Trails, canyons and lookouts, including the best places to see the Hollywood Sign. 11 places, each with a map.
Mount Lee · Hollywood Hills
Erected in 1923 to advertise the Hollywoodland housing tract, the sign lost its last four letters in 1949 and was rebuilt in steel in 1978 with donations from celebrities. Climbing to the letters is prohibited, but trails in Griffith Park and viewpoints at Lake Hollywood Park and the Griffith Observatory give excellent views.
2800 E. Observatory Rd. · Griffith Park
Opened in 1935 on the slopes of Mount Hollywood, the observatory offers free admission, public telescopes and one of the best views of the Hollywood Sign and the city. James Dean filmed Rebel Without a Cause here, and a bust of Dean stands on the grounds. Planetarium shows run daily.
Canyon Dr., Griffith Park · Griffith Park
A short walk from the top of Canyon Drive, this old quarry tunnel became one of Hollywood’s most used locations. It served as the Batcave entrance in the 1960s Batman series and appears in westerns, science fiction films and Star Trek episodes. The easy trail makes it a family-friendly detour.
3160 Canyon Lake Dr. · Hollywood Hills
This small hillside lawn sits closer to the Hollywood Sign than almost anywhere you can drive. It is a favorite spot for photos, picnics and dogs, with the letters looming just above. Parking is limited on the narrow neighborhood streets and rules are strictly enforced, so consider arriving early or by rideshare.
Lake Hollywood Dr. · Hollywood Hills
William Mulholland’s concrete dam, finished in 1924, created this reservoir in the hills above Hollywood. After the St. Francis Dam disaster of 1928, earth was piled against its face and planted to reassure residents. A paved loop of about three miles circles the water, and the dam was destroyed on screen in Earthquake (1974).
2000 N. Fuller Ave. · Hollywood Hills
Once the estate of Carman Runyon and later of grocery heir Huntington Hartford, these steep canyon trails became a city park in 1984. Ruins of the old estate, including stone foundations, remain along the paths. The views over Hollywood are superb, and it is one of the most popular hikes in Los Angeles.
Fern Dell Dr. at Los Feliz Blvd. · Griffith Park
A shaded ravine at the southwest corner of Griffith Park, Ferndell follows a small stream lined with ferns, footbridges and little waterfalls, planted in the early twentieth century. It has long been a favorite spot for picnics and film shoots. Trails from here climb to the Griffith Observatory.
Beachwood Dr. at Westshire Dr. · Hollywood Hills
These granite gateposts mark the entrance to Hollywoodland, the 1923 hillside development whose giant advertising sign became the Hollywood Sign. Its stonemasons also built the retaining walls and staircases throughout the neighborhood. Beachwood Village beyond has a café and the original real estate office, with the sign looming above.
Mulholland Dr. near Cahuenga Pass · Hollywood Hills
A pullout on Mulholland Drive just west of Cahuenga Pass looks down into the Hollywood Bowl and across to the Hollywood Sign and downtown. Mulholland opened in 1924 as a scenic parkway along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains and has appeared in countless films. Parking is brief, so plan a short stop.
4800 Hollywood Blvd. · Los Feliz
The hilltop park around Hollyhock House is one of Los Angeles’s best free viewpoints, with a lawn facing the Hollywood Sign and the Griffith Observatory. Aline Barnsdall gave the land to the city in 1927. The park also has a municipal art gallery and art classes, and its olive grove is perfect for a sunset picnic.
4730 Crystal Springs Dr. · Griffith Park
Carved in 1926 and moved to Griffith Park in 1937, this carousel of hand-carved horses is where Walt Disney sat on a bench watching his daughters ride, wishing for a park where parents could have fun too. That idea became Disneyland. It still turns to the music of its original band organ.