Los Angeles

Elysian Park is a hidden gem in the heart of Los Angeles. It's a place to escape the city's hustle and bustle, soak in breathtaking views, and reconnect with nature. It's a haven for hikers, bikers, picnickers, and anyone seeking a slice of nature amidst the urban sprawl. This is arguably one of the best free views in Los Angeles. From Griffith Observatory peeking through the hills to Downtown's glittering skyline and the vast expanse of the Pacific. Bonus points if you come late afternoon to watch sunset then wait until the city is all lighted for the evening. However, id like to point out some amenities missing here so you can properly plan your visit. Finding parking can be a bit tricky, especially on weekends and holidays so arrive early or be prepared to circle a few times. Don't expect restrooms or water fountains so pack your own snacks and water.

This park is huge. Very close to the Dodgers Stadium. If you go all the way to the top you are able to see views of Los Angeles, also the Dodger Stadium. Lots of parking, bathroom, trails, picnic tables and some kid play areas, like slides. I honestly can't wait to go back and check it out! My friend and I had an amazing day here and can not wait to check it out again!

This is a cool place. I was there after sunset, the whole city is in the palm of your hand. Such beautiful views open up in almost all directions. I was afraid that I would meet wild animals since this place is on the other side, something like a forest, but everything turned out okay. it's very beautiful and romantic. visit this place, you will definitely like it

I think I accidentally checked in to this place... so the OCD pestered me to check out and write a review. Directions: If you're close to Dodger Stadium or the Police station you're in the right area. Now it's just a matter of what you are looking for. Hiking Difficulty: It all ranges on what you're looking for, the Glass and Simmons Memorial Sculpture, the general park, the lovely view of LA Skyline including Dodger Stadium, the Pasadena view, and the swing? Generally, they're all less than a mile. Overall: 4.5 stars. Awesome! For a lovely day in the park for a date, with family, or friends this is a solid spot. I would definitely research first to prep what you want to see (playground, tower, view, swing, etc) or where you want to get situated TL;DR Tips: * Parking is free * Check if anything is happening at Dodger Stadium to prevent you from getting stuck in traffic.

Elysian Park is an excellent place to hike, take in beautiful views, picnic, play some sports and spend time with family and friends. Located near Dodger Stadium, Elysian is the oldest park in Los Angeles and one of the largest. There are lots of greenery, trails for walking/running, apparatus for the kids, benches and tables set up for gatherings.

My favorite part of this park is how hard it is to know every part of it. I've lived by it and loved it for over a year and a half and still don't have a perfect concept of its layout. This is like Griffith Park but with fewer tourists and more family. The spirit of the Latin residential and family communities is still very strong here. There is car shows, drag racing, birthday parties, small markets, fruit stands, baseball fields, horse stables, a wedding venue?, bike and hiking paths, and killer views. Secret swings sit atop barely-touched hills and red tailed hawks circle the area until great horned owls take over at dusk. Elysian boasts gorgeous views of Dodger Stadium and East LA. Driving into the area for sunset or hosting a picnic here is ideal. There is so much real estate in this park that you really don't have to worry about getting there at a certain time.

The most unkempt and overgrown park. The County and City of LA have forgotten about Elysian Park and it shows. No wonder this place has such a bad reputation. No one takes care of it.

First time hiking the Elysian Park Trail. Several nice trails from easy to medium difficulty. Lots of street parking and lot parkings also available. *free parking * We arrived about 2 hours before sunset after the Dodgers game and saw the gorgeous DTLA & Dodgers stadium view from top of the hill. Wonderful hiking location and near DTLA. Angels Point is where you'll see the sculpture and the vista of stadium and DTLA. If you keep driving or walk up you'll reach another picnic area with more amazing views. *Be aware of the occasional coyotes if you have small pets and young children*

we loved the geocache event! best one ever! we met new friends like webfoot and larry the pool guy!

