Hike to the Hollywood Sign

-Wisdom Tree to Mount Lee-

The iconic Hollywood Sign is what most tourists view as the symbol of Los Angeles. Sitting atop Hollywood in the Santa Monica Mountains, this 352 feet long and 45 feet high landmark was originally installed in 1923 for advertising purposes. The real estate company who placed the giant letters on Mount Lee initially spelled out, “Hollywoodland.” Eventually, “land” was dropped, and “Hollywood” was kept up due to popularity, especially because the film industry started recording the Hollywood Sign in movies. This gigantic sign is an impressive site to see and a must do if you are visiting LA. As a local, (I think I can call myself that now after 3 years) the Hollywood Sign never gets old.

There are numerous ways to see the Hollywood Sign however, the best perspective is getting as close to it as you can! After countless acts of vandalism over the years the Hollywood Sign has been fenced in and is monitored by security.  There is a hiking trail that will take you right behind the sign with only a fence blocking you from this iconic landmark. No one wants a picture with a fence in it, so not to worry, there is a small hill right above the Hollywood Sign with the perfect view. This is the best spot to get an unrestricted picture of the Hollywood Sign!

There are two trails that will take you to Mount Lee, one being 5 miles long coming from Griffith Park, but that is not my favorite way to get to the back of the Hollywood Sign. The Wisdom Tree to the Mount Lee Trail is 3.1 miles long with The Wisdom Tree being a special part of this trail, making getting to the Hollywood Sign even more desirable!  I would rate this out and back hike as moderate. The first .75 miles up to the Wisdom Trees feels much longer as the trail is narrow, winding and challenging! The combination of loose dirt and jagged small rocks makes this hike slippery. I would suggest hiking boots or trail running sneakers with traction. I have seen tourists try hiking this in flip flops and once had to give Band-Aids to a mother daughter duo who braved the trail in Chucks and could hardly finish. I like to be as prepared as possible and know as many details I can about the trail I am hiking, so sharing these details is important.

There is a trunk of journals under the Wisdom Tree for hikers to jot down inspiring quotes and personal stories to share with others. The lookout point by the American Flag is an idyllic place to chill, take a break and have a snack while looking out over the rolling mountains.

Once you are ready to continue on, head back the way you came in and look for a sign that will guide you to Cahuenga Peak and Mount Lee. This part of the trail is .8 miles there and another .8 back.

There are some larger rocks on this part of the trail requiring a little scrambling with your hands, but nothing too challenging so don’t let this deter you. Once you reach the pavement follow it up to the right and you will see the Hollywood Sign a short distance up the road. This will get you right behind the sign. From here, you will want to walk around the corner and up the hill behind the sign for the best view and perfect spot for a picture!

Wisdom Tree to the Hollywood Sign Trail Notes:

• Put “Wisdom Tree in your GPS” to locate this hike.
• The trailhead is at the end of Wonder View Drive. This is a private road so you can only walk down it, there is no parking on this street.
• You can park on the street perpendicular to Wonder View which is Lake Hollywood Drive or the street just before that in the neighborhood. Be sure to check the signs because you will get ticketed if you park in a restricted area.
• There is no cell service here; I do not recommend Uber as I am not sure how far you will have to walk to get reception.
• This trail is super popular on the weekends. Try arriving on the earlier side to get a parking spot.
• There is no shade on this trail. If you are hiking in the heat, bring lots of water and sunscreen. I also suggest a protein bar since this hike is more strenuous!

 

 

 

Hike to The Hollywood Sign / Jill E. Gallien / March 14, 2019