Welcome to the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon in Los Angeles, CA to be held November 23rd, 2013! Please join us for a run or tough hike in the "Los Angeles' Crown Jewel". Come for the run, and then take some time to enjoy the many pleasures of the historical and world-renowned Griffith Park. Our Half Marathon offers:
A beautiful, but tough Trail Half Marathon course that winds through historic Griffith Park, out to the Observatory, down to Bronson caves, and proceeds along the base of the Hollywood sign with incredible views of downtown Los Angeles.
An unparalleled race destination weekend. After the race, take some time to enjoy the historic city of Hollywood! Visit the walk of stars, Beverly Hills, or Mann's Chinese Theatre. World-class dining, shopping, wine tasting, a visit to Universal Studios and much more.
Although a very tough course this is a walker friendly course that welcomes Half Marathon walkers.
Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in North America. Commonly referred to as the Central Park of Los Angeles, it covers significantly more acreage with a much more untamed, rugged character.
Course Description
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The race starts on Commonwealth drive just past the tennis courts. Volunteers will be on hand to direct participants where check in and race start is. I will set up a small start/finish line with a banner, timing clock, and some coffee and pastries in the morning at the start line. Runners will start the race here, and run on the wide dirt path for a few feet until they reach the ABERDEEN Trail on the right.
Runners will follow the ABERDEEN Trail for 1.5 miles until they reach the top where the green shack is. Here runners will make a sharp left and turn onto the HOGBACK Trail. Follow the HOGBACK Trail up past the water fountain, and all the way around the backside of Mt.Bell. Keep following the Trail until it drops you down onto Hollywood Drive(CLOSED Road). Here is where I will have an aid station/water stop. It will be set up with abut 5 of my own volunteers, two tables, and one easy up canopy. From here runners will cross the closed road, and hang a quick right to head down towards Brush canyon. From here runners will follow the dirt path to link up with the BRUSH CANYON Trail. Runners will go left onto BRUSH CANYON TRAIL. At this point the runners will have ran 3.6 miles.
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The runners will follow BRUSH CANYON trail all the way down into the canyon, and where canyon drive is. Runners will run past the Camp Hollywood Land parking lot, and head out towards the right and the infamous caves. Runners will loop through the cave, and head directly back up BRUSH CANYON Trail the way they came down. At the top of BRUSH CANYON Trail it will be almost 7 miles. Runners will then hit the aid station again on Hollywood Drive(closed road),
From here runners will go left, and head back the exact way they came down to Hollywood Drive. Runners will go right to head back up to the Eckert Trail, and once again run around the backside of Mt.Bell.
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Runners will then link back up with the HOLLYWOOD TRAIL. From here runners will make a left to connect back up with the HOGBACK TRAIL. Once back up at the water fountain runners will go right and head down to the MT.HOLLYWOOD TRAIL. They will then follow MT.HOLLYWOOD TRAIL over the tunnel and out towards the observatory parking lot. This is where I will have another small water stop. Runners WILL NOT go into the parking lot. I will have the water stop right at the base of the trail, and pavement. From here runners will turn around, and follow the exact route they came down directly back up to the water fountain and the intersection of MT.HOLLYWOOD TRAIL, AND HOGBACK TRAIL. Runners will go right on the HOGBACK TRAIL, and follow this back to the ABERDEEN TRAIL.
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From here runners will run down ABERDEEN to the finish line which is exactly where the start line is at the corner of Vermont and Commonwealth. I will have cold water and drinks provided for all runners.