Elysian Park is the perfect place to get one of the best views of Los Angeles and Pasadena. I didn't know that this was the place where the famous "swing" was at but I guess it is! I came to Elysian Park both during the day and during the night as well -- and I personally recommend that you come during the day. The view during the day is much better especially looking at the Pasadena side -- much more beautiful and you get to see a glimpse of the beautiful city that never sleeps! There is a 5 minute hike to get to the top where the swing is but it is definitely worth it and there are plenty of photo ops so make sure to get your photos here! When we visited this time -- it appeared that the swing was cut off -- I'm not sure what exactly happened but it was not there. Despite that, still plenty of photo ops... so make sure to come by here when you're in LA.

Back over the summertime I was waiting with my car for entry inside Dodgers Stadium for an evening 7pm baseball game. Before being allowed access...I really had nowhere to go. But I discovered this charming looking park just outside Vin Scully Avenue. At first, I didn't think anything of it. But I figured since I had about 30 minutes before Dodgers Stadium lots opened, why not stop at this park and walk around for a little. Then it dawned on me. What a cool park this was! I didn't even see a sign for it, but I asked one of the security/attendants the name of this place and they said, "Elysian Park". Okay...I barely even understand how that was spelled or even if I got the name properly pronounced, but I Googled it and now here I am writing a review about it. Yes, this is Elysian Park, right outside the entranceway to famed Dodgers Stadium! Just casually strolling the grounds I was quite impressed with the setting. The ambiance too. I loved the road that runs right beside it. This road, called Stadium Way, offers a vintage like appearance of what you'd expect to find here in Southern California, or in say Beverly Hills. You have these 2 rows of palm trees set on both sides of Stadium Way and when facing it, looking out...it's really a beautiful scene. Especially when I was here in late afternoon, the sun was in full bloom and overall, just a great backdrop for this Elysian Park. Here at the park, families were picnicking and barbecuing, running around with their kids and dogs. There were tons of grass around. I was even thinking of getting out a blanket and taking a nap underneath a tree, lol. My impression was...this park would be great to write a review about. If I had more time and wasn't in a rush to head inside Dodgers Stadium for pregame festivities, I happily would have stayed longer and appreciated this cozy little park. Also here there was a playground for kids, public bathrooms, and now reading other Yelpers reviews...sounds like there's a terrific hiking trail that leads you to views looking out from high above the Los Angeles mountains. Too bad I didn't know this hiking trail existed or I certainly would have made time for it. Anyhow, just hanging out here for a good 30 minutes was more than enough time to make me a fan of this Elysian Park. I'm glad I got a chance to take a few snapshots with my phone as well as this place was pretty photogenic. So, if anyone happens to need an area to hang out at before they allow entry into Dodgers Stadium for a game, I highly recommend parking along Stadium Way and enjoy the scenic surroundings of Elysian Park.

An excellent place to unwind and it's very peaceful away from the rat race of an fast paced city beneath. Great for exercise and it has a rural type setting. Very few people go to this park mainly because it's very underrated. It's like home away from home.

Elysian Park is the oldest and one of largest parks in Los Angeles. It is located in central LA close to Dodgers Stadium and the Los Angeles Police Academy. The park has numerous hiking and biking trails that you can explore which provides great views of downtown LA and the neighboring communities. It used to feature one of the popular Instagram photo destinations, the secret swing but that has been recently taken down. It's a great place to explore if you want to explore LA.

Randomly typed in "things to do" on Yelp and this park came up. After looking at the pictures, I had to go because of the swing! Read some reviews that said to just google map "swing top at Elysian Park." Thanks guys! It took the fiance and I right to it. We parked along this barricade and if you looked down you could see a freeway and cars. So, it was a 10 minute hike to the top (rocky, sandy and steep so be careful). Think there was a split when we were going uphill but I remember sticking to the left side. There were a buncha people taking pictures when we got up there. Amazing view at the top. Being on the swing was a little scary (piece of board and rope) but definitely try it if you can shake your fear of heights. Also, if you're afraid of slipping/tripping coming down the hill, walking sideways helped me ^_^. Loved the experience since it was my 1st swing top adventure!

