Griffith Park: Hollyridge Trail

The views of the city on this trail are good and being able to be so close to such an iconic landmark is really cool! I definitely recommend this trail for beginners, families and those visiting the city who want a little piece of iconic LA.
However, be prepared that when coming on the weekend or holidays, you cannot park on Beachwood Drive near the residential part of the street. So you have to walk another half a mile or so to reach the beginning of your hike.
You should also be aware that the beginning (and end) of your hike will mostly be staggering around horse poop as the walking and horse riding trails become one for a little ways before you make your sharp turn left and up.
I can’t decide if it deserves 3 or 4 stars. The hike itself if fine. The views are pretty good but I’m not sure I’d go again anytime soon. I would go back if I had an out of town friend who wanted to see the Hollywood sign up close but I wouldn’t return just because I want to go on a hike.
If you live in LA, at least for me, it seems like a one time thing. I think this is because you have a specific destination in mind. I personally wouldn’t want to continue hiking to the same landmark I’ve seen again and again.
There are so many places that have hiking trails and this definitely isn’t the best one, but it’s great for those who haven’t don it before.

I completely enjoyed this hike up to the Hollywood sign. It’s been on my bucket list for many many years. Having grown up on the East Coast, New York and New Jersey to be exact I was quite the distance away from completing this… Not to mention that when you’re a teenager you just can’t take off and go to the Hollywood Sign whenever you wanted to. If I lived here I probably would have been on top a hundred times or more ready.
I’m not sure you could get a more Scenic Trail being this close to a major city. as you walk you’ll get views of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley, and the outlying hills, which are capped with the Griffith Park Observatory.
I’m not sure what the weather is here all year long but I hiiked this in April at sunset and all I needed was a light jacket for the hike down. And I was nice enough to wear shorts for the entire trip.
I would recommend bringing a small pack for your jacket, maybe a beanie if it is windy, a bottle or two of water and a light snack.
The total distance of my hike including the trek from my car to the trailhead was about 4 miles total.
If you have a camera of any kind I highly recommend bringing it. because this life for many opportunities in a grand variety of times during the day to take photos. if you’re coming up to the sign to take photos of Los Angeles I would come either really early in the morning or more toward sunset. This is because from mid-​morning until the middle of the day the sun is moving in the direction you would be pointing your camera and the recommended hours that I have stated would be better for taking photographs.

This hike was incredible! Didn’t take too long. And stunning views all the way to the sign. Breathtaking when you get to the top behind the Hollywood sign!
It’s more of a struggle coming downhill, especially when it’s dark and you come across coyotes like we did! So be careful.

First time going on this hike. We went on a Sunday around 2 pm. We lucked out with parking, getting a spot as soon as we arrived. The weather couldn’t have been better, thank you California!
Once you hike up past the beautiful homes, you get the full beautiful view of LA city. There are signs throughout. We took the road to Mt. Lee’s summit which takes you to the back of the sign.
Make sure you take water since there’s no place up there to get it. No bathrooms either.
A little bit of an incline but manageable.
Great photo ops with the iconic sign.

Can’t remember what movie it was that I saw once where there were two guys hanging out sitting in the letters of the Hollywood sign and drinking beers. Anyway, you can’t do that today — you can only hike up to it and see the letters from behind a fence. Still, this was an LA bucket list item for me so I had to do it. So this is how I did it and of course there are other ways. In recent years the neighbors around the sign trail have gotten cranky about all the traffic and foot traffic so there are parking restrictions. If you go by car, park where you find parking on Beachwood then walk up a bit towards Sunset Ranch. If you get as far as you can go, turn around on Beachwood and go back down. Don’t go on Hollyridge Drive as it is very tight and narrow and you might end up just taking it all the way down winding all over the place until you get to Bronson or Canyon.
So I went with a small group of folks — none of us had ever been. Just a note: arrive having eaten and use the bathroom before you go. There are no facilities on this trail. No vending machines. No souvenir shops. Nothing. Well nothing other than a ton of folks also headed to see the Hollywood sign. Be prepared to hike some steep areas but there’s no part of it that is really dangerous. Doesn’t require you to be an Olympic athlete but you want to wear proper comfortable shoes for a long walk/​hike. If you’re leisurely stopping to take photos give it a few hours round trip — coming back down a lot faster/​easier than going up naturally. We decided not to spend hours looking for parking or worrying about cars so we took a Lyft and gave the driver the address of Sunset Ranch: 3400 N Beachwood Dr, LA, CA 90 068. He took us as far as he could and let us out right about where Beachwood and Hollyridge Drive intersect. We walked on paved road to a walled off area where there was a door you had to go through. From there it was a short walk up to a parking area for Sunset Ranch. This is where the trail pretty much officially starts. There are a bunch of signs warning about this and that. You take a short hike from the parking lot up to where it intersects a bigger trail that goes both west and down or east and up. We took a bunch of pictures and kept walking where the trail curved east and then north. Good views of the Los Angeles skyline around here. We kept on northward passing the Sunset Ranch and occasional horse riders. Then we got to a part of the trail that keeps on winding through the hills to points beyond or we could take a trail that doubled back and climbed up a hill to the southeast. We doubled back and climbed the hill. On the Google maps they call it Mulholland Hwy — we did see a few vehicles pass through on occasion. After you get up the hill the trail winds up and down westward until you get to a paved road.
This paved road is Mt Lee Drive and you can take either the left path — southwest and downward or the right path — northeast and upward. Left path supposedly takes you to a good view right under the sign. Right path takes you as close as you can get right above the sign. We took the right path and that took us on a long trail that snakes around and climbs up the hill. Once you reach the hill the path goes to the east and you get a really good view of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Burbank in the distance. The trail climbs west and once you hit the top you are almost there. I guess if you really have to go you can sneak off on one of the little dirt trails that goes off to the west. One member of our party did but I’ll just leave it at that. From here you can see the Hollywood Sign and take a zillion pictures. I don’t think I need to mention the huge fines you might end up paying if you decide to climb the fence and get all touchy feely with the letters. There’s also a little hill you can walk up and take more pictures from. The east end of the trail is taken up by a television transmitter tower and station that once used to belong to W6XAO.
All in all a very satisfying trail. Who knew a bunch of big letters on a hill would mean so much to travellers from all over the world? But yeah — worth doing. Probably best to avoid the summer months and go earlier in the day to avoid the big tourist rush. Bottle of water wouldn’t hurt. I bet the Dollywood, Bollywood, and Nollywood signs don’t have a hiking trail this cool.

