Things to do in LA: Night Hike at Griffith Observatory - Tips, Tricks, and My Own Experience
By Camila Grases ‘21
PC: Timothy Wang, fellow teammate
Listen, there are two kinds of people in this world:
1. The “I’ve been on thousands of night hikes, I basically have night vision, and darkness is my friend” person
OR
2. The “I enjoy the night from the comfort of my own home, nature is definitely nice but maybe not when I’m outside, because there may be ghosts here” person
Honestly, I’m the second. I am afraid of the dark (just scared of a lot of things really), so when my team brought up the idea of a night hike, I was a bit hesitant. The more I thought about it, though, the more excited I got. Sometimes, it’s the things we are most afraid of that give us the most pleasure.
Compared to other thrill-seeking events, hiking is a relatively mundane activity. If you really think about it, it’s just glorified walking. So, we add a little spice. Go at night, in the hills of LA, to watch a city that is more beautiful in the dark than it is in the light.
Trust me, it’s worth it.
Before you decide to go trekking through the mountains at night, here are a few things you should know about hiking to Griffith:
1. Check The Events at Griffith
If you are planning on going to the Griffith Observatory, remember how popular a place it is. My team and I learned this the hard way. There was traffic leading all the way down to the bottom of the hill; the anticipation of a grand event. To this day, I have no idea what was occurring that night. All I know is that cones were set up everywhere, temporary signs reading “Welcome to Griffith” were placed throughout the area, and the event coordinators expected us to pay $40 just to park on the dirt. Which leads me to…
2. You Don’t Have to Hike the Regular Path
Hear me out. There is more than one way of reaching Griffith, and if you are anything like me, the path least hiked is often the most fun. Look up “Griffith Park Pony Rides.” Here, there is plenty of free parking right next to a trail. It’s a longer hike, but it’s less crowded. There is a great deal of adventure in exploring the lesser-known.
3. Hike in a Big Group
There is nothing more reassuring than being in a big group of 5+ people– take it from somebody who is afraid of a lot of things. You make noise and scare away animals and, possibly, other people (there’s something very calming about that). If you’re feeling a little bit wild, go with fewer people. We all like being a part of the beginning of a horror movie.
4. Bring Basic Supplies
The small things you wouldn’t normally think about: water (it gets surprisingly hot at night when you are doing physical activity), a sweater (it also gets surprisingly cold when you are not), and a flashlight can go a long way.
5. Tacos
After the hike, when you’re tired and starving, just get tacos. $1 tacos. The taco stand is on Avenue 26, which is a short drive down the 5 near Dodger Stadium. (They have vegetarian and vegan options!)
All in all, it’s a great bonding experience. Don’t shy away from doing things that scare you, because not doing so is how you learn about yourself and about others. Go out and adventure!
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