The old zoo in Griffith Park is one of the strangest ruins in Los Angeles (putting it in the running for strangest ruins worldwide). When the Los Angeles Zoo opened at its current location in the 1960s, the former zoo, a few miles away was not torn down or destroyed. Instead, the zoo was abandoned and converted into a picnic area.
Explore one of LA’s best off-the-beaten-path attractions on a half mile hike (or more) through the picnic area past old animal cages and exhibits. This has to be the most unique place for a picnic in LA!
Old Zoo Picnic Area is located in a canyon just north of the merry-go-round on the east side of Griffith Park, about five miles south of the current LA Zoo. Dozens of shaded picnic tables and BBQ grills facilitate great picnics. A large grassy field offers ample room for running around.
In addition to the outdoor dining necessitates, a collection of empty animal cages are on display. From the bottom of the picnic area, turn left up the paved trail curving up the side of the canyon to the open field above the trees. The road soon passes a line of stone exhibits.
Ron Burgundy fans may recognize this as the movie backdrop for the bear scenes at the San Diego Zoo in Anchorman. The old exhibits have made may appearances on television too, like the Pawnee Zoo episode in season two of Parks and Recreation. In reality you can step right inside the old holding pens. The first exhibit you reach has tables arranged inside. What a place for a picnic!
On the backside of the stone enclosures, the road continues past two more old buildings that are worth checking out. Turn around when you reach a short building on the right with prison bars on the front. Otherwise you will be hiking through the woods toward the merry-go-round.
Farther up the canyon above the stone pens is a row of small metal cages. The Old Griffith Park Zoo opened in 1912 and was shut down 1965. At the time, the animal cages were criticized for being too small for the animals. You can’t knock the quality of the craftsmanship, as the cages have survived since the 1930s in great condition. Walk past the cramped enclosures and measure how the treatment of zoo animals has changed over the ages.
Beyond the upper cages, the road rounds Spring Canyon and returns to the lower end of the picnic area. The grounds offer an enticing view of Bee Rock, a hive-shaped point atop the ridge to the west. To look down on the old zoo and get some extra exercise, consider the short hike up Bee Rock.
Old Zoo Picnic Area is tucked away in a corner of Griffith Park that is off the tourists radar. It is the coolest picnic area around – very strange, and very easy to get to. From the zoo that is downtown LA, it is a five minute drive to the old zoo in Griffith Park. Dogs are welcome. Check it out!
To get to the picnic area: Take the 5 Freeway to the Los Feliz Boulevard exit. Drive west on Los Feliz Boulevard to the first light and turn north on Crystal Springs Road. After 1.5 miles, turn left on Griffith Park Drive. Continue a quarter mile and turn left into a parking area just before the road bends to the right. There is a row of parking spaces by the turnoff and more parking as you drive into the picnic area. If all spaces are full, you may park at the larger lot by the merry-go-round and walk a little farther to the picnic area.
Trailhead address: Griffith Park Drive, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Trailhead coordinates: 34.135, -118.2867 (34° 08′ 05.99″N 118° 17′ 12.11″W)
You may also view a regional map of surrounding Los Angeles trails and campgrounds.
 | Bee Rock This hive-shaped point on the east side of Griffith Park is reached via a 1.7 to 4-mile round trip hike. |
 | Amir's Garden This one-mile hike reaches a relaxing garden on the east side of Griffith Park that is a pleasant retreat for hikers. |
 | Beacon Hill This 2.75 to 3.9-mile hike in Griffith Park climbs 500 feet to the easternmost summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 | Cedar Grove & Vista View Point Loop This 2.3-mile loop on the southeast side of Griffith Park follows paved and unpaved trails to two park attractions, a quiet grove with a picnic area and a helipad with panoramic views. |
 | Glendale Peak This hike is around three miles long and visits a less known summit on the southeast side of Griffith Park with views that deserve more attention. |
 | Glendale Peak - Mount Hollywood Loop This 4.15-mile hike tops two summits in Griffith Park that both have awesome views. |
 | Ferndell Trail This relaxing half-mile hike goes through a tropical garden in the lushest little canyon in Griffith Park. Explore farther on a 1.75-mile hike in Western Canyon or venture up to the Griffith Observatory to see more of the park. |
 | Griffith Observatory via West Observatory Trail This 2.1-mile hike ascends from Western Canyon up ridges to Griffith Observatory, getting sweeping views over Los Angeles and Griffith Park along the way. |
 | Griffith Observatory via East Observatory Trail This 1.5-mile hike from Vermont Canyon Avenue up to Griffith Park's great observatory delivers excellent views over Los Angeles along the way. |
 | Mount Hollywood This 1,625-foot peak is a star of Griffith Park with panoramic views that can be reached from Griffith Observatory on a steep 1.4-mile hike or a scenic 2.65-mile trek and from lower in the park in Western Canyon for a hike of around 4.2 miles. |
 | Mount Chapel, Mount Bell, and Mount Hollywood This 5.7-mile loop tops three prominent summits on a panoramic tour of Griffith Park. |
 | Bronson Cave This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the 1960s Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film. |
 | Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign via Hollyridge Trail This 3.5-mile hike ascends 750 feet to reach the summit of Mount Lee behind the Hollywood Sign. |
 | Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign via Brush Canyon Trail This 6.4-mile hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign. |
 | Hollywood Sign via Innsdale Drive, Mulholland Highway, and Mount Lee Drive This 4.6-mile round trip hike combines trails and streets to deliver some of the very best views of the Hollywood Sign on the way to the summit of Mount Lee above the sign. |
 | Cahuenga Peak This 3-mile hike on Burbank Peak Trail and Aileen Getty Ridge Trail ascends to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign. |
 | Lake Hollywood Reservoir Walking Trail This 3.5-mile loop circles a peaceful fence-enclosed reservoir in the hills below the Hollywood Sign. |
 | More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
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[…] stables, parks and merry-go-rounds, and nice public bathrooms to boot. Definitely do not miss the abandoned zoo! It’s easily accessible and open to the public, and there will be about 5 people filming […]
And there’s “summertime Shakespeare in the park” for 2014.
[…] Hikespeak Griffith Park Zoo […]
Oh, the memories of many visits to the Old Zoo back in the 1950’s.
The above photos bring me back to those wonderful days.
[…] There are also Hiking Trail Maps for this area […]
[…] The Old Zoo […]
I was wondering if you can BBQ at the old Zoo?
Do you need a reservation or have to pay to picnic there?
Nope. Enjoy!
Can I visit it at night? How late?
Hello I remember my dad would take me to the Griffith park zoo in the 50’s. I’d wake up by the music of a merry go round at the entrance. I saw the colorful horses going up and down as we waited our turn. That was exciting to a five year old. The time you spend with your kids is never forgotten.
Are the bathrooms open on the weekends right now?