Like what I did! This post offers our recommendations for the shortest route, easiest & best paths, what to avoid, and other tips for hiking to the Hollywood Sign. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. This 1,625-foot peak is a star of Griffith Park with panoramic views that can be reached from Griffith Observatory on a steep 1.4-mile hike or a scenic 2.65-mile trek and from lower in the park in Western Canyon for a hike of around 4.2 miles. There are trails less than one mile, on up to 6.5 miles, so that may be why "some people say" it takes longer, they went on a longer hike. This is also the shortest and easiest hike to the Hollywood Sign. Initially created in 1923 as an advertisement for real estate development, the Hollywood Sign has become an emblem of Hollywood and the entertainment industry. First, Bronson-Canyon Park (Google Maps:Bronson Canyon-Griffith Park, 3200 Canyon Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068). Formally known as the Wonder View Trail, the Burbank Peak Trail is ideal for those looking for a little adventure while on the way to the Hollywood sign. Have you seen many rattlesnakes there? Be sun smart! The observatory is open Tuesday through Sunday. Okay, so those are our two favorite options for hiking to the Hollywood Sign. In both cases, youre walking along Mt. 2023, Inside Our Suitcase. Free entrance to Griffith Observatory (closed on Mondays) Not . Im Alisha RoseA registered nurse, new momma + dog mom, Californian, and lets be honest, a little travel obsessed. Who needs sleep after seeing these views? This path leads up to the highest point of Mount Lee and you stand now right behind the Hollywood Sign. From grabbing a drink at a chic hotel to seeing art up-close, here are some of our favorite ways to enjoy the neighborhood. Not many do the hike from the Observatory to (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? #1 - Ferndell to the West Observatory Loop Trail to Griffith Observatory. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. This is a dirt trail with lots of different terrains and decent enough hills. This is the absolute closest you can get to the front of the Hollywood Sign without breaking the law. Keep an eye on them at all times, especially near the edges of the trail, and make sure they stay on the course. |, Review: Mythos Restaurant at Universals Islands of Adventure, The Getty Center Museum Info, Review & Tips, P-22, who is basically the mascot and guardian of Los Angeles, The Best Things to Do in Los Angeles: 1001 Ideas. We hiked there last night; started at the Charlie Turner Trailhead, and hiked out to Dantes Point. Here are some of the best areas to view the Hollywood Sign without hiking: These are just a few of the best areas to view the Hollywood Sign without hiking. Alternatively, you can start out at the Charlie Turner Trailhead, taking that trail past Dantes View before meeting up with 3-Mile Trail, which then meets up with Mount Hollywood Drive, and so on. Griffith Park is one of the largest parks with urban wilderness areas in the United States, with over 4,210 acres of land. Lee Drive route offers a better diversity of views and is easier, but to each their own. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. While there are a handful of signs saying no pedestrians its just important to be smart and stick to the side of the road to allow traffic to pass by. You will have a spectacular view of the city below the sign. And which is the shortest hike? At the very beginning of the route, theres also a large clearing where you can take up-close photos of the front of the Hollywood Sign. H: Terrence Donnelly (publisher of the Hollywood Independent Newspaper), O: Giovanni Mazza (Italian movie producer), L: Les Kelley (founder of the Kelley Blue Book), O: Alice Cooper (singer), who donated in memory of comedian Groucho Marx, D: Dennis Lidtke (businessman) donated in the name of Matthew Williams. Dogs are allowed on all trails in Griffith Park. The best part is, it is still only 7 am! Best Day Trips From Los Angeles To Take This Summer Griffith Park offers numerous recreational attractions and activities for all ages. No, only certified guide dogs and dogs in training are permitted. The trails and beautiful views that you will get from hiking Griffith Observatory are located within Los Angeles, so you do not need to travel far to get to it. Lee. All of the exhibits, except for the Planetarium show, are free to the public. Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park Guided Hike - Los Angeles It may sound daunting, exhausting, and maybe not your ideal way of spending your weekend morning. This area is known as Griffith Park, which is covered with some incredible hiking trails. She books the flights, reserves the hotels and speaks directly to some fantastic brand partners. Could be used as a fitness hike doing loops. Although this hike is around 3 miles each way depending upon the route you take, its the most enjoyable hike. View Griffith Observatory Hike in a larger map. Hike Distance: 6.0 miles Difficulty: Moderate Dog Friendly: Yes Start Point: End of Canyon Drive at Bronson Canyon. Right at the trailhead, there was supposed to be a plague, but somebody removed it and only the mounting stone remains. Accessibility: Visitors using wheelchairs, mobility equipment, or strollers may need all-terrain tires or adaptive/motorized equipment for the surface type and grade. 500 - 925 feet. You can also make the hike more enjoyable by packing a picnic lunch and taking breaks to enjoy the scenery. Took the short detour over to the Mt. There is no shortage of incredible hikes, things to see and discover in Los Angeles, California. As you get closer to the sign and near the road leading up to the radio towers, you will see two plagues. 