Griffith Park Question
 

Hi all-
I am hoping someone can help me figure out how best to navigate Griffith Park - I've not yet ridden in GP and am looking forward to trying out some of those climbs and enjoying the early morning views. My question really is what is the best place to start from in GP and what is the best way to exit? I'll be coming in near Travel Town and, if possible, would like to exit on the Los Feliz side since I'm trying to incorporate this on my ride into work in Downtown LA. Are the paths/roads pretty clearly marked and obvious? I'll most likely be riding on my own so I'd rather not get too lost!

Thanks in advance
Kevin

Kevin, If you are coming off of Forest Lawn and into Travel Town, you'd turn right (at stop sign) to head up Trash Truck Hill to the Gate on the right (sign there that reads, "Heli Spot") You go through (or over) the gate and that is Mt. Hollywood. You climb that all the way up until you get to a T intersection, go right and down to another gate (watch speed as that gate is around a curve), cross it and you can either go sharp right, down Ferndale to Los Feliz, or soft right and up to the GP Observatory. From there you can go down the back side of the observatory or back the way you came, only in lieu of turning left and crossing the gate again, stay straight through the tunnel and head down past the Greek Theatre. This road eventually runs into Los Feliz.

There is another way to loop up and around in there, but trying to tell you how is too difficult (for me anyway). Have fun out there. :)

...adding to Mary's post, Google Maps is your friend :)

Thanks Mary and Preferendeu - I traced Mary's suggested route through Google Maps and think I at least have a better idea of where I'm going. Maybe I'll see some others out riding and follow them as well.

"Trash Truck Hill"...sounds like something my 4 year old son would kill to see...

Thanks
Kevin

I'm not sure how that hill got that nickname, to be honest. But once you do this loop, you'll just know it. It's especially pretty at night. I need to get back out there on a night ride.

I think there was a dump at the top!

...I do believe (with a high amount of certainty) that what people thought was a 'dump' and 'dumptrucks' were and are trucks for the compost site. Griffith Park has a very large composting site near the top of that small climb, at the top of the lower canyon. It's off on the East side of the road. It's also a place where you can buy composting bins on the cheap as long as you are a resident of the City of Los Angeles (prices are subsidized by the City)

Compost dump...that works!

Why Trash Truck Hill, though? I mean, Dump Truck Hill or Compost Hill maybe, but...

ive always called it travel town hill myself!

Here's hoping that Griffith Park smells better than the names being given to its trails...I've been to the pony ride area and I'm not holding out much hope.

Oh, it doesn't smell at all and the views are lovely. Honestly, riding at night is the best since it is so quiet up in the canyons. Report back on your ride please. :)

Most people can't tell the difference between a truck carrying compost-able materials and a truck carrying non-compostable materials. Really. Particularly people cycling or walking in that area - it's something of an anomaly to see a large truck dumping something - anything - in an otherwise calm and peaceful place (like a park) and therefore the immediate thought is one of disruption to the scene and contamination... hence the "trash" association people come up with. It's composting! :D

I do the same on my commute (I'm an LAUSD teacher at a year 'round school...off from school now in March & April, so no commute).

About once a week (or twice when prepping for KOM), I get off the train in Burbank, ride down Victory into the park, turning right onto Griffith Park Rd, taking me to Travel Town and Trash Truck Hill. Up the hill and over Mt. Hollywood Drive. Down the other side and out to Los Feliz & Vermont.

What time do you commute? I usually hit TT hill about 5:35am. Come May, I'll still be needing climbing training, so I'll be doing that loop 2 or 3 times a week. We should hook up.

I'd like to know about this one. Are you still doing the Thurs eve GP rides? Now that I'm off-track from work, I may join you.

Oh, BTW, here's a link to a previous discussion.

I tried to map it but all the fire roads and dirt trails made it a PITA.

I'm starting those back up on March 20th. :)

Thanks to everyone for the directions - I rode through GP on my way into work this morning and loved it. I entered by Travel Town (Griffith Park Road, I believe) and took that to Mt. Hollywood Rd (I was glad to see the "Heli Spot" sing as I knew I was headed in the right direction). I just kept going along that road, saw one or two other people riding in the opposite direction and only two cars. The weather and surroundings were beautiful! I finally got to the intersection where you have to either (i) go left through the tunnel to the Greek Theater, (ii) go up to the observatory or (iii) go down Western Canyon Road. I chose (iii) just because I remembered from Google maps that it empited out onto Los Feliz. Griffith Park was great and I look forward to going there again soon.

Unfortunately, the rest of the way into downtown LA was pretty crummy. I took Vermont all the way Wilshire and then Wilshire into downtown. Vermont was crazy busy and I had at least one driver honk and scream at me that bikes don't belong on the road. Huh? I was on the far right of the street and all the other cars were driving next to me without any problem at all. I think he just needed someone to scream at. What can you do?

I'd love to do that GP ride at night - I'll keep my eyes open for any nightime rides!

Thanks to all.
Kevin

Kevin........(i) going left through the tunnel and down to the Greek Theater would have taken you directly onto the corner of Los Feliz & Vermont Ave.

Kevin, the night rides are starting back up next Thursday. :)

Here is the link to the thread: http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=374171

Thanks. Next time I will go to the observatory and then back through the tunnel to Los Feliz & Vermont. Now I have to find a better/more bike-friendly route from LF & Vermont into downtown. Maybe I'll try going to Riverside to Stadium Way to Sunset. Any suggestions for that leg?

Riverside is not bad but definitely avoid Stadium Way or Glendale Blvd as vehicles exiting from the 5 and the 2 freeways exit on those streets during rush hour. I live just at the top, off of Stadium Way and I never get on those roads during rush hour.