LA Story

Watch the Sunset from Barnsdall Art Park

08.25.2015

Like a good Hollywood story, the Barnsdall Art Park made a great comeback. Once an overlooked urban space in LA, this 36-acre East Hollywood hillside park is now a burgeoning center of art and local history. Home to the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery and the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Hollyhock House, Barnsdall Park also has one of the best views the city has to offer.

Take the stairs that start on the northeast side of the parking lot. The three long flights will get your heart pumping as you approach the park's peak. At the top stroll through a shaded pine grove that passes the LA Municipal Art Gallery.

A right turn has you emerging from the trees to an open grassy knoll and views of three famous features of the LA landscape: the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood Sign, and palm trees as far as the eye can see.

To your left, you'll see the recently renovated Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright's first house in LA, which was designed in the 1920s for oil heiress Aline Barnsdall and donated to the city in 1927. The hilltop lawn is the perfect spot to bust out a picnic and watch as the sun dips behind the Hollywood Hills, lighting up the skyline with fiery reds and oranges. Perfect way to end the day in LA.

Barnsdall Art Park is located at 4800 Hollywood Blvd. and is open from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. Free parking on-site. The grounds are dog-friendly! 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories

  1. Muir Woods Night Tour

    Thousands of people flock to Muir Woods every year, yet only a few see it at night, when this beloved park is experienced in a whole new light. The Muir Woods Night Tour happens on the last Friday of every month through October.

    View
  2. Slide Ranch Marin

    Slide On Over

    Marin's Slide Ranch has a popular neighbor in the Muir Beach Overlook. But don’t overlook Slide! This open-to-the-public nonprofit organization sits on 134 acres of coastline and is filled with animals, Pacific scenery, and an adjacent hiking trail.

    View
  3. Sponsored

    Take the Exit to the Best of the San Francisco Peninsula

    The San Francisco Peninsula is proof that some of Northern California’s greatest surprises are hiding just off Highway 101. All you have to do is take the exit.

    View

  4. Hello, Sur!

    Big Sur is home to numerous fantastic beaches and coves, so which one do you choose? Go for the beach that's quintessential Big Sur (and dog-friendly!). Pfeiffer Beach in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Its signature lilac-colored sand is waiting for your feet!

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Waterfall Hunter

    If you ask a local in Reno about one of the best hiking trails in town, odds are high they’ll point you to Hunter Creek Falls. It’s a year-round favorite, but it absolutely shines in spring, when desert peach wildflowers make a splash—and so does the marquee waterfall.

    View

  2. Wapama Wows

    Hetch Hetchy can be overlooked in Yosemite National Park because of its more remote location and limited facilities. But this is where you’ll also find one of the best day hikes in the park: Wapama Falls.

    View
  3. Bike the Coastal Trail to Pillar Point Harbor in Half Moon Bay

    Ride and Seek

    Oceanside breezes, beautiful beaches, a car-free pathway for biking, and beer at the end: You’re on a roll! The San Mateo Coast was made for beach hopping and beer tasting … and it all goes down smooth as part of an 8-mile out-and-back bike ride.

    View

  4. Tamtastic Sunset

    Sure, the East Peak of Mount Tam is absolutely spectacular at sunset, but some magic-hour enthusiasts are onto a fresh perspective in getting a little more personal space for their panoramic viewings.

    View