Kenneth Hahn Park with a stroller

Kenneth Hahn feels like a secret hiding in plain sight. Right off La Cienega Boulevard, between Culver City and Baldwin Hills, there’s a big green park with a duck-filled lake, a Japanese garden with a waterfall, playgrounds and views of the whole city. The lower part of the park is perfect for a stroller; the hills up top are a great workout for later.

Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area is a state park run by LA County Parks and Recreation. It covers hundreds of acres in the Baldwin Hills, on land that was once the Baldwin Hills Reservoir, and it opened as a park in the 1980s. It’s one of the largest open spaces in the middle of the city.

At a glance

• Lake loopAbout 0.4 mile
• Bowl LoopAbout 0.8 mile, easy
• SurfacePaved near the lake; dirt on hills
• HillsGentle low; steep up top
• ParkingFee on weekends
• AdmissionFree on foot

The stroller-friendly part of the park is compact, so think of Kenneth Hahn as a “walk, play, picnic” outing rather than a long-distance walk. Combine the lake loop, the Bowl Loop and a playground stop for a lovely morning.

Map

Open in Google Maps

The main entrance is at 4100 S. La Cienega Boulevard. LA County’s trails website has maps of every trail in the park.

Pick your walk

• 🦆
  About 0.4 mileGwen Moore Lake loop

  Our top pick with a stroller. A short, paved loop around the small fishing lake, with ducks, benches and city views. Perfect for newborns and new walkers.

• 🌿
  About 0.8 mileThe Bowl Loop

  An easy loop around the big grassy bowl in the middle of the park, with very little elevation gain, according to LA County Trails. Combine it with the lake for a longer walk.

• 🏯
  ShortJapanese garden and waterfall

  A peaceful detour to Doris’ Japanese Garden, with a lotus pond, koi and a waterfall nearby. Paths are mostly easy, though the little bridge isn’t accessible.

• 🏙️
  For laterThe hill trails and city views

  The upper trails climb to big views of Downtown LA and the ocean. They’re steep in places and partly dirt. Great with a carrier once you’re cleared and feeling strong.

What works with a stroller

Kenneth Hahn is a mix of paved paths and hiking trails, so it helps to know which is which before you go.

• Easy with any stroller: the paved paths around Gwen Moore Lake, the picnic areas and lawns in the lower park and the walkways near the playgrounds and parking lots.
• OK with a sturdy stroller: the gentle loops in the middle of the park. Expect a few slopes.
• Carrier only (or skip): the steep hill trails, dirt paths and anything signed as part of the Park to Playa Trail toward the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook. Some sections are steep, and the famous Baldwin Hills stairs are not stroller friendly.

Park roads wind uphill through the park, so you can also drive to a higher parking area and walk from there instead of pushing up the hill.

Getting there and parking

By car

Enter at 4100 S. La Cienega Boulevard and follow the park road to one of the parking lots near the lake, playgrounds and picnic areas.

• Parking fee on weekends and holidays. There’s a vehicle entrance fee on weekends and holidays only. Weekdays are free. Check the LA County Parks website for the current amount.
• Gates close in the evening. Hours change by season, and the gates are locked at closing time. Check before an evening walk.
• Weekends get busy, especially on sunny days and holidays, with birthday parties and family picnics. Go early for the best parking.

By transit

Metro buses run along La Cienega Boulevard, and the E Line’s La Cienega/Jefferson station is north of the park. The walk up the park road is uphill with a stroller, so check the Metro trip planner for the best stop from your neighborhood.

Restrooms

The park has restrooms near the main parking areas, picnic sites and the Japanese garden. As with any busy park, they can be crowded on weekends, and changing tables aren’t guaranteed, so bring a portable changing pad. The lawns and shaded picnic areas are good spots to feed or change the baby.

Playgrounds and the garden

• Playgrounds: LA County lists several tot lots in the park, close to picnic areas and parking. They’re a perfect finish to a short walk.
• Doris’ Japanese Garden: a calm little garden with a lotus pond, koi and turtles. Babies love the water; toddlers love spotting the fish.
• The waterfall and stream: a small waterfall and stream near the garden add a nice, cool feeling on warm days.
• Gwen Moore Lake: the lake is stocked for fishing (a California fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older), and there are usually ducks and other birds to watch.
• MLK Memorial Grove: a grove of trees dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., worth a quiet stop.

Snacks and food

There aren’t food options inside the park, so pack a picnic, snacks and water. The park has plenty of picnic tables and barbecue pits, and a blanket on the lawn makes an easy afternoon.

For coffee or lunch before or after, Culver City and the Crenshaw area are both a short drive away, with lots of cafés and family-friendly spots.

Seasons and weather

• SpringGreen hills, native wildflowers on the slopes and mild temperatures. The prettiest time of year in the park.
• SummerIt can get hot, and the hills have little shade. Walk early, stick to the lower park and find shade near the picnic areas and garden.
• FallWarm and often clear, with great city views. A good time to try a short section of the hill trails with a carrier.
• WinterCool, crisp and wonderful on clear days, when you can see all the way to the mountains. Dirt trails can be muddy after rain.

Check the LA County Parks website for current hours, fees, closures and events before you go.

Pro tips

• 📅
  Save moneyGo on a weekday

  Parking is free on weekdays, and the park is calmer. Weekend mornings are the next best option.

• 🚗
  HillsDrive up, don’t push up

  The park road climbs. Park close to where you want to walk instead of pushing the stroller uphill from the entrance.

• ☀️
  SunBring shade

  The upper park is very exposed. Use a stroller sunshade and bring hats and water.

• 🧸
  ViewsBring a carrier too

  With a carrier, you can tackle a short climb to a viewpoint while the stroller waits in the car.

• 🐶
  DogsExpect pups

  Leashed dogs are allowed on the trails, so it’s a popular dog-walking spot.

• 📍
  Meeting upMeet at the lake

  “Meet at Gwen Moore Lake” is easy to find and right next to parking.

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

Walk Kenneth Hahn with us

Kenneth Hahn is one of the places we expect our first LA walk clubs to start, with easy lake loops for brand-new moms and hill walks for moms who want more of a challenge. 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

• Fern Dell, Griffith ParkLos Feliz · our full stroller guide
• Santa Monica to Venice beach pathSanta Monica and Venice · our full stroller guide
• Lake BalboaVan Nuys, the Valley · our full stroller guide