Griffith Park e-bike tour: Wild backside and LA River views

Ride the hidden side of a 4,210-acre park without the main-road crowds

An electric bike tour of Griffith Park and the LA River starting from Atwater Village, led by a local guide who takes you past the Red Car Bridge, the abandoned zoo, Cathy's Corner and Bee Rock. The route covers remote terrain and historic stops (the 1926 carousel, the old zoo ruins, a 100-year-old avocado tree), and ends with sweeping views across the valley to the San Gabriel Mountains. Water and snacks are included. The ride takes about three hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Griffith Park and LA River by E-Bike

• Meet guide at Atwater Village office
• Get acquainted with e-bike and safety gear
• Ride through quiet residential streets to LA River
• Stop at Red Car Bridge and learn about LA River
• Visit Griffith Park Ranger Station and Carousel
• Cycle among ruins of abandoned zoo
• Stop at Cathy's Corner and enjoy valley views
• Visit The Notch and see mega vistas of LA
• Explore Cedar Grove micro-forest
• Ride further into Griffith Park natural areas
• See significant geological outcrop and landmark
• Leave park through residential streets with Spanish colonials
• Return to LA River via La Kretz Crossing bridge
• Visit special Rose Gum tree
• Ride past equestrian stables to Love Lock Bridge
• Return to Atwater Village and see largest avocado tree
• End ride at starting point

The experience

You start at a bike bungalow in Atwater Village, where your guide introduces you to your e-bike (they all have names) and fits you with safety gear. The motor handles the climbing, so you can focus on the route itself. From there, quiet residential streets lead to the LA River and the Red Car Bridge: a pedestrian and cyclist-only crossing named after the trolleys that ran over this same spot more than sixty years ago. Your guide explains how the river shaped early Los Angeles: without it, the city would never have existed.

Into Griffith Park, you pass the 1926 carousel with its 68 hand-carved wooden horses, then roll through the ruins of the old zoo that operated from 1912 to 1966. The abandoned cages and caves are now a hidden spot for hikers and Shakespeare in the Park performances. The route then climbs to Cathy's Corner, where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone filmed their dance sequence for LA LA Land. From there, the views open up: the valley, Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, the San Gabriel Mountains, and on clear days, Catalina Island and the Pacific. You'll also stop at Cedar Grove, a small forest tucked into a Los Feliz hillside that draws Hollywood hikers for its unexpected wildlife and city views stretching from Glendale to Downtown.

The ride loops back toward the LA River via the La Kretz Crossing, a cable-stayed steel bridge linking the park to Atwater Village. Along the way, you pass a Rose Gum tree from Australia that the LA Times named one of ten beloved LA trees worth protecting. The final stop is a designated national champion: a 100-year-old avocado tree, the largest of its kind in the country, tucked into a quiet residential street. You roll back to the bungalow having covered remote terrain, old ruins, movie locations and unexpected natural landmarks without ever leaving the city.

What’s included

• Use of an electric bike.
• bottled water.
• snacks.
• safety gear.
• a local guide fluent in English, Spanish, French or German (available by request).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 16:00

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Under 16: can't be booked

GroupUp to 6

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by E Bike Tours LA

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to explore Griffith Park's remote side with a guide who knows the hidden stops (the old zoo, the avocado tree, the small forest) rather than the main attractions. The e-bike motor means you can ride for three hours without the climbing wearing you down, so the focus stays on the route and the views instead of the effort.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French and German.

What's the Red Car Bridge and why does the tour stop there?

The Red Car Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist-only crossing over the LA River, named after the legendary Red Car Trolleys that ran over the same spot more than sixty years ago. The tour stops here to explain the river's role in LA's early history. It was the lifeblood of the city and essential to survival in an arid region.

Can I see the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island from the viewpoints on this ride?

On clear days, yes. From The Notch overlook in Griffith Park, you can see Catalina Island, the Pacific Ocean and Santa Barbara, along with views of Hollywood, West Hollywood, Palos Verdes and Santa Monica. Cathy's Corner offers views of the valley, the San Gabriel Mountains and Burbank.

What's Cathy's Corner and why is it famous?

Cathy's Corner is the site where Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone filmed their dance sequence in the movie LA LA Land. The tour stops here for the views of the valley and surrounding mountains, not just the movie connection.

Is the old zoo still open to the public, or are we just riding past it?

The old zoo closed in 1966 and is now a hidden hiking spot with the original cages and caves still visible. The tour rides through the ruins as part of the route through Griffith Park's remote terrain.

What's the avocado tree stop about?

The tour ends near a 100-year-old avocado tree in a quiet Atwater Village residential street. It's designated a national champion (the largest avocado tree of its kind in the entire country), and the LA Times named it one of ten beloved LA trees worth protecting.

Do I need to be an experienced cyclist to do this tour?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The e-bikes have motors to help with climbing, so the main demand is stamina for riding over three hours on varied terrain, not technical skill.