The 25 best parks in Los Angeles

After oil heiress and philanthropist Aline Barnsdall bought this cute little hill after the end of World War I, she enlisted Frank Lloyd Wright to build a group of buildings at its summit. Though the entire complex was never finished, Barnsdall went on to donate the house, guest house and 11 acres of the land to the city on the premise that they be used as a public art park. About a century later, the site still fulfills that role, with exhibitions in a variety of gallery spaces, as well as tours of the stunningly restored Hollyhock House—Los Angeles’s sole UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the summer, the park hosts popular wine tastings and cultural events that bring out a nice mix of singles, couples and young families. And the 360-degree views of L.A. atop the hilly park are some of the best you can find.

Address: 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

This parking lot-turned-park is a thoughtfully designed ocean-adjacent oasis that harbors a playground, meadows, small waterfalls, walking paths and a conch-like wire-frame lookout by the Pacific—plus a splash pad open in the summer. Artist Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle’s minimal kinetic sculpture Weather Field No. 1 anchors the park, though its two lookouts are easily the most recognizable landmarks. Most that come to Santa Monica will flock to Palisades Park—for good reason, as the ocean views from the palm- and eucalyptus-lined paths are breathtaking—but this low-key spot is still worth a visit, even if you’re just passing through. (That it’s situated between the Metro and the beach is only a bonus.)

Address: 1615 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

A former reservoir-turned-public recreation area, the historic Echo Park Lake has finally become a family-friendly destination worthy of its bold backdrop: the Downtown skyline amid the lotus flower blooms, fountains and the Lady of the Lake statue. You can channel Jack Nicholson in Chinatown and push your way through the lake in a swan boat ($13 per hour)—an especially picturesque option after sunset—or just stroll around the pleasant path that hugs the water’s edge.

Address: 751 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

The ongoing mission to turn Downtown L.A. into a vibrant cultural hub got a lift when a portion of Grand Park’s 12 acres officially opened to the public in July 2012. Dotted with picnic lawns, a fountain, pink benches, a splash pad and plenty of nooks from which to sit and people-watch—oh, and a Starbucks—Gloria Molina Grand Park is a bright urban oasis… surrounded by largely glum government buildings. But between the programming at the Music Center at the top of the hill and various large-scale community events and performances within the park itself—including massive, free New Year’s Eve, Fourth of July and Día de los Muertos celebrations every year—you’ll easily find something to keep you occupied.

Address: 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Walk along the palm- and eucalyptus-lined paths here, and it becomes obvious why tourists flock to this oceanside park in Santa Monica. Nestled between the beach and Ocean Avenue, this bluff-top trail has stunning views of the ocean and Santa Monica Mountains—this is the postcard picture of L.A.’s coastline that lives in most people’s heads. Steer clear of the touristy (and sometimes unsavory) section by the pier, and instead head north, past the Art Deco concrete sculpture of the city’s namesake saint at Wilshire to the colorful totem pole at San Vicente.

Address: Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401

There’s a quiet history that pervades the San Pedro coastline through the Point Fermin Lighthouse, Sunken City and the last vestiges of Fort MacArthur, with its decommissioned battery of heavy artillery that once protected the port. But just up the hill, perched over the Pacific, sits one of the most idyllic spots in all of L.A.: the Korean Bell of Friendship. The mighty metallic bell’s rusty green finish complements the ornately painted hipped roof protecting it—its paint job isn’t always pristine, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty of the 1976 goodwill gift from South Korea. The exposed, grassy bluff is an ideal spot to fly a kite, or you can just lounge in the grass of adjacent Angels Gate Park.

Address: 3601 S Gaffey St, San Pedro, CA 90731

Balboa is a large, family-friendly park known for its beautiful lake (you can even rent a swan boat for $12 an hour) and serene picnic spots. Springtime visitors are treated to the cherry blossom bloom around the lake’s perimeter, though the sight doesn’t come without crowds. Those simply in search of a workout will find a section that’s fitness-centered and removed from the lake, avoiding the crowds entirely. Meanwhile, those more in the mood for grassy wilderness or cultivated gardens can venture next door to the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve and the Japanese Garden (though it’s currently closed for construction).

