning plant landscaping, the shaded picnic tables and the *free* parking lot…can this really be less than a mile away from Downtown Los Angeles? We’re not exaggerating when we say the air feels fresher here.
The grounds are impeccably maintained and even during the weekends, Vista Hermosa never feels overcrowded or busy. Round up your friends for a pot luck picnic or come by yourself to stroll and get some rejuvenating alone time (the bench facing DTLA is one of the greatest places to read, journal or just daydream). This park is the gold standard when it comes to green public spaces.
📍 Location: 100 N. Toluca St., Los Angeles, CA 90026
5. Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
The Culver City-area park features a lotus pond, fishing lake, and sand volleyball court. However, this urban oasis truly stands out with over seven miles of walking and hiking trails winding through the Baldwin Hills, offering views of nearly every part of the L.A. Basin—from the South Bay and the Pacific Ocean to Downtown and the San Gabriel Mountains. You know those photos of L.A. that make it seem like the snowcapped mountains are right behind the skyline? They’re all taken from here, using very long lenses.
📍 Location: 4100 S. La Cienega Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90043
6. Will Rogers State Historic Park
Discover the vast grounds of Will Rogers State Historic Park, once owned by the late actor, writer, cowboy philosopher, trick roper, and Beverly Hills’ first honorary mayor, Will Rogers. Enjoy a free guided tour of Rogers’s preserved 1930s ranch home and explore the 186-acre park, which offers scenic hikes, including a trail to Inspiration Point with stunning views of the mountains and sea. On weekends, you can watch polo matches or take horse-riding lessons.
📍 Location: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Cool parks near Downtown Los Angeles
If your life happens to be downtown centered, and you don’t have much time to waste when leaving the office, this parks below must be exactly what you need.
7. Echo Park
We love Echo Park for countless reasons: the magical lotus flowers that blossom every summer, the delicious elote carts that line Park Avenue, the delightfully cliché swan lake boats and the ample green space that makes for the perfect picnic spot.
Snag a spot right behind the iconic woman statue, officially named Nuestra Reina de Los Angeles (Our Queen of the Angels), that gives you the best view of the lake and the DTLA skyline, along with plenty of shade. And if you forgot to pack some goodies from home, you can always pick up a slice of pizza up the street or order up some tacos, elote and aguas frescas from the vendors nearby.
📍 Location: 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026
8. Chavez Ravine Arboretum in Elysian Park
It’s easy to get lost in the massive Elysian Park, a 600-acre park with eight hiking trails and plenty of incredible lookout points including Angel’s Point, Radio Hill, Buena Vista Point and a secret tree swing with stunning views of the city.
If you need a recommendation of where to start, our favorite slice of this park is the extra abundant Chavez Ravine Arboretum, the first and oldest arboretum in Southern California. Founded in 1893 by the Los Angeles Horticultural Society, this botanical tree garden is home to over 130 different varieties of trees from around the world, including the oldest and largest Cape Chestnut, Kauri, and Tipu trees in the United States. Consider it a living museum right in the heart of the city (and it’s totally free).
📍 Location: Chavez Ravine Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012
9. Gloria Molina Grand Park
We’ve got a serious soft spot for Gloria Molina Grand Park, or Grand Park for short. This 12-acre civic park provides a much needed dose of greenery in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. Stretching from The Music Center all the way to City Hall, it’s the park DTLA deserves, with arguably the best free programming out of all the parks in the city.
📍 Location: 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Cultural & Historical Parks in Los Angeles
If you want to add some historical exploration to your daily walks around the city, these parks are ideal for your leisurely stroll.
10. Hancock Park
Not to be confused with the nearby upscale neighborhood, Hancock Park sits atop a treasure trove of prehistoric bones, known as the La Brea Tar Pits. You don’t need a museum ticket to explore the Tar Pits, just like you can snap pics at the Instagrammable Urban Light sculpture without entering LACMA. The green space between these attractions is perfect for picnics and dog walks, making it a great spot to enjoy the outdoors near L.A. landmarks like the Academy Museum and Petersen Automotive Museum.
📍 Location: 5801 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
11. Los Angeles State Historic Park
Situated on the outskirts of Chinatown, the Los Angeles State Historic Park is an expansive, 32-acre public green space that recently underwent a massive make0ver. You may have visited the park for dinner and a show at Street Food Cinema or if you’ve eaten at the much loved Nick’s Cafe and went for a post-meal stroll.
This park is a peaceful place to take a step back from the city and ground yourself in some nature. More than just a beautiful park, this space is rich with history. The last recorded location of Yang-na, a large Tongva village, was found adjacent to the park. If you happen to visit, be sure not to miss the scenic overlook bridge and the orange grove that’s home to at least 75 varieties of citrus.