This place is one of my facorite viewpoints in LA Here is alot of spots with free parking, somewhere wc's, not so many people and beautiful pictures guaranteed!

came here for a last min sunset pic with my friends and i, there's many places along the hill (when you're driving up) to stop and take a quick pic!!! we stopped a total of 3 times because the sunset was so beautiful :-) the best parts (in the pics) are near the end of the trail, because u can see the la skyline and the palm trees !!!! but it was SO beautiful because the sunset was amazing!! def recommend coming here w friends for golden hour if u have a bit of time to kill

This is a huge park with several different roads and trails. There are a ton of different free parking lots and I've seen a lot of birthday parties being hosted here. Some parts are a little sketchier than others and some places have more litter than others, but overall it's a pretty cool park with great views of downtown. If you're looking for the swing, type it into Google Maps and it should take you right there. You'll see a hill overlooking the I-5 and there's a short steep trail that will lead you to the swing at the top. Disclaimer: Sometimes the swing breaks or gets taken down, so sometimes it isn't there. I've been to the swing probably 5 times this year and every time the swing is different.

Recently ran the Chinatown Firecracker 10k here, and thanks to the recent rains, the entire park is awash with verdant green cover. Sure, it's all weeds, but very beautiful, with perpetual views of the LA skyline, the Hollywood sign, and the valleys in just about every direction. The park sees its share of interesting people, and its best to keep your wits about you, but most people are good people, and respect is generally reciprocated among visitors here. If you like walking or running hills, this park will challenge your legs and your chops. Grassy areas for picnics, plenty of shade trees, ample parking, and some athletic fields are available. Of course the famous swing at the top of the hill is a big draw, but depending on who most recently visited, it is in various states of disrepair. Can't imagine e how you'd end up if the ropes or branch failed at the wrong time, but what a story. The history of this area and its reputation over the years precede its seasonal beauty, but if you're an Angeleno, you need to put this spot on your Yelp check in list. Right now in the late winter/early spring is as good a time as any.

This is a nice convenient park close to dodger stadium. The awesome thing about this park is how it has so much parking and so many trails. My favorite is the not so hidden swing. It's a short but steep trail so make sure you bring hiking shoes if you plan on hiking it. There's tons of trees with shade. It's perfect for having a picnic or just chilling here. If you're like me and love ice cream there's a couple of ice cream trucks you can grab an ice cream to cool down as well.

The park is located in central LA, Elysian Park, and Dodger Stadium are within the neighborhood. The main green spaces remain open, although the trails are closed, and the secret swing was gone a long time ago.

Pretty great park/hiking trails. We brought our pups here and my hubby says its usually pretty empty, but I guess since Covid, more people are coming here with their doggies. Most have their dogs on leashes and are friendly, so it was a good experience for our doggies. Loop is about 2.5 miles and has some great views of the city. Overall a great hike!

While staying in Echo Park this past week, my husband and I decided to wander around Elysian Park to get some steps in one morning. Fun fact: it's LA's oldest city park and the second largest after Griffith Park. It has a hiking path that will take you to the some pretty incredible views of downtown LA. There's also a swing with a view that people love to take Instagram pictures of (we skipped this). It's not crowded and feels like a bit of an oasis in the middle of the city. We walked from our airbnb near Sunset Blvd. and the walk there and back and the walking path in the park made for a pleasant morning! Check it out if you need a place for a bit of exercise!

What a beautiful park! It's so big, you need two days to really rOme it around. We smoked a blunt all the way at the top, and the breeze was perfect. It was my girls first time coming here and she said that LA's so loud but from up here all that loudness is peaceful. Lol whatever that means to her but I get her. Whether you're going to watch a Dodger game or just kick it with friends, hands down one of the best parks in Los Angeles...

