GP-eX Segment 8:
SKYLINE – ZOO LOOP
PARKING
Visitor Center, Crystal Springs Picnic Area, or Merry-Go-Round Lot 1
LENGTH
6.93 miles
GAIN
780 ft.
DIFFICULTY
Intermediate
DIRECTION
Either; counterclockwise below
1.Walk N on the wide Main Trail that starts between the paddock and exercise equipment (on your L) and golf course (on your R). Joggers and runners train on this flat, often-shaded section. At the intersection of Griffith Park Dr. on the L (.17), and the Griffith Park Pump Station (.38), continue forward. In the NE distance the Verdugo Mountains stand tall, but closer to the trail you may see herons, deer and coyotes wandering inside the Wilson-Harding golf course. Eyes open! Be mindful of golf carts darting across Crystal Springs.
2.The Main Trail veers to the R/E (.85). The unmarked buildings on your L are the campus of the North Hollywood High School Zoo Magnet Center, often rated the #1 magnet school in the U.S.
Bonus
Before continuing E, walk straight N to the front of the Magnet Center buildings to see the lovely murals on the front of the school. Then retrace your steps back to Main.
The trail curves L/N (1.05) and you exit the Main Trail (1.11) to walk N on the sidewalk toward the Autry Museum of the American West. Tip your hat to the lifelike Pony Express statue out front.
3.From the front entrance of the Autry (1.23) take the crosswalk W across Western Heritage Way toward the entrance of the Los Angeles Zoo. Read about the biofiltration cells along the way and enjoy the colorful patterns in the sidewalk. After reaching the Zoo entrance (1.36), turn R on the sidewalk and continue N passing a stunning series of sculptural metal fences starring Zoo residents on your L.
4.When the sidewalk ends (1.47), turn L/W into the Zoo parking lot, passing EV charging stations. Continue W to the edge of the lot, passing yellow bollards (1.52) to cross a paved service road – this is a live road, so be alert. Walk R/N on the service road to a junction (1.58) and take the dirt trail to the L. Continue straight on the trail and cross the paved road to the Skyline trailhead (1.63, sign #75). Take a breath, as this completes the flat, easy portion of our “tale of two trails.” Are you ready?
5.Proceed up the steep, exposed Skyline fire road. It snakes up in a NW direction along a perimeter fence for the Zoo, with beautiful views as it climbs. Soon you see terraces of the former Toyon Canyon landfill on the L (1.82). Continue straight past the junction to the L.A. Zoo’s Employee Entrance (2.06). At the Skyline Trail (2.53, sign #76), turn R/N (toward “Rattlesnake Trail). This starts a short out-and-back section; you return to this point later to take the Condor Trail L/S.
6.Stay straight past a junction on your R (2.76) and the Griffith Park Composting Facility appears on your L. Shortly after, you see the L.A. Equestrian Center on the R/N, which is an important part of Griffith Park’s history, separated when the 134 freeway was built in the early 1960s. Arrive at the intersection of four trails with a small watering trough and spigot on your R and the Skyline Trail/Rattlesnake/Condor sign (2.93, sign #82). This is your turnaround point for the out-and-back. In this quiet shade, admire some distant Park peaks, then retrace your steps E toward sign #76. On your way back, explore another short spur.
7.Take the single track trail to the R (3.18) up a short, steep uphill. At the top (3.21) you find a 1934 metal Survey Control Marker medallion. This seldom-visited vantage point grants you a comprehensive view of all peaks of the Park. Go ahead: Oooh and Ahhh! From the R: Cahuenga Peak, Mount Lee with the radio towers and the Hollywood Sign just on the other side, Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, Taco Peak, Mount Hollywood, Glendale Peak and then the round slope of Beacon Hill. Magnificent. Retrace your steps back to Skyline (3.31). Turn R/E on Skyline and continue back to sign #76 (3.56).
9.Cross the road (now closed to vehicular traffic), and veer R to walk through the small dirt parking lot at the N end of the Mineral Wells Picnic Area. Here is an excellent stop for a snack or picnic, a bathroom break or to refill water bottles. On weekends this area is alive with birthday parties, music, skateboarders, church and exercise groups. On weekdays, however, it is wonderfully peaceful. Pass a cement check dam (4.4) and “No Vehicular Access” on the R (sign #73). Keep L, pass some,shaded picnic tables (4.47). At sign #72 on your R, you start a long, continuous section S on Mineral Wells Trail.
10.Pass the North Trail (4.67, sign #71); this is the TH for GP-eX Segment 9/Toyon – Folk Garden Loop. Continue S through chain link fence gates, and later note the eroding wooden steps on the R that are a little-used trail to Amir’s Garden (4.79). Further along, you pass a DWP cage (4.95) and a single track on the R. Pass the upper lot for the Wilson-Harding golf course on the L (and an odd little lookout tower); Tank #76 is ahead/above to your R.
11.After a roller coaster-y tenth of a mile, you arrive at Mineral Wells Trail and the junction with Camp Road (5.05, sign #70) which leads W to the Griffith Park Boys Camp. Cross a small bridge and stay L to continue uphill. Shortly beyond, you see Amir’s Garden above at the R/W. Stay straight at a junction (5.18), then slightly L and uphill. Note the secluded picnic area on the L (5.67) for a future visit, then stay R at the next junction (5.7). You can also see Bee Rock’s falcon nesting area, from this trail. Stay R again at Mineral Wells Trail (sign #51). Continue to the Bill Eckert trailhead (5.97, sign #52).
12.Walk L/downhill to Mineral Wells Trail (sign #53), and take the narrow dirt trail to the L of the sign down and through a gate in the chain link fence on the R. Your options: take a L/E on the paved road, or, for a bit of adventure, cross the paved road and turn L/E down the rocky, dry streambed. Either takes you to a paved path (6.16) on your R that cuts diagonally through shaded Old Zoo picnic area. As you near Merry-Go-Round Lot 2, look for an interpretive sign on your R to learn more about “The Varied Habitats of Griffith Park” (sign #100).
14.Cross paved Crystal Springs Dr. (6.65) and continue straight to your starting point. Before you leave, check out the Feliz Family/Anza Historic Trail interpretive sign just L/W of the paddock and stop at the Visitor’s Center.
