elysian

Eight attendees and several Times staffers gathered at the Elysian Park West Loop trailhead on a crisp but glorious morning.

It’s always a treat to meet new people on the trail, this time among Elysian’s fragrant cedar, eucalyptus and pine trees.

We did a few stretches to warm up and then set out to explore Los Angeles’ very first park — yes, Elysian opened 10 years before Griffith Park in 1886.

The name Elysian comes from Greek mythology — Elysian Fields is a place where souls go to rest.

This time, we’ll be hiking the urban-adjacent trail Elysian Park West Loop.