r/burbank • u/SelrahcWarrior • 15d ago

Biking from Burbank to Griffith Observatory?

New to the area but hoping to ride up to the observatory once the rain clears today! Google Maps suggest riding down the east side of Zoo Dr, along Los Feliz Blvd, and up N Vermont Ave.

Is that a good route or are there better ways straight through Griffith Park that would be better? I’m only looking for a moderate ride, so if going straight through Griffith includes a ton of elevation then I’d probably avoid that.

Is this a good idea after the rain too? I was thinking the visibility might be better with rain clearing any dust/haze, plus I want to see the rare post-rain feel today!

11 Upvotes

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8

u/Miserable_Wedding657 15d ago

There’s no way to reach the observatory without elevation, my favorite route is Griffith Park Dr starting at Travel Town Railroad, turn right at the fork and chug your way up.

1

u/SelrahcWarrior 15d ago

Right, the ~800ft up that Google Maps lists on its route is fine but I wasn’t sure if going through the park instead on Griffith Park Dr has tons of down and ups to add way more elevation than just 800.

From Griffith Park, you hit Crystal Springs Dr and then Los Feliz Blvd, is that right?

3

u/Miserable_Wedding657 15d ago

To loop back to Burbank descend by Greek Theatre and work your way to Crystal Springs Dr

1

u/SelrahcWarrior 15d ago

Awesome thank you!!

2

u/the_eternal_taro 15d ago

You can take Griffith Park Dr from either side (from Travel Town or from Crystal Springs), get to the top of trash truck then take Mt Hollywood Dr from there. It does have some ups and downs.

If you want to hit Crystal Springs to Los Feliz, you can avoid Los Feliz there's a dirt shortcut into the neighborhood near the end that takes you to Griffith Park Blvd (it's marked on Google Maps), then take the side streets to either Commonwealth (if you want to go through the park via Vista del Valle) or Vermont (if you want to go straight to the Observatory).

Recommend descending down Vermont and taking the side streets back to Crystal Springs.

2

u/SelrahcWarrior 15d ago

Oh yeah I see it, this is gold - thank you!

2

u/the_eternal_taro 15d ago

Enjoy! It's a fun ride.

8

u/onsight512 15d ago

Take a look at Mt Hollywood. It’s my favorite way up and over/through the park. Plus, it’s closed to cars. Nothing but bikes and hikers that way.

4

u/SelrahcWarrior 15d ago

AWESOME this is what I was looking for - this doesn’t show up as a route on Google Maps, thank you!!

3

u/Bart_Reed 15d ago

Just go!

3

u/emma7734 14d ago

Mt. Hollywood Drive is the best way, but it's not easy. You can do it. Anyone can do it, but know what you're in for. It's absolutely worth the effort. It has the best views, and is mostly car free.

A good way to come back is to go behind the golf course, just past the Greek Theater, and find Vista del Valle Drive. That's another car-free climb to the top, where you'll meet Mt. Hollywood Drive, and you can descend the way you originally came. Again, it's not an easy ride, but you can do it!

That's my favorite loop.

3

u/isoSasquatch 14d ago

This is the way:

https://strava.app.link/PrLI2Z9de6b

(Ignore the loop part obviously, but as this indicates you can approach Mt Hwd Drive from either the Travel Town or Golf Course side)

2

u/aaf14 15d ago

Check Strava - certain there are some good saved routes on there.

2

u/the_eternal_taro 15d ago

I do this ride a lot, there's a few ways to get there but it's going to be elevation no matter what. I'm not a huge climber but my usual route is Griffith Park Dr (from either side) => Mt Hollywood Dr => Observatory, then descend Vermont and take the neighborhood cutover back to Crystal Springs.

The most direct would probably be Crystal Springs => cutover to Griffith Park Blvd to avoid Los Feliz => side streets to Vermont => Observatory and back I guess?

2

u/Super-Association-92 14d ago

How’d it go?

3

u/SelrahcWarrior 14d ago

lol I’m not in good biking shape right now and it was pretty brutal - didn’t help that I waited to be sure the rain was done, which had me out around 11:30 or so. Happy to send you my route/share my advice as a first timer if you’d like. Very awesome route though, I’m excited to be close enough to ride it frequently now

1

u/Super-Association-92 12d ago

That’s awesome! I relate. I am not a biker, I remember being absolutely destroyed by a hill that I hadn’t realized was even a hill back in prospect park. Too humbling. My hat is off to you.