Address: 6300 Balboa Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406

Just south of the Arroyo Seco’s most famous tenant—the Rose Bowl—this 61-acre park provides a scenic green space for locals and out-of-towners alike. Set against the stunning San Gabriel Mountains, the park offers plenty of open space to run and play among the multipurpose sports fields, along with some shade near Reese’s Retreat, the pirate-ship-themed playground. There’s a proper fitness trail around the park, but you’ll find many active visitors running and biking along a path that flanks the entire east side of the park, all the way north past the adjoining golf course. If you’re willing to shell out a few bucks, stop by the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center’s dual pools or the hands-on Kidspace Children’s Museum. Parking isn’t an issue, thanks to that 90,000-seat stadium, but note that the Rose Bowl Flea Market sets up shop the second Sunday of each month, while UCLA plays home games on several Saturdays during the fall.

Address: 360 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103

The majesty of past Olympics will meet a bit of future grandeur when a spruced-up Memorial Coliseum plays host to the 2028 Summer Games. But already, Exposition Park stands as one of L.A.’s most significant institutions. You’ll find green spaces scattered around the USC-adjacent property—the most charming section resides in the fragrant Rose Garden. Rest in one of the gazebos or take a stroll around the central fountain, all the while admiring its beautiful brick neighbors. If you’re up for the museum shuffle, take advantage of the free California African American Museum and California Science Center, as well as the Natural History Museum, which offers a handsome nature walk and a seasonal butterfly garden. With a nearby E (Expo) Line station and the under-construction Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the park has all the building blocks of a traditional urban museum campus.

Address: 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037

Hancock Park—not to be confused with the nearby affluent neighborhood of the same name—sits atop a literal mine of goo-soaked prehistoric bones. You probably know this oily animal trap better as the La Brea Tar Pits, where archaeologists have unearthed fossils from saber-toothed cats and mammoths for more than a century. You don’t need to buy a ticket to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum (which is closing this July for its first-ever major renovation, scheduled for completion in 2028) to walk around the outdoor tar pits, and the same goes for the opposite end of the park, where you can pose in the Instagrammable Urban Light sculpture and ogle the new David Geffen Galleries without a ticket to LACMA. The green expanse between the two institutions is picnic- and dog-friendly, and overall a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors within a stone’s throw of L.A. cultural icons (which also include the Academy Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum and Craft Contemporary). The park will remain open throughout the La Brea Tar Pits Museum’s closure and will see its own transformation, namely a new kilometer-long pedestrian loop that will link the outdoor excavation sites.

Address: 5800 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The ranch house, stables and other historic buildings at Will Rogers State Historic Park were among the first landmarks destoyed during the Palisades Fire. The park itself—the starting point of many popular hikes, including Inspiration Point—remained closed for nearly a year, but after months of restoring the 186-acre grounds, they’re now back open again (with limited access). Visitors can enjoy the main lawn, picnic areas and the polo field. Inspiration Loop is only partially open—but still offers a breathtaking view—while the Backbone, Rivas Canyon/Temescal and Rustic Canyon trails remain closed for the time being. 

Address: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Carved into the hills above the Hollywood Reservoir’s walking paths but below a turnout of sightseeing vans, this grassy field feels like a dog-friendly Shangri-La. You don’t have to have four legs to enjoy the scenery, thanks to a small playground, shaded picnic benches and one of the most fantastic views of the Hollywood Sign. But for dog owners, this verdant retreat is the perfect place to mingle with hills-dwelling pooches—just make sure your dog is leashed, lest you get ticketed by the park rangers. And unlike the touristy turnout just up the road, this park stays relatively quiet throughout the day—other than the sound of dogs barking.

Address: 3160 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Silver Lake’s twin reservoirs have two adjacent dog parks (one for big pups, one for small ones), along with a slew of human-centric facilities: a basketball court, playground and field for the kiddies, and a 2.2-mile trail around its entirety. It’s a great place to bring kids, dogs, a picnic or a running club. The Reservoir is also home to the Meadow (note: no pups allowed here), a soft, grassy knoll overlooking the water, where visitors can lounge, picnic, throw a Frisbee or play bocce ball.

Address: 1850 W Silver Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90026

There’s no greater taste of freedom for your four-legged friend than jaunting around a park’s grounds sans leash. If you’re cool with letting your pet meander through the park with leash-free canines, or if you have a dog that loves catching Frisbees more than life itself, this Van Nuys park is your new go-to spot. The sprawling grounds offer designated areas for small dogs, large dogs and even more timid dogs, and is equipped with a decent number of benches and chairs so you can stare lovingly at your dog-child and take plenty of pics.

