How to Find the Palm Trees at Griffith Park
“Captain’s Roost”
Whenever I am asked why I decided to move from Boston to LA, my answer is always “For the sunshine and palm trees.” Let me set the scene. I’m driving down Hollywood Blvd, sunshine beaming, just putting a permanent grin on my face and I look up to see these giant palm trees lining the street as far as I can see. Ya just don’t see this in MA; sorry folks! So here I am, fascinated by the LA ambiance and infatuated with palm trees, I think mostly because to me they signify a warm weather climate. While I’ll always be an east coast girl at heart no doubt, I am pretty content with the LA lifestyle and almost perfect weather.
After doing some digging into the history of palm trees in LA, it turns out that in the early 1930s over 40,000 palm trees were planted on boulevards in Los Angeles as part of efforts to both impress athletes for the upcoming 1932 Olympics and as a project to relieve unemployment by putting 400 men to work. When the film industry started booming, Hollywood was romanticized, and the palm trees became an iconic symbol of Los Angeles.
Aside from driving down Hollywood Blvd in West Hollywood, a pretty unique way to see some other dope palm trees is by foot. Yes, I am talking about a hike, which is undoubtedly my favorite pastime since moving to Los Angeles. Griffith Park has over 4,000 acres of land making it one of the biggest urban parks in the US, boasting views of winding trails with lush green mountains as the back drop and of course the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory. I have always noticed a set of palm trees way off in the distance when I hike Griffith. Just recently I was on the trail to Dante’s Peak and on my way back down I stumbled upon the entrance to a garden that led to the palm trees I have always seen and wondered about. I was intrigued by how beautiful this sort of secret garden is, tucked away in this massive park, home to the towering palm trees that line a short path that gives way to expansive views of both Beverly Hills in the distance on one side and the Griffith Observatory on the other.
The hike to get to the palm trees is 4.2 miles long with an elevation gain of 893 feet and it is definitely one to put on your LA to do list!
Here is a detailed description of how to get to the Griffith Park Palm Trees:
Plug in The Trails Cafe 2333 Fern Dell Dr. Los Angeles 90068 into your GPS. Park close to The Trails Cafe on the street or in the parking lot past the cafe on the left. The trail begins across the street from the cafe; just head straight back and behind the Women’s restroom you will see a trail head. The mile long, wide dirt path, will wind up to the base of the Griffith Observatory. The trail starts with a moderately steep incline that will run steadily up with no reprieve from the sun. Enjoy views of the canyons and the iconic Hollywood Sign as you strive to reach the white building you see in the distance. There is a small sign at the corner of the last stretch so you can see you are headed in the right direction however, you can’t really get lost if you just keep going up towards the Observatory. It took me 20 minutes to get to the Observatory from the base parking lot.
If you feel like cutting the length of this hike in half, then you can park in the Griffith Observatory lot. I would like to mention this parking lot is an absolute zoo unless you go early. So, if you decide on this option, I would plan on arriving by 9am, unless you like dealing with parking mayhem. If you prefer to save some money on parking, you can arrive extra early before the meters start. I have parked at this lot on a Saturday at 9 am and it cost $12 for 3 hours and there were plenty of spots open. I just like to mention this because it can be a real bummer if you drive all the way up and there is no parking. Parking at the bottom on Fern Dell is free.
Once you reach the Observatory you will want to walk through the parking lot, straight back, you will see the trail begins again. There is a sign marking the beginning of this trail, called “Charlie Turner Trailhead” along with a map of the park.
The great part about hiking in Griffith Park is they have really nice trail markers, so it is easy to see where you need to go! As you start hiking this part of the trail, don’t forget to look out to your right, and check out the gorgeous mountain views! Soon you will cross over a little white bridge. There are some options to scramble and head straight up however, I suggest staying on the wide trail. It will slowly wind you up. You will notice the set of palm trees up in the distance to your right. That’s where we are headed! If you start from the Observatory parking lot, it is about 1.2 miles up and another 1.2 miles back.
While this hike is all about getting to the palm trees, there are some great stopping points along the way, especially if you like to take pictures, you can get some amazing shots of the Griffith Observatory and The Hollywood Sign, including the viewpoint at Tiffany’s Overlook.
Eventually you will hit a fork in the trail where you can’t hike straight anymore. There is a little tiny Christmas looking tree to the right. There are 3 options at this fork; directly right, left and sharp left. To get to the palm trees you will want to take the 3rd option and take a sharp left. There is a small sign with the trails listed right next to the trash can showing all your options from this point. The trail you want to take is Captain’s Roost.
After hiking just a short distance up, you will encounter a small fence to your left. At the end of the fence take a sharp left and you have arrived at the Path to The Palm Trees! Wohooo!
As you enter this short but scenic nature path, you will feel like you are walking into a secret garden with birds chirping and lush greenery that immediately envelopes you. It is amazing how just a few steps off the beaten path and you feel as though you are in an entirely different park. It is quiet, serene and perfectly picturesque. The 4 mile out and back hike is definitely worth the effort it takes to get to this secret garden.
I can’t think of a more perfect spot to watch the sunset over the LA skyline!
Jill E. Gallien / February 18, 2019