Didn’t know what to expect when coming here. Just thought it would be cool to see the Hollywood sign up close. Spectacular views not to bad of a hike despite the horse poop on the trail. Overall it was pretty awesome. Would recommend it to anyone that’s willing to take time and enjoy the nature part of LA

There are a ton of mini trails once you get on it! Could easily spend an afternoon or just an hour here. Bring your kids, your dogs, and most importantly, water & sunscreen! Scant shade.
Good view of Los Angeles on a semi-​clear day but otherwise, I wouldn’t hike this for the view.
You can park at the Griffith’s Observatory and just start on the trails next to it and make your way over to the Hollyridge Trail.

Nice workout with an awesome view at the end. On a clear day you’re rewarded with a scenic hike. Path was flat and easy to do with pets and kids. Awesome view of the hills and Hollywood sign. Add this one to your list if you’re a nature fan.

So… Being a Florida girl not used to all these hills! However, thoroughly enjoyed my leisurely hike up the trail. So for ppl wanting more of an exercise please feel free to run up or go up the rock paths. I used the dirt path, which was rather challenging.
The views were amazing, though wish I took more pictures. So don’t forget and don’t be afraid to look like a tourist and take pictures! Especially if it’s your first time.
Carpet dime mañana!

This was the first real hike that I had ever been on, and I was so glad that I did it! I had such a great experience, and now want to hike a lot more. The trail was moderately difficult, with stunning views all along the way. At the end, you find yourself standing behind the iconic Hollywood sign, looking out over the landscape. Amazing thing to do!
Tip: Bring a map with you, or save an offline map of the trail onto your phone. The trail is not clearly marked — there were times when my friend and I weren’t sure which trail to take.
Also, be prepared to park far away, as you have to take whatever you can find on the streets.

My friend recommended this trail when I told her my boyfriend and I were planning to see the Hollywood sign. Not a bad hike! Took us about 45 minutes one way and we were going at a leisurely pace.
You may have to park about ½ a mile or 1 mile away, as any closer street parking requires having a permit. Follow the signs up the path for Hollyridge trail, or even use the Hollywood sign as your guide towards the beginning of the trail! You will enter through a gated path where you will see a sign for a ranch. The first ½ mile of the trail is strenuous! Also, it is filled with horse manure and it reeks! It is extremely steep and you will most likely be tired already from the ½ mile-​1 mile it took to trek uphill from your car to the beginning of the trail. However, the view is absolutely breathtaking and worth the hike! Plus, coming down will be a breeze. When you get to the fork of a paved path, take the left for the front of the Hollywood sign. The right leads to the back of the sign. During the hike, you’ll see Griffith observatory and downtown LA from afar. Make sure to bring water, sunglasses, and a map!

Definitely agree with the other Unilocalers about the Pros and Cons of this trail. Really loved this trail. The view once you get up top… away from the horse poop… is breathtaking.
Word of advice, there is no signage, so be sure to look up the trail and print the directions or load it on your phone before you get there.

I came to hike this place several times throughout the years. It is a formidable hike if you go off path and climb the steep grades as a shortcut. The last leg of this hike is a steeper grade, so it is a good workout to finish strong.
This path will take you above and behind the Hollywood sign. It is actually forbidden to go up to the sign, although there have been people that have done it. There are LAPD officers stationed in the compound surrounding the sign, so climb at your own risk. I had a buddy try to ascend to the sign from below, and got called out by LAPD for trespassing. Luckily, he just got a slap on the wrist.
The path ends at the summit, and it is a great view of Los Angeles. Below, you can get a glimpse of Hollywood lake, and the many narrow streets that make up Hollywood Hills.
Taking the path back down, you can hike to the Griffith Observatory, which is a great place to check out. I have a review for that place too, search for it in my profile.
It’s a fun hike, as well as a good workout.