Great spot up in the hills; overlooking dodger stadium and downtown la... on top the views, there's a great hiking trail... my time here was spent short today, due to pouring rain all of a sudden... there used to be thst secret swing but that got cut down... Great park

This is a must get-to-know park if you just moved here. It's not perfect, but it sure is refreshing to this former country girl. My Yelp friend Sandra L. hit the nail on the head for me when she declared she had a "love/hate relationship with parks and hiking trails in Los Angeles." Totally feel the same way. See, I didn't grow up in L.A. much less California. When we first moved in the area, I wasn't at all used to the traffic, trash (sometimes) everywhere, and the So. Many. Damn. People. This is a great place to take a break and soak in the views. My favorite being Dodger Stadium, but others will enjoy the downtown skyline and other famous landmarks. If my dog was more up for traveling and didn't have hip issues, I'd definitely bring her here. There seems to be mostly good dog owners out and about. Deuces, fellow Dodgers fans!

[JULY 26th 2020] Wanted to do a quick birthday shoot today for my daughter on the "SECRET" SWING but sadly it was NOT UP!! Still a nice view! Hope this saves yall a trip if you were looking to come to this spot specifically for the swing. Please TAKE what you bring with you. Disposable masks & trash were scattered everywhere. Thanks in advance :)

Great place to meet up and have a picnic. Plenty of space, free parking in private lot, bathrooms available, playgrounds, ice cream trucks come by often, and benches with grills. Would check out the hiking trail next time!

Beautiful park. Definitely not over crowded. Was nice to drive through and view the city from all sides. Beautiful palm trees and overall quite peaceful. Sadly, our joy over finding the trail to the swing was short lived as we realized that the swing is .... GONE! : ( Not sure if it was removed by park services for safety reasons, or if some nasty human decided to ruin everyone else's fun. Either way, the swing is gone. Still a very nice park - in fact, it's a historical place - the oldest park in LA.

Nice park, nice trails, basically it's all asphalt road so you can park your car just about anywhere. Nice areas for a picnic. The hidden swing: I added some photos for a guidance how to recognize where the place is. Be ready to climb up the hill and stand in line if you're not coming very early. Also, this is the address I've saved on the iPhone maps Elysian Park Elysian Park Dr Los Angeles, CA 90012 United States If you have google maps just type: The hidden swing.

We mostly come here and its a beautiful park...also at grand view point you can see the whole LA with pretty sunsets...

New video here! Come early by 10am, much better sunlight! Went here again last weekend, the swing has been updated to version 6.0 lol very comfortable, the bamboo looking materials provides more gives, absorbs weights and no slippery :) See here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/BvQZEETHlHH/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=cqqoaxovn446

This is such a nice park with hiking trails. You can see nice views of Dodgers stadium in some areas of the park as well as a good view of the freeway. Also it is commonly know for the famous swing. I prefer the park and not the hiking trails. The park has big trees with lots of shade so you can relax. A lot of families come to the park to have birthday parties. The park is safe and clean. Everyone tends to clean up after themselves. This is one of my favorite parks to come to. The park has parking lots which most of the time you can find parking and there is also street parking. The area where the swing is located is harder to find parking. There are some areas where you can park your car but I would just be careful and not leave the car there too long.

Soooooooo big and pretty. Many different trails that you can even ride bikes as well!

You guys the swing is gone I need an explanation...this is horrible...if someone has any info please post it on here....and also can someone put a new one up???

Pretty cool views of Dodgers Stadium! It was also very accessible to get to this location. It was a quick drive up the mountain where you can park your car and then walk out just about about 2 minutes and you can see this awesome view!

Friends on and off Yelp have told me about the famous swing in Elysian Park. Not until a few weeks ago did I finally make my way over here. This park was not a far drive from my previous stop, Pico Rivera. The drive ended atop the hilly road within the park. The park itself was packed that day. It was full of families enjoying their weekend evening. They were barbecuing and having a good time. Although the place was very packed, I was able to find a parking spot alongside the road. From there, it was a short walk to the many different vista points. I got some good views of the Los Angeles skyline, as well as Dodger Stadium. After making my way through the different walking paths, I asked a couple where the swing was located. They told me to drive to the opposite side of the park, in which I did so. After driving up another winding path, I spotted the hill where the swing hung. I parked at a nearby vista point, and made the short hike up a somewhat steep hill. Personally, I found the spot to be overrated. It did not have the good view that I though it would have. But it is another thing off my list, and I was able to get good photos in other parts of the park. If you're looking for a good barbecue spot, and don't mind large crowds, this may be the place for you. It is also a good place to take a walk with your significant other.

