Free Workouts in Los Angeles: Griffith Park's 4,210 Acres, Runyon Canyon and the Baldwin Hills Overlook

Los Angeles has one of the largest city parks with urban wilderness in the United States [1], and nearby hills steep enough to turn a short walk into a hard workout [3]. Most of it costs nothing but the trip there. Here’s where to go, what each official page says about hours and closures, and what to pay where there’s a fee.

Griffith Park

Griffith Park covers more than 4,210 acres of chaparral hillsides, canyons and landscaped picnic areas in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains, with elevations from 384 to 1,625 feet and miles of hiking and horseback trails [1]. That climb is the workout: pick a fire road from a lower trailhead and walk uphill for 20 minutes, then turn back.

Park rules to know [1]:

• Open 5 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• No bicycles on the trails.
• Dogs on leash at all times.
• Park Rangers: (323) 644-6661, or 911 in an emergency.

Parking in the higher parts of the park gets very crowded on weekends, holidays and in summer. Recreation and Parks suggests the DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus, which runs every day, to reach Griffith Observatory or a view of the Hollywood Sign [1].

Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon Park, a City of Los Angeles park, is open sunrise to sunset, every day [2]. Recreation and Parks says the park is open but the West Trail is closed [2]. Before you go [2]:

• There are no restrooms.
• Dogs may be off leash only in designated areas.
• No smoking anywhere in the park.
• Stay on the marked trails; it’s urban wilderness. Carry water: the park page posts a heat advisory.

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

This 58-acre state park is in Culver City, next to Los Angeles, with its main entrance at 6300 Hetzler Road off Jefferson Boulevard [3]. The main trail climbs steeply for one mile from the entrance on Jefferson to the overlook, zigzagging around a very steep, straight staircase you can also take [3]. An easy loop trail circles the top [3].

• Hours: 8 a.m. to sunset, daily [3].
• Parking: $2 an hour or $6 a day at the pay machine in the lot near the visitor center; display the receipt [3].
• Visitor center: Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. [3]

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, on the same weekend shuttle route as the overlook, is run by LA County Parks [4]. Driving in costs $10 per vehicle a day, or $8 if the owner or driver is 65 or older or has a disabled placard [5]. If you go often, an annual vehicle permit is $160 ($90 for seniors and disabled drivers) and also works at five other county regional parks [5]. Vehicles with California Veteran’s Special Plates are exempt on weekdays and on Veterans Day [5].

City and county recreation centers

Many City of Los Angeles recreation centers have gyms and fitness classes. We couldn’t find a current official citywide price list for gym or weight room passes, so call the center near you before you go. LA County’s parks also have free outdoor fitness zones; for those and for state park passes you can borrow from the library, see BestCalifornia’s Stay Fit in California Without a Gym Bill.

How much to aim for

The federal Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans say adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week, like brisk walking, plus muscle-strengthening activity such as push-ups on at least 2 days a week [6]. One Los Angeles week that gets there:

• Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 30-minute brisk walks on a flat stretch near home (90 minutes).
• Saturday: an hour on Griffith Park’s trails, at an easy pace with rests on the climbs (60 minutes).
• Tuesday and Thursday: 20 minutes of squats, push-ups against a bench and band exercises at home or in a park (your 2 strength days).

That’s 150 minutes of aerobic activity plus two strength days.

Gear that helps

You don’t need equipment for any of the workouts above. If you want a little help, these are inexpensive and widely used. We chose them from the makers’ listings; we haven’t tested them ourselves.