An easy hike with great views from behind the Hollywood sign and Lake Hollywood. Do it!
Options to Hollywood sign:
Brush Canyon Trail — 6.4 miles round trip with 1,100 feet of elevation gain
Hollyridge Trail — 3.5 miles round trip with 750 feet of elevation gain
Wonder View Trail — 3 miles round trip with 925 feet of elevation gain
Source:

I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day! It was an overcast Saturday in July. There was a rumor of a storm, but we ONLY encountered lightning, thunder, and an intermittent light rain!
A bunch of friends met at 8am at the bottom of Beachwood Drive at the elementary school and carpooled up. We got dropped off at the top where the Security Guard is stationed at Sunset Ranch. Just walk through the door to the left of the tall, brown gate, and you’re in! Our chauffer/​tour guide parked near the store halfway down the hill since the parking is restricted in the residential area.
I had wanted to do this hike in May, but my roommate didn’t bring shoes and she was afraid of snakes — we didn’t see any this time! We did, however, see the horse droppings at the beginning of the trail!
Luckily, our tour guide knew which way to go. I thought that there were at least two forks in the road. I’m quite sure we took a right to go to the back of the Hollywood sign. Anyway, we did reach to chain link fence where a voice sounded on the PA system and warned hikers to not touch the fence during this lightning show! We ventured further up and got to the top of Mount Lee where we enjoyed the cool breeze and spectacular views of Los Angeles, the Hollywood Reservoir, etc.
It took us about an hour to go up because we took water and snack breaks and we were quite chatty along the way. Coming down was faster because we were looking forward to breakfast!
I’m glad I brought my visor and towelettes — it was a really warm day! For sure I would do this hike again! Let’s go!

I heard this trail can take you to the front of Hollywood Sign, to the back or to the Teahouse!
Since we took a detour to the Teahouse side by mistake, it took us about an hour altogether to the back of the sign. Somehow I expected to be so close I can almost touch the letters but they do have a fence protecting the letters so the closest you can get for a good picture is on the little hill on top.
It is not a very strenuous hike, but there are hills. Since they also do horseback rides, there is also a lot of poop on the way so keep your eyes on the ground!
As another Unilocaler mentioned, the hardest part is the beginning so don’t get discouraged and keep going. There are beautiful panoramic views of LA on the way.
You will have to drive to the end of the road and once you see a guard at a gate, find parking nearby and just let the guard know you are there to hike.

We came here specifically to see the teahouse before it gets taken down.
We parked at the bottom near the greek because at the top was just chaos. Rude ass rent-​a-​cops at the top directing traffic that couldn’t answer a question if their life depended on it. We walked up the hill to the observatory parking lot. Once you get to the top where the observatory is, you will see a trail opening across the parking lot. Tons of signs and people to follow. The trail itself was pretty easy — a little incline but wide open dirt trails. You can see the Hollywood sign and when you get close to where the teahouse is, there’s a little water station for your dog. There are a few different trails that split off that we might have to try another time but this hike had very little shade so we would probably have to come back early in the AM or towards sundown.
Great views!

I actually came across this trail accidentally. I came to hike the Beachwood canyon stairs/​trail but ended up here. You enter the gate that has a sign for the horse rides and you will see a small parking lot on the right side. Right before it, there is a trail that takes you up to the Mt. Hollywood.
Initially, there is a lot of horse poop so be careful! I was glad I didn’t bring my pups. But as you go up, not much you have to worry about.
Someone wrote little messages on the ground with chalk which was super cute! Gives you encouragement to make it to the top!
Also, watch out for parking! Nearby the entrance, you cannot park on weekends without a permit.

Great fun easy hike. about 2 – 3 mile hike from the start point which is just inside the gates.
You aren’t able to park in the residential areas right next to the head of the trail on the weekends, there are signs posted. You can still park about 0.5 miles away near the coffee shop and little stores.
The hike is pretty easy and only a moderate incline during the first half of the hike. It is great for all ages/​levels and you get pretty close to the Hollywood sign! I took my parents and they loved it. Beautiful cityscapes of LA as well.

I hiked the Hollyridge Trail to the Hollywood sign in the fall of October 2009 before the controversy from the neighborhood about hordes of tourists coming up Beechwood Drive and the closure of the trail while they installed the gate.
The trail is rather easy and there are great views in all directions from DTLA to Griffith Observatory to Pasadena to the Valley. About ½ of it is on dirt and the other half is paved road that’s used by those who need to work on the antennae at the top of Mount Lee.
Along the way, you can take a fork in the trail that goes east to Griffith Park and Griffith Observatory. If you’re hiking to the Hollywood sign, take a left where the trail forks and you’ll get around some hills to the road.
This is an enjoyable hike.