The backside of the Hollywood sign on the summit of Mount Lee
Want to hike to the Hollywood Sign? One way to get there is a 6.4-mile hike through Griffith Park that summits Mt. Lee directly behind the iconic lettering. Beyond just gazing up at the sign, the hike offers the opposite perspective, a chance to look down at the city below. The moderate day hike gains 1100 feet of elevation over wide fire roads, and the last mile is actually paved.
Click here to see more photos of the hike to the hollywood sign
Begin at the north end of Canyon Drive. Find free parking in the lots along the road and hike around the gate up the center of a wide canyon. The dirt road finds the east side of the canyon and climbs above the trees. Plan on being completely sun-exposed from this point on.
The road rounds the top of the canyon and comes to an overlook at 1.25 miles. The view down on Los Angeles is so satisfying that many hikers turn around right here.
Looking out from the overlook below Mulholland Fire Road
Just above the overlook, the trail merges with Mulholland Fire Road. Turn left and continue west. Intermittent side views of the Hollywood sign let you know you’re heading in the right direction.
The road levels out some as it winds around the ridge. Bear right at a junction with another fire road coming up from Beachwood Drive, which brings riders up from the horse corrals below. Pass another overlook and continue along Mulholland.
Approaching the junction with Mount Lee Road
Two and a quarter miles from the start, the trail hits Mount Lee Road, a stretch of pavement leading up to Mt. Lee. Turn right and follow the winding road to the summit, gaining 450 feet in 0.95 miles. Look to the east for a nice view of the Griffith Observatory. The road reaches the north side of the mountain overlooking Burbank, the Verdugo Mountains, and the San Gabriels.
At the top of the road, there is a horseshoe bend to the left. The nice white safety fence is replaced by tall chain-links. Around the bend, you will be right on top of the H in Hollywood. The forbidding fence keeps hikers from getting to close to the sign and obscures the view significantly. Walk along the fence toward a closed off area full of radio towers. Turn left up a dirt path to reach the true summit twenty feet above the road. The 1,700-foot mountain offers sweeping view of the eastern Santa Monica Mountains and the city below. Picture everywhere you can see the Hollywood Sign from, and that’s what’s in sight.
A fence impedes the view of the sign
What if I want to hike further?
If you came this far (3.2 miles) and have the energy for a bit more, extending the hike out to Cahuenga Peak is highly recommended. Two tenths of a mile from the top, at the outside of the big bend in the road, hike around the back of the chain-link fence to a narrow rugged path heading west over the ridge. The mountainside drops off steeply on both sides of the ridge, and there is a nice view of Lake Hollywood to the southwest. Follow this track for a third of a mile to visit the 1,820-foot summit. Cahuenga Peak remains houseless, having been saved from developers by the citizens who donated to the Save the Sign campaign, which purchased the land in April 2010 in order to donate it to the city to become part of Griffith Park. This less-visited track is a nice relief from the fire roads on the hike up to the Hollywood Sign.
Cahuenga Peak
Cahuenga Peak is visible from Mount Lee Road, and once you get around the fence at the start, the trail is easy to follow. From the summit, a trail continues down the west side of the peak, then forks, allowing the summit to be reached from other points as well.
Looking down on Lake Hollywood
After enjoying one or both peaks, simply return the way you came. It is 6.4 miles to Mt. Lee and back, or 7.1 miles if you include Cahuenga Peak. This is a dog-friendly trail and there is a seasonal drinking hole for dogs about half a mile from the trailhead. For a bit more fun, head southeast from the trailhead on a paved road leading up to the “Bat Cave.” After ¼ mile, turn left into a quarry with a cinematic tunnel made famous for its portrayal of the Batman Cave on the 1960s TV show. To the right of the tunnel, bold hikers may take very steep path that climbs up the ridge toward Mulholland Fire Road. No fee or permit is required to visit Griffith Park, so get out and enjoy.
- For a shorter hike to Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee, Consider Wonder View Trail, which approaches the summits from the west.
To get to the trailhead: From Franklin Avenue, north of the 101 Freeway and Hollywood Boulevard, turn north on Canyon Drive (between Bronson Avenue and Van Ness Avenue) and drive 1.4 miles to the trailhead. There is a small parking area on the left past a larger lot on the right.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
View Hiking reviews around Los Angeles in a larger map
| You might also enjoy: | |
 |
This 3-mile hike ascends 925 feet to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign. |
 |
This 1.65 or 2.65-mile loop tours the most popular dog park in Los Angeles. Both loops offer good exercise and views over Hollywood. |
 |
This 6-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 |
This 2.1-mile out-and-back on Solstice Canyon Trail makes for an easy level stroll. The trail visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall. |
 |
This 9.5-mile loop tours Santa Anita Canyon -- visiting Hoegees Camp, Spruce Grove Camp, and Sturtevant Falls. |
 |
There are two popular trails to the 10,064-foot summit of Mount Baldy. The Baldy Bowl Trail and the Devil's Backbone Trail can be combined for a scenic 11.3-mile loop. |
 |
This list of trails explores the peaks and waterfalls of the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains |
Comments