The Broadway entrance to Elysian Park was the original “face” of the park. Largely overlooked in recent years, our organization is pushing to get formal signage and lighting re-installed. Park Row Drive guided 19th century sightseers along a curving road up to Buena Vista point. This road connects with Grand View Drive which wraps around the former reservoir and leads up to Point Grandview. As you keep going, the Drive passes by the 18-hole Chavez Ridge Disc Golf Course and meets up with Angels Point Road. You can branch off onto side trails and roads that lead to: Solano Canyon, Elysian Fields, San Gabriel Panorama and the Helipad. In the palm-lined section of Angels Point Road you’ll hear the “pops” of the Police Academy gun range, then end with a final city view at the giant sculpture at Angels Point.
The same West Side hiking rules apply, but a few trails can be less populated in the East so parties of two or more are suggested.
East Side of the Park
Broadway Entrance
Was the original “face” of the park when it opened in 1886, winding landscaped roads welcomed sightseers lucky enough to test the era’s latest invention: the automobile!
Buena Vista Meadows
The first stop in from the Broadway entrance is this tree-lined space with an open meadow. At the western edge you can connect to the lower trails of Buena Vista Hill.
Buena Vista Hill
Has views from Park Drive bridge, and out across the city at Buena Vista Point. There are paved roads surrounding the hill but they are less frequented you may encounter an encampment. To bring more activity to this area a 12-hole disc golf course called Zanja Madre is in the works.
Casanova Terraces
In the 1920s “Travelers’ Auto Camps” were built to encourage automobile use and travel. These free camps had bathroom facilities, water and other amenities for families on their journeys. Today the ruins remain as a piece of history.
Solano Community Garden
This Elysian Park space was for Solano Canyon residents to have a community garden. But the need for locked gates has turned it into a private garden only open to the public for a couple hours on Saturdays.
Radio Hill
This area has been the site of many recent brush fires that threaten homes in Solano Canyon. The “No Trespassing” signs have not been successful at dissuading encampments and have only served to deter hikers and explorers. The paved road to the top is lined with non-fruiting California olive trees. The top of the hill houses communications antennae behind locked gates. We want to reactivate this area with a possible native tree nursery at the top and new trails for off-leash dog walking.
Arroyo Seco Pedestrian Walkway
Radio Hill would be totally isolated if it weren’t for this connector to Buena Vista Hill. You can access the fenced-in footpath on the Stadium Way side of the hill or opposite the entrance on Amador Street. This is a fairly unused walkway. A recent survey found a couple encampments and some trash but they didn’t impede our hike or feel unsafe.
Carob Grove
Next to the former Reservoir is a small quiet space for picnics. In 2025, inspired by Joseph Beuys’s groundbreaking 7000 Oaks project, the Broad Museum’s “Social Forest: Oaks of Tovaangar” reforestation project planted 100 California Live Oak trees starting here and winding up Park Row Drive. Each one marked by a boulder.
Elysian Reservoir
Was decommissioned permanently in 2016. The synthetic floating mat covering it today is to comply with EPA guidelines protecting from microbes and sunlight-induced reactions.
Point Grandview
Overlooking the now-closed reservoir is Point Grandview. It offers a panoramic view of Downtown, interconnected freeways, and towns to the south and east. An incredible vantage point to our sprawling metropolis.
Chavez Ridge Disc Golf Course
Is an 18 hole certified course that runs from the intersection of Grand View and Park Drives and along Angels Point Road. It is not beginner friendly as it spans 2 miles of ridges. It’s ranked as extremely hilly and takes around 2 hours to complete.
Elysian Valley Loop
This trail starts at Angels Point Road and Stadium Way. It’s a less populated trail that is filled with native Black Walnut trees and naturally occurring clarkia, monkey flower and more. On the back side of the hill it overlooks the 5 and Elysian Valley. After a few mini-scrambles up and down you reach the end at Angels Point Road. If you take that back to the start it’s a little under 3 miles.
Elysian Fields
Home to Los Angeles Little League Baseball, stunning views, children’s playground and shaded picnic areas with grills big enough to roast an entire pig! Enjoy the large meadow for games and picnics.
San Gabriel Panorama
Adjacent to Elysian Fields you can walk out onto this panoramic point and take in the majesty of the San Gabriel Mountains. Reconnect with Angels Point Road by taking the trail next to the water tower.
The Helipad
Was built to serve L.A. firefighters, but in its many off hours, is used as a hiking destination with views towards the San Gabriels as well as Dodger Stadium and downtown.
Angels Point Road
Is lined with towering Date Palms that can be seen miles away. This ridgeline road serves as the west side entrance into the eastern part of the park.
Angels View Meadow
This hidden meadow between Angels View vista point and Angels Point is a charming private picnic area.
Angels Point
At Angels Point is a 28 ft. tall modernist sculpture by Echo Park artist Peter Shire (honoring Grace and her husband Frank).
Angels Point Overlook
Arc shaped benches sit on a rise just above Angels Point.
Solano Canyon
With its educational children’s playground, soccer field, tennis courts and soon-to-be splash pad. It serves as the starting point for 5 and 10k marathons in the park. The main entrance is at Academy Road, the end of Solano Canyon Drive connects you to the paved roads of the other key eastern sides of the park.
Adaptive Recreation Center
Provides after-school care and summer camps for the local community. The center also offers programs for those with disabilities and special needs. And can be reserved for park functions.
Academy Switchback to Helipad
The fire road that’s visible from the long meadow along Academy Road (next to the Rec Center) is a switchback leading to the helipad. The lower portions have quiet wooded glades to explore.
Police Academy
It was a gun range in 1925 and it is still going today! The building itself opened in 1935 and the first trained police officers graduated in 1936. The public can visit the diner-style cafe 6am-1pm Monday through Friday. Make sure to see the Rock Garden with its waterfalls and pools as well.
For additional images please visit our Flickr page!
(This section is currently in progress — please excuse any errors pre-finalization.)