GP-eX Segment 2:
SOUTH SIDE STROLL
PARKING
Lot N of trailhead
LENGTH
2 miles (will vary)
GAIN
>50 ft.
DIFFICULTY
Easy
DIRECTION
Either, clockwise below
1.Walk S toward Los Feliz along a pretty paver-ed sidewalk. You’ll also pass the #296 bus Metro stop, a convenient transport through the Park and to Burbank. Pause at the statue of Col. Griffith at the corner to give thanks for the 3,000+ acres he donated in 1896 to all citizens of Los Angeles to enjoy.
2.Cross Los Feliz Blvd. and continue straight. At .15, walk down the stone stairway on your L to enter the Griffith Park Recreation Center grounds. Pass the playground and nursery school on the L. Turn L at the water fountain to walk forward and peek at the currently-empty “Plunge” pool, which opened in 1927 and originally featured aquatic versions of the Rose Parade.
4.At .38, turn L at the L.A. River sign and walk straight E. Turn R onto a dirt trail continuing S to the Griffith Park Soccer Field. At .50, walk to your L up a ramp to the pedestrian bridge across the 5 Freeway. Cross the bike path to the Sunnynook Pedestrian Bridge. The oldest and narrowest of the four pedestrian walkways crossing the River, it’s also called “Love Lock” bridge because of padlocks proclaiming eternal love (modeled after the Pont des Artes in Paris). Pause to look W for beautiful views of the Park, and N/S to observe diverse birds enjoying this soft-bottom section of the River.
5.Retrace your steps W. At the end of the pedestrian bridge, take a few steps L to the sign at .72 to see a marker for the Lewis McAdams Riverwalk and an interpretive sign identifying some of the birds you’ve just seen. Then return to cross the bridge over the freeway. Turn R at the end to go down the ramp and past the soccer field on your L. Turn L at the end of the dirt trail and continue straight to the sidewalk by the tennis courts, then turn L.
Note: As part of a “Riverside Pathway” in development, a new 10-ft. wide multipurpose path will be installed S of the pedestrian bridge and E of the soccer fields. As planned, this will curve W and then connect directly with the parking area in front of the Adult Community Center.
8.Walk back to the sidewalk on Riverside, and continue S to the corner. Turn R and cross Riverside at the crosswalk (Officer Landon Dorris Square). Turn R at the sidewalk on the W side of Riverside (1.3) and walk N.
