Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign
in Griffith Park
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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 1,100 feet of elevation over wide fire roads, and the last mile is actually paved. For a shorter hike to the Hollywood Sign, up Cahuenga Peak, consider Wonder View Trail.
Begin the hike to the Hollywood Sign at the north end of Canyon Drive. After parking in the free lots along the road, 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.
A view of Hollywood from the overlook
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.
Looking east on Mulholland Fire Road toward Mount Lee
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.
Looking up at Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign
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.
Looking through the fence at the Hollywood Sign
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.
Looking out from the top of Mount Lee
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, find Aileen Getty Ridge Trail at the end of the chain-link fence keeping visitors from the Hollywood Sign. Follow this narrow rugged path heading west over the ridge to Caheunga Peak. 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.
Aileen Getty Ridge Trail to 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.
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. No fee or permit is required to visit Griffith Park, so get out and enjoy.
For a bit more fun, head southeast from the trailhead on a dirt fire road to Bronson Cave. After 1/4 mile, turn left into a quarry with a cinematic tunnel made famous for its portrayal of the Batcave in the TV version of Batman from the 1960s. To the right of the tunnel, bold hikers may take very steep path that climbs up the ridge toward Mulholland Fire Road.
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:
Nearby Trails
 | Bronson Cave This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the 1960s Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film. |
 | Cahuenga Peak from Wonder View Trail This 3-mile hike ascends 925 feet to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign. |
 | Bee Rock This hive-shaped point on the east side of Griffith Park is reached via a 1.7 to 4-mile round trip hike. |
 | Old Zoo Picnic Area This half-mile hike explores the abandoned exhibits and animal cages in the ruins of the old LA Zoo in Griffith Park. |
 | Beacon Hill This 2.75 to 3.9-mile hike in Griffith Park climbs 500 feet to the easternmost summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 | Runyon Canyon 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. |
 | Trebek Open Space This 2.5-mile hike incorporated Bantam Trail and Castair Trail in a park adjacent to Runyon Canyon. |
 | More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Similar Trails
 | Westridge Trail to San Vicente Mountain This 7.4-mile hike travels a scenic ridge between a Brentwood neighborhood and a summit that was once used as a Nike Missile site. |
 | Mandeville Canyon to San Vicente Mountain Loop This 5-mile hike incorporating a few trails, taking a DWP road up to Westridge to visit San Vicente Mountain, before crossing Mulholland Drive and Canyonback Ridge to return to Mandeville Canyon via Hollyhock Fire Road. |
 | Sandstone Peak This 6.25-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook This steep out-and-back hike rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. |
 | Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak This 8.2-mile hike combines Stunt High Trail and a section of the Backbone Trail to visit the 6th tallest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
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I hiked this trail with the L.A. Meetup group and loved every minute of it.
Thanks for the detailed post.
I’ve done this hike a few times from Canyon Drive. It’s great. Excellent directions and photos. Thank you.