Hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains

With the public access closure of the trailhead at the top of Beachwood Drive for the Hollyridge Trail, hikers have lost a key route to the Hollywood Sign on Mount Lee. Those wanting to hike to the sign are now being encouraged to start up Brush Canyon Trail from a trailhead on Canyon Drive for a 6.4-mile hike to Mount Lee's famous sign. While this is a great option for those with the time and energy for a longer hike in the park, a shorter route still exists that presents superb Hollywood Sign views from the get-go. ...Read more.

Oak Creek Canyon Trail is a rather special trail in Los Robles Open Space that is designed for the blind as well as the sighted. The all-access nature trail has a dozen and a half signs in English and Braille. While blind hikers will probably want to turn around at the end of the guide fence, for a 0.55 mile hike with 50 feet of elevation change, others may continue on to a loop trail for a 0. ...Read more.

Away from many of the tourists drawn to Griffith Park's great landmarks (like Griffith Observatory and the Hollywood Sign), you'll find locals enjoying views of their city from Vista View Point, also know as the helipad site. This overlook along Vista Del Valle Drive presents a broad perspective over downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, and Griffith Park sites like the Greek Theater and the observatory. ...Read more.

Are you trying to get from the Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood Sign? Perhaps Google Maps lead you to Griffith Observatory when you were trying to get driving directions to the Hollywood Sign or maybe you are just eager to hike between Griffith Park's two biggest landmarks. It is possible to walk from Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood Sign. ...Read more.

If you like ridge top views without the effort of hiking all the way up a ridge, make your way to the end of Winnetka Avenue in Woodland Hills. From there, Winnetka Ridge Trail runs south along the spine of a ridge into the Santa Monica Mountains. The ridge stands above the west side of Corbin Canyon and delivers broad views over the San Fernando Valley. ...Read more.