Name: Griffith Observatory
Rating: 2

Routes

Planner

Features

Updates

App

Get the App

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory

Recommended by 36 road cyclists

Save

Location: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

Save

See rides here

Take Me There

Routes here

Best Road Cycling Rides to Griffith Observatory

5.0

(1)

riders

1. Elysian Park to Griffith Park loop — Los Angeles

68.3km

03:20

810m

Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

5.0

(1)

riders

2. Griffith Park loop — Hollywood

52.7km

02:38

760m

Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

4.8

(8)

562

riders

3. Mount Hollywood Drive – Griffith Observatory loop from Vermont/Sunset

45.2km

02:28

790m

Intermediate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

Navigate

Send to Phone

Save

Intermediate

Tips

David Howells

May 14, 2025

Griffith's iconic Observatory is southern California's gateway to the cosmos. This hugely popular venue is the most visited observatory in the world. Since opening in 1935, the Observatory has welcomed over 85 million visitors.

It is also 1,134 feet above sea level and is visible from most parts of the city it also has some of the best views of downtown Los Angeles and in particular the world-famous Hollywood Sign.

🕊️ 𝑻𝒓𝒂𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒓

April 12, 2022

One of the rewarding stopovers for a break along the steep roads in Griffith Park is the elevated terrace in front and around the observatory. As a “Christmas present” in 1912 Griffith J. Griffith put up the funds for the park’s Greek Theatre and the Griffith Observatory, which wouldn’t be completed until 1935, 16 years after the Welsh-born American industrialist and philanthropist had already died. After amassing a significant fortune from a mining syndicate in the 1880s, Griffith had already donated 3,015 acres (12.20 km2) to the City of Los Angeles which became Griffith Park. Ever since, this three-domed Art Deco monument holds a certain mystique among the many enduring landmarks in Los Angeles.
Positioned on the south face of Mount Hollywood, the highest peak in the park, the sight of the city rippling in the sun or twinkling at night from the Observatory’s terraces are unforgettable. Scores of movies and TV shows have chosen this location, among which James Dean’s Rebel Without a Cause (1955) is the one that lifted the observatory’s into the international limelight. The 25-metre, copper clad central dome houses the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, which screens Centered in the Universe, a hi-res trip through time, via discoveries by Ptolemy and Galileo, and space, through the Milky Way, and landing back on the Griffith Observatory’s front lawn. Inside, you can also look through several telescopes and explore space-oriented displays.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 340 m

Weather

Saturday 18 October

29°C

14°C

0 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 7.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See rides here

Take Me There

Location: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States

Griffith Observatory

1. Elysian Park to Griffith Park loop — Los Angeles

2. Griffith Park loop — Hollywood

3. Mount Hollywood Drive – Griffith Observatory loop from Vermont/Sunset

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️