Fern Dell in Griffith Park with a baby

On a hot LA day, Fern Dell feels like a secret. Step off Los Feliz Boulevard and you’re suddenly under sycamores and ferns, walking beside a little stream, with stone bridges and cool, green shade. It’s short, it’s gentle and it ends near a playground and a café. It’s one of the best little outings in the city with a baby.

Fern Dell (also spelled Ferndell) sits in the lower corner of Griffith Park, in Western Canyon just above Los Feliz Boulevard. It’s been a shady escape for Angelenos for about a hundred years, and Friends of Griffith Park has spent years working to preserve and restore it. It’s free and open with the rest of Griffith Park.

At a glance

• LengthAbout 0.5 mile round trip
• SurfaceDirt, gravel and some steps
• ShadeLots: sycamores and ferns
• HillsGentle
• Best withCarrier or rugged stroller
• CostFree

The trail itself is short: about a quarter mile one way. With dawdling, stream-watching and a playground stop, plan on an hour or so. It’s more of a gentle nature stroll than a workout, which is exactly why we love it for babies and toddlers.

Map

Open in Google Maps

The trailhead is at Fern Dell Drive and Black Oak Drive, about 450 feet up Fern Dell Drive from Los Feliz Boulevard. Look for the Griffith Park sign and the bronze bear cub statue at the corner.

Stroller or carrier? An honest answer

We want to be upfront, because this is different from our paved city walks: Fern Dell isn’t fully stroller friendly. The trail is mostly packed dirt and gravel, with little bridges, a few steps, some narrow spots and a low passage where the path runs under the road.

• 🧸
  EasiestBaby carrier

  Our top pick. You can go anywhere on the trail, duck under the road, cross every bridge and stop to show the baby the stream.

• 🚵
  Works with effortJogging or all-terrain stroller

  Big wheels handle the dirt and gravel. Expect to lift it over a few steps and take the paths closest to the road when the main trail narrows.

• 🚫
  Skip itSmall or lightweight stroller

  Little wheels will get stuck in gravel. If that’s all you have, park it near the playground and carry the baby on the trail.

Here’s a nice compromise: carry the baby on the trail, then use the stroller for nap time at the playground and café, where the ground is easier.

The route

Fern Dell runs uphill (gently) from Los Feliz Boulevard into Western Canyon, alongside Fern Dell Drive.

1. Start at the bottom. Enter at Fern Dell Drive and Black Oak Drive, near the bear cub statue and Griffith Park sign.
2. Follow the stream. The main trail stays beside the little creek, with arched bridges crossing to a path on the other side. A few paths split and come back together, so you can’t really get lost.
3. Pass under the road. Part of the trail runs below Fern Dell Drive. Toddlers love it.
4. Come out at the top. After about a quarter mile, the paths come back together near the picnic area.
5. Keep going to the café and playground. They’re a short walk farther up the road.
6. Walk back down the same way, or along the quieter paths on the other side of the creek.

The stream varies a lot by season. After rain it’s lovely and flowing; in a dry summer or fall it can be just a trickle in places. Either way, the shade is the star.

Getting there and parking

By car

Most families drive. Take Los Feliz Boulevard to Fern Dell Drive (just east of where Western Avenue becomes Los Feliz) and look for free street parking along Fern Dell Drive. A few tips:

• Go early on weekends. Parking fills up fast, especially on nice days and when people head up to the Observatory.
• Read the signs. Parking along Fern Dell Drive isn’t allowed overnight, and cars can be towed.
• Watch for cars. Fern Dell Drive is a road, not a car-free path, so hold little hands when you cross.

By transit

Metro buses run along Los Feliz Boulevard and nearby streets, and the B Line (Red) has a stop at Vermont/Sunset, but it’s a long-ish walk from there with a stroller. Use the Metro trip planner to find the best route from your neighborhood.

Restrooms

There are restrooms near the trailhead and the playground area. Visitors often report portable toilets rather than a full restroom building, so set your expectations accordingly. There’s no changing table to count on, so bring a portable changing pad. The Trails Cafe has outdoor seating only.

The playground

The Fern Dell Playground, near the Trails Cafe, is the perfect reward at the end of your walk. The city renovated it with a tree house as the centerpiece and play structures designed for kids about 2 to 12. It’s shaded by trees, and it’s one of the most charming playgrounds in LA.

For babies, the picnic area and shady benches nearby are great for a feed or a snack while older siblings play.

Coffee and food

• The Trails Cafe (2333 Fern Dell Drive) is a little log-cabin café right in the park, beloved for its coffee, pies, pastries and sandwiches. It’s outdoor seating only, and hours change by season, so check before you go.
• Los Feliz Village along Hillhurst and Vermont Avenues has lots of cafés, bakeries and family-friendly restaurants a short drive away.
• Picnic: the shady picnic tables near the top of the trail are a lovely spot to eat.

Bring water, especially in summer. Don’t count on drinking fountains.

Make it longer

Fern Dell connects to Griffith Park’s larger trail network, including trails up to the Griffith Observatory. Those trails are steep, dusty and not stroller friendly. They’re great with a carrier if you’re cleared for harder hikes and feeling strong, but bring lots of water and start early.

For a gentler bump in distance, walk the loop around Fern Dell Drive: up the trail, past the café, and back down the quieter paths on the east side of the canyon, which end near the bear cub statue.

If you want a long, flat stroller walk in LA, we’d point you to a paved beach path instead. Fern Dell is for shade and charm, not miles.

Seasons

• SpringGreen, lush and often the best time to see the stream flowing. Wildflowers pop up along the edges.
• SummerThis is where Fern Dell shines. When the rest of LA is baking, the canyon stays noticeably cooler and shady. Go in the morning for the best parking and the coolest air.
• FallStill warm, often dry. The stream can be low, but the shade and the sycamores turning color make it lovely.
• WinterCool and quiet. After rain, paths can be muddy, so wear good shoes and skip the small stroller.

Check the LA Recreation and Parks website for Griffith Park alerts, closures and fire-weather notices before you go. Parts of the park can close during high fire danger.

Pro tips

• ⏰
  TimingGo early

  Weekday mornings are calm and cool. By late morning on weekends, parking is tough and the trail is busier.

• 👟
  ShoesWear real shoes

  Skip the flip-flops. The trail has dirt, gravel, steps and sometimes mud.

• 🦠
  BugsBring bug spray

  Shade plus water can mean mosquitoes, especially in warm months. Use a baby-safe option and check with your pediatrician for little ones.

• 🐶
  DogsExpect pups

  It’s a popular dog-walking spot. Most are leashed and friendly, but heads up if your toddler is nervous around dogs.

• 🍰
  TreatSave the café for last

  A walk, a playground and a slice of pie is a pretty perfect morning.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at the bear

  “Meet at the bear cub statue” at the corner of Los Feliz and Fern Dell Drive is easy for everyone to find.

If you’re postpartum, check with your provider before adding hikes or carrying your baby on uneven ground, and build up gradually. Our guide to postpartum exercise once you’re cleared is a good place to start.

Walk Fern Dell with us

Fern Dell is one of the places we expect our first LA walk clubs to start, especially for hot-weather mornings. We’re taking signups now, and founding members help choose the first routes and times.

See everything we’re building in Los Angeles.

More stroller walks in Los Angeles

• Santa Monica to Venice beach pathSanta Monica and Venice · our full stroller guide
• Lake BalboaVan Nuys, the Valley · our full stroller guide
• Kenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaBaldwin Hills · our full stroller guide