A hike to the Hollywood Sign is a must-do for nearly every tourist visiting Los Angeles, California.  I have traveled to California more times than I can count, have even lived in Northern California briefly, yet prior to my most recent trip, for one reason or another, never had the opportunity to experience this popular trek.

The Hollywood Sign sits directly above a glitzy Hollywood Hills neighborhood called Beachwood Canyon.  Over the years it has become increasingly difficult to reach as residents have grown tired of sightseers creating traffic while wandering into and around their neighborhood.  Even though legally they have no right to block access, hoping to deter tourists, the community has been doing whatever they can to create uncertainty and confusion in finding the exact location.  Below I will tell you how to get to the Hollywood Sign safely, legally, and with the least possible effort, but first, a bit of history about this iconic landmark.

Situated on Mount Lee, constructed in the 1920s, the original sign read “HOLLYWOODLAND” to temporarily advertise a local housing development.  As it garnered increasing recognition, the sign remained in place, and over time has sustained many restorations, modifications, and improvements.  In the 1970s, a group of local celebrities led by Playboy Magazine founder, Hugh Heffner, held a gala at the Playboy Mansion to fund a replacement with structural improvements creating the famous Hollywood Sign we know today.  Although the sign’s appearance and intention have evolved over the years, its fundamental message remains the same:  This is the land where dreams come true.

What is the best hiking trail to see the Hollywood Sign?

There are a few options to consider depending on your end goal and level of fitness, but I’m going to focus on the easy route, to the front of the sign, which is the one I choose via Brush Canyon Trail off Canyon Drive.

The trail begins at 2927 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90068, USA.

Where do I park?

There are two free parking areas available, lot 1, the larger lot, which you will encounter first, and lot 2, a smaller space much closer to the trailhead.  Parking is open from sunrise to sunset and the hike takes approximately 2-3 hours or so roundtrip depending on your preferred pace, so plan accordingly.

What is the total distance of this hike?

The hike to the Hollywood Sign is about 6 miles or 9.7 kilometers total.

How strenuous is this hike and is there anything specific I should know?

This trek is moderate in difficulty and has an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet or about 305 meters.  It is almost entirely unshaded with a steady incline for a majority of the trail.  Be aware of the heat and bring plenty of water.

What should I wear and/or bring?

No special equipment is necessary and regular workout clothes are sufficient.  Avoid sandals and open-toed shoes – the rattlesnake signs aren’t placed along the trail just for fun.  And of course, be sure to bring your cell phone or camera for the obligatory Hollywood Sign photo ops.

What is the cost?

The Hollywood Sign hike as well as parking in the lots off Canyon Drive are free.

And Without Further Ado…

There’s no getting around it, to see the best views of the Hollywood Sign, you must grab your sneakers or hiking shoes and get on the dirt road trail.  As you exit the parking lot off of Canyon Drive, you will head north up the road towards a gate.  Note:  There is a sign with a full map of Griffith Park just past the gate at the beginning of Brush Canyon Trailhead where you will start your trek.

Continue past the gate avoiding the side road to the right unless you’d like to check out Bronson Caves.  (I did not due to time constraints.)  Most famously known as the site of the Batcave from the original television show Batman, it’s a short (less than a mile) trail with a nice, but distant view of the Hollywood Sign as well.

Head straight up the canyon as the paved road begins to turn into a dirt trail.  About ¼ mile in, you’ll notice an area of large trees.  Be sure to revel in the shade provided by these trees, because as the dirt road hugs the east side of Brush Canyon and climbs above them, you’ll quickly lose cover for the remainder of the hike.

The trail is steep as you make your way closer to the Hollywood Sign.  At about 1 ¼ miles into your journey, you’ll reach an overlook.  This is where Brush Canyon Trail merges with Mulholland Fire Road.  Here you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of Los Angeles and a much welcomed leveling off of the pathway for a short distance as you turn left and continue west towards Mount Lee.

You’ll begin to catch small glimpses of the Hollywood Sign as you continue on Mulholland Fire Road.  The next junction you will encounter will be Hollyridge Trail which comes up from Beachwood Drive where the horse stables at Sunset Ranch are located.  Note:  The Beachwood Gate which was previously used to access the Hollyridge Trail (a much shorter trek to the Hollywood Sign) was welded shut and permanently closed in 2017.  Make sure to bear right at this junction and continue on Mulholland Fire Road.

There will be another spectacular overlook as the trail winds through the canyon.  At about 2 ¼ miles, you will come across another intersection with a paved road, Mount Lee Drive.  You’ll bear left at this junction to head towards the Hollywood Sign Tyrolian Tank.  Mount Lee Drive descends for about half a mile until you reach the Hollywood Sign viewpoint area.  Note:  Keep in mind, this is not the route all the way to the top of Mount Lee and the back of the Hollywood Sign, but instead a viewing area for the best, clear, unobstructed photos of the sign.

From here you can hike back down to the intersection at Mount Lee Drive and Mulholland Trail and head east to Mount Lee Summit (just under a mile in distance from this intersection) where you’ll end up behind the iconic lettering, or you can follow your path back down the exact way you came up.

There you have it – a step-by-step guide to hiking to the Hollywood Sign for the closest and clearest photo ops possible.  Whether you choose just to hike to the Hollywood Sign Viewpoint, or to also hike to the top of Mount Lee and behind the Hollywood Sign, I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.  Because although the most iconic symbol of Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is immediately noticeable from afar, it is absolutely breathtaking up close.