Address: 17550 Victory Blvd, Van Nuys, CA 91406

This 30-acre San Marino park feels like it could be the grand entrance to one of the swanky city’s stately mansions. A tranquil mile-long walking path around the perimeter takes you through shaded patches of trees, with plenty of quiet spots to rest along the way. The inner path, meanwhile, encircles the more active area of the park, where you’ll find kids climbing around the playground and pups running around a spacious lawn (dogs are technically only allowed on-leash). Look out for the rose garden on the southwest edge, a picturesque nook lined with tunnels of trellises and rows of pointy cypresses. If it all sounds a little too good to be true, there is one caveat: The city charges a $4 admission fee on weekends for non-residents. 

Address: 1485 Virginia Rd, San Marino, CA 91108

As if South Pasadena wasn’t already charming enough, Garfield Park feels like the kind of neighborhood park you’d only think exists in TV shows. You’re likely to encounter families celebrating birthdays or kids climbing around the playground, but the modest-sized park never feels swallowed by crowds—with the allowable exception of its annual summer concert series. Enter through the Mission Street side, and you’ll first walk through a compact but lovely rose garden. Elsewhere, mature trees and cobblestone details lend a distinctly South Pas feel to the park—that is to say, small-town warmth with decidedly L.A. style.

Address: 1000 Park Ave, South Pasadena, CA 91030

It’s worth taking the time to walk around the dusty garden trails and rocky adventure areas of this Westlake-meets-Echo Park green space. But the real star here is its grassy central field, which boasts close-up views of the Downtown skyline and a half-dozen dedicated picnic areas around its perimeter (including a particularly photogenic one atop a small hill).

Address: 100 N Toluca St, Los Angeles, CA 90026

If you’re looking for the kind of park where you can repose on the grassy field, play some hoops or frolick on the monkey bars, this is it. It’s hard to believe this rather expansive patch of grassland rests amid buzzy Beverly Hills. In fact, you can hardly hear the aggravated honks of daily commuters or the snaps of paparazzi at nearby celeb haunts. Instead, you’ll enjoy a well-kept urban oasis, equipped with a sand volleyball court, a playground, a basketball court, picnic benches and tables, and a large grassy field for soccer, playing catch or what have you. Bonus? An ice cream truck comes rolling around every so often, and on a hot summer day, it’s heaven. 

Address: 471 S Roxbury Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212

Your head will spin at all the options for fun available at Polliwog, the largest park in the South Bay. Three well-shaded play areas include a lighthouse structure, countless swings and so much more. Nearby, you’ll find a picnic area with plenty of tables and barbecues, as well as three gazebos, a rose garden, an exercise area, an amphitheater where concerts and other special events often take place, the city’s historical museum and a dog run. At the center of it all is a large pond, home to ducks and geese. When summer rolls around, you can also enroll the little ones in swimming lessons at nearby Begg Pool.

Address: 1601 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Not to be confused with another park in the Valley, this Beverly Hills retreat is known for its high-profile patrons and polished appearance—you’ve most likely driven by it hundreds of times while taking the canyon shortcut. That said, it still feels decidedly low-key—downright relaxing, in fact—thanks in part to its small size and the babbling brook on one end of the park, which always invites tiny toe-dipping on hot days. The playground consists of two climbing/slide structures and a half-dozen swings over a sandy surface. 

Address: 1100 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

L.A.’s oldest park, founded in 1886, is big and beautiful but tends to get a bad rap. Admittedly, some things here have fallen by the wayside, but among the palm tree groves and hilly hikes, you’ll find great views of the Valley, Downtown, the Hollywood Hills and Dodger Stadium—which rests on a blasted bowl of hillside that was once home to the pastoral Chavez Ravine neighborhood. On weekends, expect a buzz of activities around bouncy castles and “dog hill,” a spot where locals convene to throw balls, sticks, and compliments for each other’s canine companions. If you’re here in the early AM, you may hear volleys of gunshots—the Police Academy is next door, and you can hear officers practicing at the firing range. Oh, and trying to find that secret swing off Angels Point Road? Last we checked it’s gone.

Established only a few years after Elysian Park, this Eastside recreational center boasts baseball fields, barbecue pits, a basketball court and a beautiful brick boathouse—home to arts education center Plaza de la Raza. The site is full of history, from abandoned plans for a railroad-owned shopping center in the late 1800s to a now-demolished Victorian boathouse built in the early 20th century and decades of anti-war protests and exhibitions by Mexican American artists. But perhaps the most fascinating piece of history is teased by the large stone elephants outside of the animal-themed playground: This was the site of Selig Zoo, a bustling tourist attraction that opened in 1915 and housed exotic animals used in film productions for the Selig Polyscope Company.