Book Review: Discovering Griffith Park

Los Angeles' Griffith Park is over 4,300 acres in size and is one of the largest urban parks in North America. Some have referred to it as the Central Park of Los Angeles, but Griffith Park is actually much larger, more wild, and rugged than its New York City counterpart.

For those who want to learn more about the history of the park and get some practical guidance on ways to explore it, be sure to check out the subject of this L.A. Times article: "Discovering Griffith Park: A Local’s Guide." This new book is written by Casey Schreiner who is best known as the founder of popular hiking website Modern Hiker. The book points out that even though Griffith Park is five times larger than Central Park and is home to two of the most iconic landmarks in the country (the Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory), it is still largely unexplored by many Angelenos. Perhaps this is not surprising given that Southern California has much to offer in terms of attractions, such as numerous beaches and amusement parks.

The article also reveals that Schreiner is the unlikely author of a book about the park because he grew up as a "100% indoor kid" who preferred to play video games and board games, and watch videos at home. Things changed when Schreiner moved to L.A. 17 years ago and started hiking in Griffith Park regularly. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, hiking has become very popular because it is one of the few leisure activities permitted, as long as one wears a face covering and maintain physical distance. If you wish to learn more about the park and Schreiner and explore the trails of Griffith Park, be sure to read this article and check out this gem of a book. On a related note, Trails LA County is another resource for anyone wanting to venture outdoors and do some hiking on a trail in Los Angeles County.