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Follow the winding path at Elysian Park

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Trees and grass line the path at the beginning of a scenic 2.5-mile trail at Elysian Park.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dogs are allowed on the trail, although leashed. Here, views open up toward Mt. Washington, the 5 Freeway and the L.A. River.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Dogs and owners follow the hilly dirt trail.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Eucalyptus, pine and oak provide shade along the trail.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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A couple walk to the peak of the 2.5-mile hike, where a small bower of succulents, with benches and shade, is known as Marian Harlow Memorial Garden.  (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Marian Harlow Memorial Garden makes a nice stopping place or meditation point along the trail.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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At the peak is a bench that provides a viewing spot for the downtown Los Angeles skyline.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Recent rains have brought tall green grass along a path.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The sun shines through wild grasses.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers are viewed between trees along the descending trail.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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The trails are near Dodger Stadium. Some points offer views of fireworks from the ballpark.   (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Panoramic city and mountain views are a feature of this trail near Dodger Stadium.

By Charles Fleming
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Elysian Park near downtown L.A. is a huge space containing great networks of trails and commanding broad city and mountain views. This introductory walk might make you a regular visitor.

Trees and grass line the path at the beginning of a scenic 2.5-mile trail at Elysian Park.
Trees and grass line the path at the beginning of a scenic 2.5-mile trail at Elysian Park.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Trees and grass line the path at the beginning of a scenic 2.5-mile trail at Elysian Park. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

1. Begin at the trailhead and walk uphill, past the big swing gate, into a grove of eucalyptus trees. Follow the wide dirt path as it winds up and around the hill.

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2. Enjoy the views of Taylor Yard, Mt. Washington, the L.A. River, the new Rio de Los Angeles Park and Forest Lawn. But don't leave the main trail as it approaches the peak and passes a large water tank on your right.

Marian Harlow Memorial Garden makes a nice stopping place or meditation point along the trail.
Marian Harlow Memorial Garden makes a nice stopping place or meditation point along the trail.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Marian Harlow Memorial Garden makes a nice stopping place or meditation point along the trail. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

3. At the peak is a small bower of shade and succulents, with benches, known as Marian Harlow Memorial Garden. Continue past this as the trail descends and begins to give off big views of the downtown skyline. (This is also a popular place to watch fireworks from Dodger Stadium; people drive in and park a short distance away.)

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4. At the trail's first major intersection, you could take a shortcut and head straight downhill to Elysian Park Drive, passing behind Grace E. Simons Lodge, a facility dedicated to the journalist, activist and community organizer instrumental in protecting Elysian Park from development. If you're not ready to stop, walk straight on. The trail continues to descend slightly into an overhang of eucalyptus, pine and oak.

Downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers are viewed between trees along the descending trail.
Downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers are viewed between trees along the descending trail.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Downtown Los Angeles skyscrapers are viewed between trees along the descending trail. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

5. Walk past a yellow swing gate, where the trail ends, and make a hard left past another yellow gate and continue onto a closed section of Elysian Park Drive. Watch on your right for a boccie ball court, a fitness circuit and a children's play area on your way back to the parking area.

6. Near the end of this loop you'll find picnic tables, barbecue pits and public bathrooms.

charles.fleming@latimes.com

Fleming is the author of "Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles."

The stats

Distance: 2.5 miles
Duration: 1 hour
Difficulty: 2 on scale of 1-5
Details: Dogs on leash are OK, but not bikes. Ample parking on Stadium Way, Elysian Park Drive.

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Charles Fleming

Charles Fleming writes about automobiles and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times’ Business section. He also writes the urban hiking column LA Walks. A former staff writer for Newsweek, Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller “High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess,” the New York Times bestseller “My Lobotomy,” and “Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and its sequel, “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.”

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