West Side of the Park

The opening of Dodger Stadium in 1962 effectively split Elysian Park into two parts. Stadium Way became a 6-lane thoroughfare for attendees preventing safe pedestrian crossing from the West side of the park to the East. The public has been eager for these two sections of the park to be more accessible to each other. Our hope is that the new Master Plan designers will address this issue during the review and drafting process.

The West Side section of Elysian Park borders Echo Park, Stadium Way and Riverside. The Avenue of the Palms area has picnic areas and a children’s playground. Planted in 1886, the Chavez Ravine Arboretum has exotic, mature trees, many not found outside their original habitats. Dog-walkers enjoy the 3 mile hike of the West Loop Trail. The public can rent Grace E. Simons Lodge and Montecillo de Leo Politi Picnic Area for events. Victory Memorial Grove honors those lost in WWI. And the new 18 acre Walnut Hill section on Riverside drive, offers a full size basketball court, as well as a half court, and a children’s playground.

In general when hiking remember:

  • Dogs are allowed on all trails, but must be leashed and picked-up after.

  • Bikes are not allowed on Elysian Park trails.

  • Trails take between a half hour to an hour and half to complete.

  • Bring water and sun protection — especially during the hot summer months.

Victory Memorial Grove

With the planting of three oak trees, this grove was established in 1920. With much celebration the WWI monument you see today was dedicated on Flag Day in 1921. We continue this formal tradition annually with LA Fire Department Honor Guard, historical re-enactors, historic readings and poetry, chamber musicians, local dignitaries and more.

Douglas Hill

A fire road connects Douglas Street to Scott Ave. There is a small trail with a vista over Avenue of the Palms and connects to Homes off of Sutherland street. There are views of Dodger Stadium and Barlow Respiratory Hospital.

Avenue of the Palms

Beginning at Scott Ave. and Stadium Way

an iconic stretch of date palms known as the “Avenue of the Palms.” They were planted in 1895 when the park was just 9 years old. Some mature trees affected by diseases and have been removed and less disease-prone varieties have been planted in-between.

Upper Park Drive

A small wooded section between Scott Ave. and Academy road. The western edge borders homes along Sargent Place. Adding a loop of this section to the West Loop Trail makes a full 3 miles.

The West Loop Trail

Is a little under 3 miles roundtrip. Sights along the way are the Test Plot rehabilitation areas at Burn Scar and the original Elysian plot that is filled with Wildflowers at the summit near the water tower. Also near the water tower are a stable with horses - it’s a private home but nice to know they are there. Instead of using the Fire Road to complete the loop (near the Stadium Way Trailhead) instead take Palm Hill to get astounding views of Downtown.

Test Plot - Burn Scar

After a brush fire in 2023 Hannah Pae and Tim Switzer of Terremoto (and Test Plot), wanted to take on this restoration project. Three years later the area has grown in nicely and they are expanding into the upper areas. Lots of volunteers make this effort a continued success.

Chavez Ravine Arboretum

In 1893, The Horticultural Society of Southern California, successfully petitioned the Park Commission for 10 acres of land for an arboretum. The society had collected an impressive array of clippings and seedlings from across the globe and sought a permanent place to display rare trees. Over the decades, the Chavez Ravine Arboretum continued to expand with more unique specimens.

Visitors enjoy picnicking among 100-year old trees. See if you can find the tallest Queensland kauri in the continental U.S. (reaching 120 feet!) or an unmissable Bodhi tree with thick, tangled roots.

It is an informal place that some call “forgotten.” But Friends of Elysian Park are working with RaP’s Leon Boroditsky to re-tag the trees with QR codes that lead to an informational website, with educational areas for kids.

Children’s Arboretum

For a decade the Children's Garden at Elysian Park was a shady spot for schoolchildren to learn about nature and indigenous plants. In 2024 city subcontractors bulldozed the area of its mature native trees and toppled educational markers in the name of brush clearance. After two years there is finally some forward movement. CD13 has promised to fund the repair work, and coordinate with North East Trees, FoEP and RaP to begin fixing this beloved area of the park.

Grace E. Simons Lodge

Named after our organization’s benefactor, this event space is available to the public to rent for weddings, parties corporate functions. Inside the event space is a large hall with a full kitchen, all the round tables and chairs you’ll need, a stage with piano and side porch. The outside dining area has shaded tables and several grills for BBQing. Call: (323) 665-1155 or email: Graceesimons.lodge@lacity.org for more information.

Palm Hill

Stands between the Stadium Way trail head of the West Loop trail and Grace E. Simons Lodge. It lets you connect to the paved section of the trail without using that portion of Park Drive.

Charles S. Jones Memorial Grove

Is north of the Stadium Way trail head, past the picnic tables. The inscription reads: "Dedicated to honor the unique contribution to community beautification made by petroleum industry pioneer Charles S. Jones, who, in 1954, was the first civic leader to arrange for the planting of trees on the streets of down town Los Angeles."

Marian Harlow Memorial Grove

Is located at the “summit” of the West Loop Trail, surrounding the informal dog water station. Benches are interspersed among succulents, trees and native plants. Friends of Elysian Park (FoEP) maintains the grove, you can often find us weeding, planting or watering.

Test Plot - Elysian

Landscape architecture firm Terremoto planted their first “Test Plot” here in 2022. That endeavor is now its own non-profit that keeps expanding throughout Los Angeles and other cities and states. There are now 6 plots at the top of the West Loop Trail under the guidance of Jenny Jones. She and her team work with parks and volunteers to introduce natives back into ecosystems that need them for wildlife and fire prevention.

Walnut Hill

Is the newest addition to Elysian Park. Its 18 acres holds a full size basketball court, a basketball half court and a children’s playground. Also up above, are two big meadows for informal sports or parties. There is some discussion of adding bocce or pickleball courts here.

For additional images please visit our Flickr page!

(This section is currently in progress — please excuse any errors pre-finalization.)