The Hollywood Sign Hike

05/11/2008 Posted by cjunker

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.

Pros: Short hike, views of the LA sprawl and Burbank, hummingbirds and lizards

Cons: Horse manure dodging, dusty, hot in the afternoon

04/07/2008 Posted by plus22

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.

03/24/2008 Posted by stephie1DER

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!

Pros: great views, not too difficult, good workout

02/22/2008 Posted by inthegreenroom

Hey all, Don't listen to Jane Tunks... she doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. The Hollywood Hill Sign is not bugged. Can you really imagine a helicopter flying down to tell you to get off the hill? Do you know how much money and absurd human resources that would cost??? What if there were 48 people hiking during the course of a day? You're telling me Tunks...can I call you Tunks? Thanks. You're telling me that you actually believe the BS that you're spewing?!? She's claims to have grown up on that hill. Yeah, right...you must mean that you lived ON THE HILL. Like one of those crazy homeless sleeping in the bushes and talking to the trees. You'll find a few homeless camps, maybe some deer, but you're not going to find the CIA, FBI or any other acronyms. The homeowners association did no such thing with regards to using helicopters to fight the hikers. Listen up Tunky: if I lived up in the prestigious Hollywood Hills the last thing that I'd want would be constant flyovers from loud helicopters interrupting my family dinner night. You sound like you've taken far too many stupid-pills and you're one of those paranoid, stringy-haired, lonely souls just reaching out to scare others with your ridiculous drivel. Take it from me. My friends and I have done the hike. I'm talking we hiked up and actually touched the Hollywood Sign. It's quite perilous, with regards to how steep the climb is to those beautiful, giant letters. We touched the "D" in HOLLYWOOD. I warn you to be careful though, honestly people. The closer you get to the top, the steeper it gets. Sheer edge!!! Good luck and have fun! YOU WROTE: 05/20/2002 Posted by JaneTunks_Citysearch Don't get too close to the sign, because the whole hillside is bugged, and helicopters will fly down and tell you to "get down from the sign...."

Pros: There are no pros...if you want a pro you should go to one of the massage parlors.

Cons: I didn't encounter any swindlers whilst on my hike.

10/17/2006 Posted by uclagirl

We did this hike for my birthday, and had a great time. It's not the world's most challenging hike (I could do it, after all), but it was still a workout. We parked at the top of Beachwood and took the trail by the stable until we got to the road that leads to the radio towers. There's only one point to take a wrong turn (don't follow the horses--they're not going up Mt. Lee), so it's pretty easy to find your way. The trail is wide and clear, and the road is a road. Be careful when you get to the obvious landslide areas; there's still some treacherous spots along the edge, presumably from the rains during the winter of 2005.

05/20/2002 Posted by JaneTunks_Citysearch

Don't get too close to the sign, because the whole hillside is bugged, and helicopters will fly down and tell you to "get down from the sign." I grew up on this hill, and used to hike it all the time. Unfortunately, the homeowners association have fought the city to enforce a no-hiking zone with helicopters.

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05/20/2002 Posted by sandycrain

from reading the other reviews, I can tell we did something wrong, but basically we madse our way from the Observatory to the Hollywoood sign by following some dubious trails...oftimes seeming like they had only been travelled by deer. It was very hot and dry and steep and challenging and we loved it. We couldn't get right to the sign, but very close. Those letter sure are big!!!

Pros: historic

Cons: hard to get to