This park is beautifully located in the heart of LA. There are amazing views of Dodgers stadium and all of the major cities, but by far, the best view is one from the hidden swing. Obviously driving around, you can see that there are some areas you should probably avoid to which I say, BE SMART. I mean, don't wander where you know you shouldn't. If you have a chance, look for the swing. The shots are amazing!

Not a lot of people know this, but THE SWING IS GONE:( I found out about this park because people used to take all these IG photos with the swing, but it has been chopped down now. Still a great view of the city regardless though!

Super cool spot! You can see downtown LA, the 5fwy, Dodgers stadium. Highly recommend to take the small hike to get to the swing. If you're looking for a good view, enjoys a small hike, and swing adventurously- this is the SPOT! Check it out.

The swing is no longer there. Looks like it was taken down a few days ago, but just went today and it was gone. Still a great view though.

I'm been servers times, the trails are nice if your seeking an evening stroll especially during this quarantine season I'd say it rather refreshing to get in your daily steps. The views aren't bad if you're seeking to chill and watch the SUNSET .

The top of the Park....on the Helicopter Pad, overlooking Dodger Stadium, City Hall, Catalina Island.... My '67 Barracuda ....filming for a fall Netflix show...

Huge park, wish they had a more pedestrian save roads inside the park. Enjoyed amazing views.

The best park in LA with the best views of all LA. If you know your way around this park there are many hidden jems here were you can hike, picnic, play sports or even trough parties. Restrooms all over and are kept pretty clean. The police academy is here so the are police constantly patrolling. Dogs have to be on a leash everywhere here there is no dedicated spot for dogs sorry. Overall this park is amazing a piece of LAs history you must visit.

I want to see the swing with the swing is actually cut down the park itself is not that big. In my opinion it's not a park it's more like a Look out point or something like that

This park is one of the most beautiful places for a sunset in LA. The park isn't too busy if you're trying to do a picnic then it's super easy to find a place with some privacy and an amazing view. If you're feeling a little adventurous, there's a trail to a hidden swing where you can swing out over the city as well!

Elysian Park is one of the best parks here in Los Angeles IMO! It has long trails and roads where you can have a good walk/jog/run or just to relax after a stressful day. Also there are many tables where you can have a picnic day anytime of the week. If you want to go all out and have a BBQ there are pits where you can do so, but you will have to get a permit at the parks' office. You may want to request the permit in advance for the weekends as it get really busy mostly on long weekends and holidays. It's great to take your kids to have a fun time playing in the many playgrounds within the park, and/or running around the vast green areas. It's also very safe here as the police academy is nearby, and there are times trainees and police officers jog around the park. So if you hear gun shots don't be alarmed 'cause your next police officers are training there as well. It is dog friendly but you have to keep your fur babies on a leash in certain areas. You can also enjoy many breathtaking views of downtown LA and its vicinity. You have to check out Angel's point, the hidden swing, Dodgers stadium views and more. Wildlife, beautiful flowers, trees, Grace E. Simmons Lodge where you have party anniversaries, wedding receptions and many more. The fountain here is so relaxing and a must check out. Elysian Park has definitely a lot to offer to its visitors so if you haven't visited this park you're missing out for sure! It is a great place to be in contact with nature within the city. Parking spots everywhere and restrooms are working and fairly clean compared to other places.

Great spot to hang out with friends and side lovers. During park hours. Do bc tge stairs first then do whatever afterwards.

Hey Yelpers, I visited the park on 9/8/19. The view was breathtaking. It was roughly 80 degrees. Picnic areas were clean. I enjoyed it because there weren't that many people. We had our own privacy. Enough parking meant we didn't drive around for too long before we found a spot with good views of the city. Best day to visit the park is a Sunday afternoon.