📍 Location: 1245 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
12. Huntington Gardens
This enchanting Los Angeles spot is a vast oasis filled with thousands of plants, flowers, and trees, featuring themed gardens and a treasure trove of European and American antiques. The Huntington, located in California’s San Gabriel Valley, began as the vision of railroad magnate Henry Huntington and his wife Arabella.
In 1919, their estate transformed into a cultural landmark with a research library housing over 11 million rare books and manuscripts, an art museum showcasing masterpieces, and hundreds of acres of botanical gardens with diverse and exotic flora.
📍 Location: 1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino, CA 91108
13. Brookside Park
Just south of the Arroyo Seco’s most famous tenant—the Rose Bowl—this 62-acre park offers a scenic green space set against the stunning San Gabriel Mountains. It features multipurpose sports fields, a pirate ship-themed playground at Reese’s Retreat, and a proper fitness trail.
Many visitors enjoy running and biking along a path that flanks the entire east side of the park, extending north past the adjoining golf course. For a small fee, you can visit the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center’s pools or the Kidspace Children’s Museum. Parking is ample due to the 90,000-seat stadium, but note the Rose Bowl Flea Market every second Sunday and UCLA home games on fall Saturdays.
📍 Location: 360 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103
14. Barnsdall Art Park
If you’re looking for a romantic spot to revel in the rays of golden hour, Barnsdall Art Park is the place. This beautiful park has a rich history dating back to the 1800s when it was once a commercial olive orchard, before a wealthy socialite and lover of the arts, Aline Barnsdall, purchased the 35-acre property in 1919. It was then that the iconic Hollyhock House was built, designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Write.
Some 500 olive trees still dot the landscape today, but the park and the famed house is now open to the public to enjoy and bask in the beauty of the city. Situated on top of a hill, this gem of a spot boasts impressive views of the Hollywood Hills, including Griffith Park. It’s one of the most charming places to throw down a blanket and nibble on some picnic goodies as the sun sets.
📍 Location: 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
15. Tongva Park
Just south of Colorado Avenue, between Ocean Avenue and Main Street in Santa Monica, sits Tongva Park — a 6.2-acre park that’s named after the indigenous Tongva people. This lovely outdoor space features an amphitheater, playground, garden, fountains, picnic areas, restrooms and the real pièce de résistance: an overlook with sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Pier. If you find yourself on the westside, this is the perfect place to take a step out of the city and immerse yourself in a lush and quiet park.
📍 Location: 1615 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401
16. Exposition Park Rose Garden
Right next to the California Science Center and USC’s campus lies one of the city’s best-kept secrets: The Exposition Park Rose Gardens. This historic 7-acre garden is filled with over 20,000 gorgeous flowers and 190 different varieties of roses, and it’s completely open to the public.
More than just a beautiful place for picnicking or solo strolling, the garden holds a little slice of history and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. We recommend making a visit during blooming season from March to November when the sweet scent of the blooms is at its peak.
📍 Location: 701 State Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037
17. El Dorado Nature Center and Regional Park
Escape the daily grind at this 105-acre plant and animal sanctuary in Long Beach. Begin at the visitor center, where you’ll find two miles of dirt trails and a quarter-mile paved path that meander around two lakes, a stream, and forested areas. The Nature Center is part of the larger El Dorado Regional Park, which has sports fields and a golf course in its western half, and fishing lakes, trails, playgrounds, and an archery range in its eastern half.
📍 Location: 7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815
Dog Friendly Parks in Los Angeles
If you have a furry best friend that you take with you on your urban outdoor adventures, these parks are the perfect place for a relaxing walk with your pet best friend.
18. Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park
Remember that concrete channel where the Terminator chased John Connor in T2? That’s the LA River, running through the Valley near Encino Village, where dog owners take their pets to the Sepulveda Basin Off-Leash Dog Park. This large dirt field, dotted with chestnut, elm, and fir trees perfect for sniffing and chewing, offers benches and picnic tables for resting or enjoying lunch.
📍 Location: 17550 Victory Boulevard, Encino Ave, Van Nuys, CA 91406
19. Polliwog Park
Pollywog Park in Manhattan Beach is a great spot for your pup! With 18 acres of space, there’s plenty of room for running, fetching, and socializing. It even has separate areas for big and small dogs. Just remember to clean up after your furry friend.
📍 Location: 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
20. Silver Lake Reservoir
Silver Lake Reservoir is a hidden gem in Los Angeles, conveniently located near Downtown, the Paramour Estate, and the local indie rock scene. At the park’s southern tip, dogs can run off-leash with other pups. Visitors can enjoy the water while experiencing “O,” a performance celebrating the essence of life and our connection through water.
📍 Location: 1900 Bellevue Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026
Edited by Sofía Delpueche.