The Hollywood Sign Hike

Doesn't Recommend

signseeker

Joined 2 years ago

Take Beachwood Canyon ONLY; Avoid Barham/Lake Hollywwod. Don't let your nav take you up Barham to Lake Hollywood Drive to get to the sign--you will be led around a reservoir with an ugly fence into a 60s/70s community and will miss the splendor of HOLLYWOODLAND. TAKE THE TIME TO GO UP BEACHWOOD CANYON (from Franklin Ave, or the Gower Exit off the 101 N.) in Hollywood, You will get a true flavor of the 20s steets and Spanish homes, and the closest views of the sign. My drive around the chain link fence gets one star.

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gymbabe10

Joined 3 years ago

Surprising. I have not had the opportunity to hike to the Hollywood sign yet but hope to do it this weekend. I came upon this site, along with many others, when researching the best way to hike to the sign. I was surprised to find a site that goes into great detail about the security set up to protect the sign www hollywoodsign_org/signsecurity.html

check it out, maybe JaneTunks isn't so crazy after all! Guess I will have to see for myself when I make it up there this weekend, I won't be venturing over the wired fence, that's for sure!

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Jenny L

Joined 3 years ago

A side of the Hollywood Sign that most people never see!. Hiking up to the top of Mount Lee, just above the Hollywood Sign letters, is one of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles. In fact, I just did it again last weekend. The trailhead for the shortest route that I know is on North Beachwood Drive near Sunset Ranch. It's a moderately strenous hike, but the views of Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Griffith Observatory, Burbank, Forest Lawn cemetery, Walt Disney Studios, and NBC Studios will entertain you on the way up. I just posted a review of the Hollywood Sign Hike along with beautiful photos from the trail and a map that you can print and take along on your hike at mydreamcametrue dot com/hollywoodsign

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Lariska18

Joined 4 years ago

Loved It. my sister and i did the hike today. we went right behind the sign. there is a fence, you can only get within 20 feet of the sign. We found a nice spot, set up a picnic and ate lunch! JaneTunks, maybe you should actually take the hike before you comment on it!

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milesofsmiles

Joined 4 years ago

trecherous. me and 3 friends hiked up the face of the mountain to try and touch the letters. little did we know that there is a paved trail that leads up the back... they do enforce the no hiking zones with helicopters as i have learned from experience. never got caught but we were circled about 3 times with a search light. i recommend taking the specified trail to the sign. hiking the face is quite a task.

it is a worthwhile gorgeous view.

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grabtrees

Joined 5 years ago

hollywood sign. i love cruising up and seeing this sign! i know you can't get very close, but theres a dog park ill park at and walk up the hill a bit, its just such a pretty view of the sign and the city!

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norbertackerman

Joined 5 years ago

Hollywood Sign Directions. The hike is much easier than it looks. It can get fairly hot if you go during the summer.

Check out step by step directions including pictures: hollywoodsigntrip (dot) com

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cjunker

Joined 5 years ago

Go early...it can get hot!. We drove up the 101 from downtown and took the Gower St exit which shoots you straight onto Beachwood. Go to the end of Beachwood as far as you can and park in the dirt outside the ranch. Bring some water with you and start up the dirt trail to the right which will wind around above and past the ranch. Just when you've had enough of the horse manure, take the foot trail that cuts back and up to your LEFT. This will wind around and end in a T at a paved road. Go right on the paved road and follow this up as it winds counter-clockwise around Mt. Lee until it dead ends at the radio tower. We saw lots of hummingbirds along the paved road and there is a nice view of the Hollywood Reservoir from the top. We also saw 2 patrol cars drive the paved route so think twice before scrambling down to the letters from the top. The entire hike took about 2 hours. Not bad for an urban hike when you have a few hours but can't escape the city. Wear light breathable clothing and shoes that you don't mind getting dusty. If you are looking to get a close photo of the hollywood sign, save yourself the hassle of a dusty hike around horse manure and just snap a photo from Beachwood Drive! The hike itself doesn't provide many good photo opps of the sign.

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plus22

Joined 6 years ago

great hike!. great hike!

drive up beachwood, park up at the horse stable parking lot and follow the hollyridge trail. there will be a point where you can continue the trail with the horse excrement or fork up to the right... fork up to the right and wind your way up to get to the sign... i was there today and also saw a helicopter come to make sure there was no one at the letters.

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stephie1DER

Joined 5 years ago

A great time had by all!. I went on the hike yesterday and it was amazing! It's a beautiful hike...with great panormic views of Downtown LA, Burbank, Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood (just to name a few). In response to the helicopter debate....we witnessed a close call! We were at the tower at Mount Lee and heard voices but didn't see anyone until we looked over the edge and saw 3 or 4 people down at the letters. Within minutes there was a helicopter right on them with a loud speaker saying "you are tresspassing on private property, you need to leave immediately or you will be put under arrest!" Then it circled 3 or 4 more times giving them a second and then final warning...I'm assuming they left because the helicopter flew away but it was definitely an interesting experience to top off the day.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it! It's not too difficult (part is even paved) and it is a wonderful experience and seeing those letters up close is quite awe inspiring!