The 26 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. In the summer, the park historically hosts alfresco cinema nights, wine tastings and cultural events that bring out a nice mix of singles, couples and young families.

This parking lot turned park is a thoughtfully designed ocean-adjacent oasis that harbors a playground, meadows, small waterfalls and walking paths and a conch-like wireframe lookout by the Pacific. Artist Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle’s minimal kinetic sculpture Weather Field 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.)

A former reservoir turned public recreation area, the historic Echo Park Lake has 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 push your way through the lake in a swan boat ($12 per hour) or stroll around the path that hugs its borders.

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 and plenty of nooks from which to sit and people-watch, 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 community events and performances within the park itself, finding something to stay occupied shouldn’t be too tough.

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 stately concrete sculpture at Wilshire to the colorful totem pole at San Vicente.

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—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 just lounge in the grass of Angels Gate Park.

Balboa is a large family-friendly park known for its beautiful lake (you can even rent a swan boat for $11 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.

Just south of the Arroyo Seco’s most famous tenant—the Rose Bowl—this 62-acre park provides a scenic green space for locals and out-of-towners alike. Set against the stunning San Gabriel Mountains, you’ll find 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 Saturdays during the fall.

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, but 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 includes 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.

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 to mammoths for more than a century. You don’t need to pay for admission to the La Brea Tar Pits Museum to walk around the Tar Pits, and the same goes for the opposite end of the park, where you can pose in the Instragrammable Urban Light sculpture 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 (including the Academy Museum, Petersen Automotive Museum and Craft Contemporary).

Explore the expansive grounds of Will Rogers State Historic Park, which once belonged to the late actor, writer, cowboy philosopher, trick-roper and first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, Will Rogers. Take a free guided tour of Rogers’s preserved 1930s ranch home and explore the surrounding 186-acre grounds, which give access to scenic hikes; one path takes you to Inspiration Point, from where you get a breathtaking view of mountains and sea. Polo matches are held on weekends, and you can also take horse-riding lessons. 

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.

Silver Lake’s twin reservoirs have two dog parks (one big, one small), 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, or throw a Frisbee or play bocce ball.

There’s no greater taste of freedom for your four-legged friend than jaunting around the park grounds sans leash. If you’re cool with letting your pet meander through the park with leash-free K-9s or if you have a dog that loves catching Frisbees more than life itself, this 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.

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 $5 admission fee on weekends for non-residents (though you may luck out and find there’s nobody posted at the fee booth). 

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 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.

Take 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 views of the Downtown skyline and a half-dozen dedicated picnic areas around its perimeter (including a particularly photogenic one atop a small hill).

If you’re looking for the kind of park where you can repose on the grassy field, throw 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 aggrevated honks of daily commuters or the snaps of paparazzi at nearby celeb haunts. Instead, you’ll enjoy the 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 the closest thing to heaven. 

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 nine-hole disc golf course, 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.

Not to be confused with another park in the Valley, this Beverly Hills retreat is known for its high-profile patrons and polished appearance. 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.

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.

This Westlake park has found itself in the middle of unsavory headlines for decades now—a temporary drain of its lake in the ’70s famously unearthed a trove of discarded knives and guns. It’s still not an entirely pleasant place, but the renamed Levitt Pavilion now hosts summertime concerts while surrounding areas face ongoing gentrification, for better or worse. It’s the kind of place worth at least passing through (in the daytime) to admire some of its historical leftovers: The prominent Westlake Theatre marquee across the street stands as a ghost of the neighborhood’s glamorous past, when it was home to Art Deco mansions, luxury high rises and a Manhattan-esque atmosphere. Make sure to stop across the street at Langer’s for a pastrami sandwich.