Hike to the Hollywood Sign (with directions on how to do it)

a hike up Mt. Lee to the Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles, with curious discoveries along the way. Burbank burns in the background, and a wild chicken is chased at the end.

*****UPDATE*****

I have gotten a few messages from people interested in doing this hike, so I have decided to paste the directions below. Remember, the hike is legal, but going under the fence to touch the sign itself is illegal, so please do so only at your own risk!

At 1680 feet above sea level, the summit of Mount Lee perches high above the Los Angeles Basin on the western edge of spacious Griffith Park. In addition to hosting the iconic Hollywood sign, the summit area offers one of the most stupendous views of the Southlands real estate — carpets of houses, shopping centers, industrial buildings, and office towers that roll out miles and miles toward distant snow-capped peaks and the blue Pacific Ocean.

Mount Lees summit, although largely occupied by a fenced-off antenna installation, can be reached from below by self-propelled means — typically, walking and mountain biking. A great place to begin is the Hollyridge Trail, which starts just shy of the Sunset Ranch Stables at the north end of Beachwood Drive in the Hollywood Hills. Beachwood Drive runs north from Franklin Avenue, which itself is accessible from the Hollywood (101) Freeway in Hollywood, or from Interstate 5 via Los Feliz Boulevard.

A small dirt parking area just below the stables has room for only a few cars. Theres more space for parking one-quarter mile below, along Beachwood Drive or residential streets parallel to it.

From the dirt lot, climb briefly south to a hillside vantage point where you can gaze south over the Hollywood Hills and the L.A. Basin to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Long Beach, and (when clear enough) Santa Catalina Island. From there, swing left and continue uphill (north) on the Hollyridge Trail. Horses and riders from the nearby stables are sometimes in view ahead; behind you is an ever-widening view of the L.A. Basin. Eventually, the tops of Los Angeles downtown office towers come into view.

At about 0.5 mile you reach a junction. Go left on Mulholland Trail, and follow its curvy course west until you reach the paved (but closed to motorized traffic) service road called Mount Lee Drive. Follow that road uphill (go to the right, NOT to the left) to a crest where a full, 180-degree sweep of the San Fernando Valley comes into view. Keep climbing, and dont give up until you reach the summit.

A formidable fence divides the topmost part of Mount Lee from the sheer slope below, which precariously supports the spindly looking whitewashed letters of the famous sign. Climb a rocky peaklet at the end of the service road (just shy of the antenna installation) to get a nearly 360-degree view of the landscape. Through the month of March, and perhaps into April, youll probably notice a prominent mantle of snow on a rounded peak far to the east. Thats Mount San Antonio, or Old Baldy, 10,064 feet above sea level — the highest point in Los Angeles County.

Mount Lee

In L.A.s Griffith Park, climb to a perch overlooking the Hollywood sign and a whole lot more.

Length: 3.0 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Hollywood
• Sign
• Mount
• Lee
• Entwistle

[imcalledjon]

i buried a brown fella under the y in 1992,

[calilove1942]

Oops, haha me and a group of friends are going this Saturday night up there to take pictures. EXCITiNG

[PerversionsOfNature]

Next time it wouldn't be a bad idea to not wear a bright, white easily-visible shirt.

[psalvacion]

Lol you look like tony hawk

[dave0000p]

I hiked to the top from the front 23 years ago and met a black guy from Detroit halfway up who shared a doobie with me. Wrote my name and date at the bottom of the first O. Good times.....

[TheAmazingZorx909]

I lived in a apartment in Marina del Rey. You could see the Hollywood sign from a distance.

[BROWNBEAUTY90]

Nice my turn tomorrow..... :)

[ewd76]

I'm scared of heights. Do you think this would be something I would like to do?

[johnnycee888]

Very cool

I Cr 13:8a

[TheCrazypotato111]

your close to hutch's apartments

[Fameceo]

Hi, I am going to California and I wanted to do the Mt. Lee hike as per your directions. There are so many warnings the the entire area is under surveillance and that if someone goes under the fence and gets close to the sign then the police will be waiting at the bottom. Do you think there is any validity to that? Were you fined or arrested (or anything) by the police or security when you got back down? I'd appreciate any advice that you have. Thanks and have an incredible day, Joe

[Frickis]

I saw in the bachelorette show that they was on the letetrs how did i came so far as they did in this show!