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. The WWI monument you see today was dedicated with grand pageantry 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 to the top with a vista over Avenue of the Palms. A side trail connects to homes off of Quintero and MacBeth Streets. At the bottom of this road you can cross Scott Ave. and connect to either Avenue of the Palms or Upper Park Drive, and continue your hike onto the West Loop Trail entering at the Academy Road trail head.

Montecillo de Leo Politi Park

Behind locked gates, this private area is available to the public to rent for weddings, parties and, corporate retreats. Named after Los Angeles’ "Italian Dr. Seuss" Leo Politi (1908–1996), it is situated in a private canyon and is a sprawling 10 acres. It has an informal amphitheater, tennis court, bathroom facilities, barbecues, a big picnic table area, and a large open field for soccer and baseball. It can easily accomodate 500 guests. Access the park via its own road located off of Avenue of the Palms (Stadium Way), near Scott Avenue. To find out about rates and availability call: (213) 485-5572. The Park's hours are Monday - Friday: Dawn to 3 pm, and Saturday - Sunday: Dawn to Dusk.

Avenue of the Palms

Beginning at Scott Ave. and Stadium Way this iconic stretch of Canary Island date palms is 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 the fatal fungus, Fusarium wilt have been removed. Young, more robust, Chilean Wine Palms (Jubaea chilensis) have been planted in-between those that remain.

Upper Elysian Park Drive

This small, quiet section, abutting Sargeant Place and Sargeant Court, has 2 trails. They bend through tall California Foothill Pines (Pinus sabiniana) and the tree of our logo - the Coast Live Oak. Before Elysian was a park it was covered in these native oaks and Black Walnut trees, but European settlers wiped out a majority to use as lumber. Adding a loop of these two trails, between Scott Ave. and Academy Rd., to your West Loop Trail hike makes a full 3 miles.

The West Loop Trail

The main attraction for hikers. It is approximately 2.8 miles roundtrip. Sights along the way are the Test Plot rehabilitation areas at Burn Scar and the original Elysian plot near the water tower at the summit. (A privately-owned home with horse stables sits behind the water tower.) On the backside, coming out the Stadium Way trailhead, instead of using Elysian Park Drive to complete the loop take Palm Hill and 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.

During the week you’ll find the Northeast LA Forest school in session teaching kindergarteners about the joys of nature. On weekends visitors enjoy picnicking among 100-year old trees. The tallest Queensland Kauri in the continental U.S. (reaching 120 feet!) is here, as is an unmissable Bodhi tree with thick, tangled roots. And don’t miss everyone’s favorite “Sleeping” palm tree.

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 scientific and lay entries on each of the more than 100 trees in the Arboretum. There is discussion of revamping the adjacent children’s playground. Turning it into an educational, tree-centric, learning destination.

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 enormous outside dining area has a shaded area with tables and several built-in grill islands for prep and BBQing. Call: (323) 665-1155 or email: graceesimons.lodge@lacity.org for more information.

Palm Hill

Is bordered by the Stadium Way trail head, Elysian Park Drive and Grace E. Simons Lodge. Use this palm-covered hill to shortcut this section of Elysian Park Drive during your West Loop Trail hike. Or just come to picnic or read while taking in the majestic downtown views.

Charles S. Jones Memorial Grove

North of the Stadium Way trail head and past the picnic tables you’ll find this hidden memorial. 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

Marian Harlow established this sanctuary, at the summit of the West Loop Trail, in the early 1970s. It was as a place where neighbors could plant a shrub or perennial to memorialize loved ones who had passed away. Born in 1909 , Harlow lived just a short walk from the park in Elysian Heights and spent decades maintaining it, holding community events, and ensuring it remained a dog-friendly retreat. Today the Friends of Elysian Park (FoEP) maintains the grove and with the help of Test Plot is beginning to mix in some natives to the empty spots amidst the non-native memorial plants.

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 rely on them.

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. To encourage visitation FoEp is floating the idea of adding bocce or pickleball courts.

For additional images please visit our Flickr page!

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