3km around the area, there were some inclines. and now that Beachwood access is closed, nearly half of the hike is walking away from the sign. On the way back, we took another short detour down Mt. Need to mellow out on a shaded path? Waking up at 4 am to go for a hike? (Updated March 14, 2021.) If you are eager to enjoy a sunset or night hike, this is it! As we climbed to the top, downtown Los Angeles sparkled in the dark beneath us. Every residential street with access points to the Hollywood Sign has groups that have fought access. Griffith Park caters to hikers with a variety of interests. Griffith Park is just five miles from downtown Los Angeles, protecting an area of the Hollywood Hills between Interstate 5 and the 101 Freeway. The new structure was built using steel letters and supports. There are a variety of other options from Griffith Park, which you can plot out via this map. Rising over the center of Griffith Park behind the Griffith Observatory, Mount Hollywood has the most panoramic views over Los Angeles. The best hike to the Hollywood sign is subjective and depends on your fitness level and personal preferences. Thank you very much for tips. Shortest hike griffith observatory/ hollywood sign - Tripadvisor You may have to park far away and hike 15 minutes or more to get up to the site. Weve been to Griffith Park several times, but never hiked to the Hollywood sign. Its about a 10 minute walk from the first parking spaces on Canyon Lake Drive and behind the gate on Deronda Drive. We respect your privacy. Hiking to the Hollywood Sign through Lake Hollywood Park makes for a less crowded and more scenic route than some of the other popular trails. For a 2.1-mile round trip hike to Griffith Observatory from Western Canyon, venture up West Observatory Trail from Fern Dell Drive. It is a pretty straightforward hike. The grounds, terraces, and sidewalks are generally open every day. Short and fun, doable for kids. The Griffith Observatory is perched on top of the south-facing slope of Mount Holly in Los Angeles Griffith Park. There are paid parking lots near the observatory. Have you hiked to the Hollywood Sign? Youll descend on this road for roughly 0.2 miles until you reach Hollyridge Trail Viewpoint which is situated just above Sunset Ranch. There is a small sign outside of the trail, next to parking spaces for the Greek Theatre. The area is famous for its Hollywood sign and Griffith Observatory, and for its spectacular views of downtown Los Angeles and the Santa Monica Mountains. Thanks again! Want to receive free updates on when Japan will reopen for travel? Lets get start with a quick update as of March 2021. Even through it is more of a Griffith-Park-adjacent outing, Hollywood Reservoir is included on this list. But Im glad we explored some of the hills and other viewpoints this time. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. After the tour you have the option of entering the building (free of charge) or to take the short hike back with your guide. Hear the legends of Tinseltown giants like James Dean. Located on a steep hillside of Mt. However, a sunrise hike to Griffith Observatory is the perfect addition to your trip or day in Los Angeles. The Hollywood Sign is one of the most recognizable images of Los Angeles and California. The trailhead and the summit are separated by 575 feet of elevation, but because this route crosses a mountain in between, the hike actually has two ascents of 425 feet and 525 feet. Trust me; it is worth it! Your email address will not be published. In fact, hiking to the Hollywood sign is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Los Angeles. Starting the hike from Griffith Observatory you will want to head to the Charlie Turner trailhead. From here on you will have to climb a steep and rugged trail all the way up to the peak of the mountain. If you want to hike closer to the Hollywood Sign as possible or go around the back of the sign then youll need to add on going up the steep incline of Mount Lee Drive (more notes on this here). Did you know that the sign was earlier reading Hollywoodland and was changed after restoration to Hollywood? Awesome tips for Hiking the Hollywood sign. Facing to the south, towards Downtown, people started building little stone towers with their wishes and notes put in. The Hollyridge Trail is the most popular and offers stunning views of the Hollywood sign and the surrounding areas. I think we would be taking a lyft or uber to reach the sign. From Griffith Observatory (which is still temporarily closed as of March 2021), the easiest route is starting on Mount Hollywood Drive, and continuing alone until it meets with Mulholland Trail, and then continuing on that. Sometimes youre on pavement, sometimes youre on dirt. Groups and Tour Buses Griffith Observatory Griffith Observatory is generally open Tuesday-Sunday. You only can park on Lake Hollywood Dr near the intersection with Wonder View Drive. Free Money-Saving eBook & Japan Email Updates, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/hollywood-sign-wide-dusk-fisheye-bricker.jpg, https://www.travelcaffeine.