Hollywood Sign Hike
Where to Park: Canyon Drive Trailhead [see the hike on Google Maps]
4 miles total | 2-3 hours total | 1,000+ feet elevation gain
Very little shade [check weather]
View from behind the Hollywood Sign and Downtown LA in the distance
H O L L Y W O O D
An internationally recognizable symbol. Everyone's seen it in photos or while driving in LA, but for those of us who have done the hike up to the top of the sign know that it's an entirely new experience. A must do hike if you're in LA; keep reading to learn how you can get up close and personal with the famous sign in the Hollywood Hills.
Hollywood Sign Trail Directions and Parking
There's many ways to get to the sign, there's multiple trails and multiple trailheads. Here's a couple of them.
Trailhead 1: Canyon Drive Trail to Hollywood Sign
Easy to Moderately difficulty depending on experience.
Since the sunset ranch way has closed, the Canyon Drive Trail to the Hollywood Sign has become the go-to trailhead for people looking to do the Hollywood Sign Hike. For this reason, parking can be most difficult here and the trail is the most crowded. The Canyon Drive trailhead has sidewalks, trash cans, a parking lot, and facilities for visitors. This hike from Canyon Drive to the Hollywood Sign is about 4 miles round-trip and takes about 2-3 hours to complete, or 2 miles and 1-1.5 hours one-way.
Click here to see the Canyon Drive Trailhead and Parking Lot on Google Maps
Click here to see Canyon Drive Trail to Hollywood Sign Walking Directions on Google Maps
As close as you can legally get to the front of the Hollywood Sign
Trailhead 2: Griffith Observatory Trail to Hollywood Sign
Difficult.
Griffith Observatory is an great starting point for this hike. Parking is free at Griffith Observatory. The hike from Griffith Observatory to the Hollywood Sign is about 6 miles round-trip. It's not the easiest trail but it's perfect for those looking for more of a challenge. The trail from Griffith Observatory to the sign is called the Mt. Hollywood Trail.
Griffith Observatory Trail to Hollywood Sign Walking Directions:
From the parking lot, follow W. Observatory Rd.
Turn left on Western Canyon Rd.
Turn right on Mt. Hollywood Dr.
From Mt. Hollywood Dr., turn left on the small and narrow nameless dirt path that connects you to Mt. Lee Dr.
Follow Mt. Lee Dr. to the Hollywood Sign
Planning a trip to LA?
Why do This Hike?
How many people can say they've gotten up close to the Hollywood Sign, one of the most recognizable cultural icons of the world? Not too many. And having pictures on Instagram to prove it is even better. Whether young or old, local or visitor, if you like to exercise and enjoy the outdoors, make sure to add the Hollywood Sign hike to your LA bucket list.
Planning and preparing for the Hollywood Sign Hike
To start prepping for the hike to the Hollywood Sign, think about what day and time you can go. The park is open between sunrise and sunset. It'd be best to go on a weekday, at an off-time, because there's less people and more parking. If you go on the weekend, the earlier in the morning you go, the more you'll enjoy the experience. The worst times to go is on the weekend, in the middle of the day, during good weather because it will be crowded.
The best weather for the Hollywood Sign Hike is during Spring and Fall. We do not recommend the hike during a rain storm or hot weather. You can become dehydrated. Also, don’t go when it’s too cold. Just kidding, it never gets cold in LA.
The Hollywood Sign hike will take you about 2-3 hours round trip, including parking and walking to the trailhead. This depends on your experience level as well. Hiking one way from the trailhead to the sign is about one hour. Bring plenty of water (like in a camelbak), at least 1-2 liters, and comfortable exercise clothes and shoes.
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Is the Hollywood Sign open for hiking?
Yes! The Hollywood Sign is not closed. It's just that one of the ways to get there has been closed. But there's still a lot of other ways to get there. To start your hike to the Hollywood Sign, you first need to choose and get to your trailhead (where you start your hike).
Tip: Parking can be tight. Instead of driving and looking for parking at your trailhead, consider one of these options:
You could park in town and use a ride-share app to get to your trailhead
Take the shuttle if it's available
Have a friend or family drop you off and pick you up
History of the Hollywood Sign
The story of the name for Hollywood comes from when a man was carrying wood one day. When asked what he was doing, he replied, "I holly-wood", meaning he was "hauling wood". The name stuck.
In 1923, the Hollywood Sign was installed to advertise a new housing development. It originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND". The sign was quickly ignored and left to rot. In 1949, the Chamber of Commerce contracted with the City of LA to repair the sign. During the repair, "Land" was removed so that the sign only read "Hollywood".
In the years since, the sign has become a staple of Los Angeles and a must-visit destination for anyone sightseeing our lovely city.
Tips for the Hollywood Sign Hike
The Hollywood Sign Hike is fabulous for a group of family, friends, or co-workers
Don't get too close! The sign is monitored by security cameras and motion detectors; penalties for trespassing can be severe
After your hike, stop by Beachwood Cafe for some yummy food
If you’re planning a road trip, I recommend getting an RV rental in Los Angeles.
Fun fact: Each letter is 45 feet tall and the sign is 350 feet long in total
Bring plenty of water and a snack to enjoy at the top!
If you’re planning a road trip, I recommend renting an RV. Read our reviews of Outdoorsy, RVshare, or RVezy to find out how to get the best savings on an RV rental.
To learn about the breathtaking locations you can park at for free, check out our Harvest Host Review and Boondockers Welcome Review.
If you’re planning to visit Disneyland use a Disney dining alerts tool like SpotSnatch
Additional Links
Sunset Ranch Hollywood - Horseback Riding Tours of the Hollywood Hills
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Is the Hollywood Sign worth Hiking?
Yes! Hiking the Hollywood Sign is one hell of an accomplishment. A fabulous item to check off your LA bucket list. It's a really great feeling seeing the sign in person. And who knew the Hollywood Hills are such a surprisingly beautiful place for hiking. The view of the city is incredible too, even if it's a little hazy from the smog.
If you enjoyed the Hollywood Sign Hike, consider giving yourself more of a challenge next time by starting at a farther starting point or going on a similar hike around the area. Here's our top three recommended hikes in Los Angeles (not including hollywood sign hike):
Hollywood Hike FAQ
Is the Hollywood Sign Hike dog-friendly? Yes, don't forget the poop bags. Bring your furry friends because dogs are allowed on all trails in Griffith Park (on a leash!). The Hollywood Sign Hike is located within Griffith Park and dogs are allowed almost anywhere in Griffith Park.
How close can you get to the Hollywood Sign? You can't get very close to it, there's either a chain link fence stopping you or No Trespassing signs telling you you're going to go to jail.
Is the Hollywood Sign haunted? Maybe a little...a young actress jumped from the top of the H in 1932.
Is the Hollywood Sign open? When is it closed? The Hollywood Sign hours are open for hiking from sunrise to sunset.
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This guide is sponsored by Jenny A. Le, licensed realtor in Chino Hills.