Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon

Runners get the chance to run the challenging hills and trails of a piece of Hollywood history at the Griffith Park Trail Half Marathon, which takes runners on an out-and-back course through this park in the middle of one of the nation’s largest urban areas that’s played a role in countless movies and television shows, from the 1955 James Dean classic Rebel Without a Cause to shows like 24 and Alias. It’s also the home of the world-famous Hollywood sign that looks out from the mountains above Los Angeles onto the studios and Sunset Strip below, and runners will get a close-up view of that plus the Bronson caves and more. As in its first year, runners will start the out-and-back course for the race on Commonwealth Canyon Drive near the southern end of the park, overlooking the Roosevelt Golf Course and downtown L.A. to the south. From there, the race heads into the hills, starting a route that features three out-and-back stretches that lead out to two different turnaround points, so runners can expect to see their fellow participants coming and going along different stretches of the race. Along the way, the terrain is “tough and rugged,” according to the race organizers, as it unfolds along several trails within the park, with names like the Aberdeen, Hogback, Brush Canyon and Hollywood trails. There will be four fully stocked aid stations spaced throughout the course, including one that runners pass twice.