From the glimmer of downtown traffic to the glamour of the Hollywood sign,
this moderate hike offers views of all that defines Los Angeles.
Location: Griffith Park Region: Hollywood/Beverly Hills Distance: 4.7 miles up and back Difficulty: Moderate When to go: October through June Hours: 6 a.m. to sunset Phone: (323) 913-7390 Elevation Gain: 1,050 ft. Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash only Restrooms: At the picnic area just down the road from the Fern Dell
main parking lot, and at the observatory. Parking: Free parking along Fern Dell Road and in the main parking
lot.
Trail Information
Full Review: Attention LA movie buffs: This is your hike. From the
observatory where they filmed "Rebel Without a Cause" to the smog-enshrouded
hillside that holds the famed Hollywood sign, what you'll see from the top
of Mt. Hollywood is just about everything that brought the city to fame.
Across the street from the far end of the main parking lot, a dirt fire road
leads uphill. If it looks like you've wandered into a city garbage dump,
you're in the right place. Don't worry, it gets better. From there, walk up
the chaparral-lined trail until you cross a paved road. Pick up the trail on
the other side and continue your climb.
Soon you'll cross an unattractive cement bridge that connects you to a
series of lazy switchbacks that zig-zag up the mountain. At the junction,
make a sharp left. You'll pass the Captain's Roost picnic area. Keep going
until you reach another junction. A right turn takes you to the top of Mt.
Hollywood, where picnic tables line the overlook.
Walk back toward the junction and turn right to wrap around the other side
of the peak. This leads back to the switchbacks that run down to the bridge.
When you cross it this time, head south (uphill). A short walk leads to the
Griffith Observatory, where you can scan the city from coin-fed telescopes
or see exhibits and shows inside.
As you're facing the observatory, look left to find the spot where the trail
picks up again and winds down around the building's back side. At the
junction, turn right, then take a quick, sharp left and walk down into the
valley. A left at the last junction will point you toward the picnic area on
Fern Dell Rd., just downhill from where you parked.
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