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/travel-caffeine-new-logo-2.jpg. Crowded for the weekend, very hot now as of June 24. Your email address will not be published. The trail is gradual, but will still get your blood pumping. Then it is just up to up saving time and distance. Mount Hollywood and Dantes View via West and Mount Hollywood Trail Most people can walk on a flat street about 3-4 miles per hour. If you want to reach the summit of Mount Lee youll find the pathway to do so to the left of the locked gate at the Mount Lee radio towers. For a two-summit circuit, start near the Greek Theater and hike, To get the most exercise, make the three-summit selection and explore a cluster of peaks named. While theres a keypad on this gate, it operates on a timer that automatically unlocks between sunrise and sunset. This trail begins at the end of Canyon Drive, two blocks east of Beachwood Drive off Franklin, or Griffith Observatory. This was a great option since we got to go through the Roger Rabbit / BTTF tunnel. It does not store any personal data. Can you share weblinks of the hikes you are considering? 3 ways to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. During your time in LA, you will quickly realize how much we locals love getting outdoors and just moving. If youre so inclined, you can park closer on Mulholland, but I really would not recommend it. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. The Brush Canyon Trail is another incredibly popular route for hiking to the Hollywood Sign. To be honest, the backside of the Hollywood Sign is almost a footnote at the end of this, as the sweeping panoramic view of Los Angeles from the top of Mount Lee is truly exceptional. He founded Mountain IQ in 2014 with the sole aim to be the best online information portal to some of the most popular mountain destinations around the world. Hollywood drive, and onward to the back of the sign at the Mt. If you enjoyed this post, help spread the word by sharing it via social media. Next, theres Wonder View Trail (Google Maps: Wonder View Trail Head, Wonder View Drive, Los Angeles, CA). But you can not get to the sign as It is restricted. However, a sunrise hike to Griffith Observatory is the perfect addition to your trip or day in Los Angeles. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-83610490', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Hollywood sign and back, at least not that youll find a review on it. Unfortunately, that is not possible except from a distance. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Ferndell to the West Observatory Loop Trail to Griffith Observatory. That's another reason that the best time to visit Griffith Observatory is during a weekday morning or early afternoon. Alternatively, you may use, Hotel Figueroa - Unbound Collection by Hyatt, Hyatt Regency Los Angeles International Airport, A weekend in Downtown LA: Top sights, rooftop pools, and sceney hotels. Here you want to keep right which may seem confusing as it will actually take you further away from the Hollywood Sign on the final elevation before a steep switchback to the top of Mt. This well-known icon of California offers a free entrance to the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, exhibits, telescopes for stargazing, and gorgeous panoramic views of Los Angeles. Bring lunch to Old Zoo Picnic Area. Its a great way to escape the city and experience a little bit of nature while also getting to look out with incredible views of all of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Sign and lush Griffith Park! Once we arrived and found our way to the top of Griffith Observatory, it felt like this huge feat that my friends and I just conquered together. Here youll get the backside view of the Hollywood Sign and views from the Hugh Hefner overlook. There are a couple oftrails leading to the Hollywood Sign, but the one we took is for sure the shortest one, which makes it also the hardest trail to reach the sign. Great post thanks for all the tips! Its really short! You cannot get anywhere near the front of the sign. The hike is about as short as the Mt. I lived there for an entire year for work and loved taking advantage of their 284 days of sunshine. This trail does not go to the Hollywood sign, but it does offer great views of the sign, and of downtown. However, this hike does not take you as close to the Hollywood Sign, nor does it take you around the back of the Hollywood Sign as some of the other trails on this list. The most popular trail, the Mount Hollywood Trail, is approximately 6.5 miles round trip. {"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}, Hike To Hollywood Sign How To Choose The Best Trail. [] The shortest Hike to the Hollywood Sign Gate to []. (If you see this as an option elsewhere, that info is outdated.) However, there are some alternative hikes that you might want to consider depending on the things you want to see or the difficulty you want to experience. The downside is that the route is deceptively long (over 3 miles!) If youre not used to driving on these roads, its probably best to avoid the unpleasant experience of blind corners and hairpin turns. Griffith Observatory Sunrise Hiking trail and parking We want to do the Sunset/Night Hollywood Sign Hike, and it seems the Mullholland Highway option is the shortest. Well update this post if/when that occurs. However, it can be challenging to see it at night. From the map, I see part of the map shows two Mulholland Highway and one leads to Mt Lee Dr and the other one leads Deronda Dr. How do I get to the inside Mulholland Highway to the Deronda Dr and gate? Most people take the trail from Griffith Observatory over to the sign. Any questions? For stunning and unforgettable views, you must hike to the Griffith Observatory at sunrise. However, its important to note that this trail does not take you directly to the Hollywood sign, but rather to a viewing area near the Griffith Observatory.