Outdoor Destinations for the Carless in Los Angeles

Learn about eight L.A. parks that you can reach from Union Station without a car.

1 minute read

January 23, 2023, 12:00 PM PST

By Clement Lau


Girl swinging on rope swing overlooking Los Angeles

Michael Gordon / Elysian Park, Los Angeles

Los Angeles is home to some amazing outdoor destinations, including beaches, parks, natural areas, and trails. For those with cars, traveling to these places is usually not too difficult. However, for folks without a vehicle, getting there can range from challenging to almost impossible. In this article, well-known writer and hiker Casey Schreiner highlights eight destinations that people can reach by foot from Union Station or by transit from the terminal, including:

  1. Grand Park
  2. Los Angeles State Historic Park
  3. Vista Hermosa Natural Park
  4. Ernest E. Debs Regional Park
  5. Elysian Park
  6. Griffith Park, Western Canyon
  7. Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory
  8. Echo Mountains

The need for improved access to parks and trails in Los Angeles County is well-documented in a number of recent studies. In particular, both Metro's Transit to Parks Strategic Plan and the Los Angeles Countywide Parks Needs Assessment Plus (PNA+) call for expanding access to recreational destinations via public transit.  

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