{"id":5965,"date":"2016-08-16T06:19:45","date_gmt":"2016-08-16T06:19:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=5965"},"modified":"2025-08-16T23:43:21","modified_gmt":"2025-08-17T06:43:21","slug":"how-to-hike-to-the-hollywood-sign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/how-to-hike-to-the-hollywood-sign\/","title":{"rendered":"HOW TO HIKE TO THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN"},"content":{"rendered":"

As I climbed the dusty hills of Mount Lee, experiencing slight heat exhaustion and, well, regular exhaustion, I couldn\u2019t help but question my itinerary. Los Angeles boasts glitz, glam and the extreme comforts Hollywood\u2019s biggest names have come to expect, yet I choose to hike three miles up a dusty, sometimes rattlesnake-prone path?<\/p>\n

Hmm. That doesn\u2019t seem right.<\/p>\n

Despite the extreme conditions (and sunburn), the Hollywood hike was a must for me. I don\u2019t get excited by celebrities \u2013 I prefer Insta-famous pets \u2013 so the walk of fame wasn\u2019t up my alley. I\u2019m also not drawn to the ritzy life, so Rodeo Drive didn\u2019t do it for me. But a strenuous hike with stunning views of the city? Sign me up \u2013 stat!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a photographer, adventurer, or an off-the-beaten-path traveler, then the Hollywood Sign hike is definitely for you. Here\u2019s what you need to know to get up \u2013 and down \u2013 in one piece.<\/p>\n

\"photo-1456299613235-290e454a062a\"<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Getting To The Hollywood Sign Hike Entrance<\/h2>\n

Lucky enough to have a car? Plug \u201cHollywood Hike Sign Parking\u201d into your GPS and get goin\u2019. There\u2019s parking available on the streets nearby (not actually in the lot, at least when we visited), but take note that it\u2019s pretty sparse, so you\u2019ll need to build in time.<\/p>\n

If the thought of driving through LA sends shivers down your spine (heard that!), then just get an Uber from your hotel out to the \u201cHollywood Hike Sign Parking\u201d site. Expect your Uber driver to get confused (service can get spotty back there), so just tell them to go to the end of Beachwood Drive \u2013 it dead ends into the parking lot.<\/p>\n

\"photo-1456693906521-44e96e49e85f<\/h3>\n

\"Sunset-Ranch-Hike-Entrance\"<\/h3>\n

Hiking Up To The Hollywood Sign<\/h2>\n

Now, before I go too far, let\u2019s get one thing straight: Despite what Hollywood movies may have you believe, you can\u2019t actually hike on the Hollywood sign \u2013 you can go above or below it. Trespassing to climb on the sign will get you arrested, and they monitor closely. So\u2026 just don\u2019t.<\/p>\n

OK, now that we\u2019ve kept you out of jail, let\u2019s talk hiking. You\u2019ll enter through an entrance door that leads up to Sunset Ranch. Before you hit the Sunset Ranch sign, take a sharp right (it\u2019ll be hard to miss \u2013 going any further will land you among horses).<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll have a few steep hills to climb up, but I promise it does get better. Kind of. After about 30 to 45 minutes, you\u2019ll reach a fork in the road. As the sign notes, going left is your shorter option, and will take you below the sign. (AKA, your photos will look up at those big ol\u2019 Hollywood letters).<\/p>\n

Go right for a half-mile longer \u2013 and I\u2019d argue more rewarding \u2013 hike on the Hollyridge Trail up to one of the highest points in Hollywood. At this overlook, you can gaze out over all of LA, with the Hollywood letters in your foreground. Talk about photo framing\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Hollywood-sign-through-fencing\"<\/h3>\n

Pay Less, Travel More eBook<\/h2>

Subscribe to get our FREE eBook with tips on saving money when you travel!<\/p>\n\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/span><\/h6>\n

Getting The Perfect Hollywood Sign Shot<\/h2>\n

If you took the shorter route \u2013 hiking below the sign \u2013 you\u2019ll definitely have more crowds, but you can still get some cool shots. Ask a friend to get a \u201cdown-low\u201d shot of you with the sign in the background, or gear up for an epic jumping photo or Boomerang.<\/p>\n

Prefer the road less traveled? Same here \u2013 I\u2019m a sucker for a good view. You\u2019ll have a number of photo options up at the top, whether it\u2019s a panoramic with \u201cHollywood\u201d in the foreground, the Hollywood sign through fencing (to really paint the \u201cCaution, don\u2019t go here\u201d vibe), and of course, the tried-and-true back shot looking out over the city. Per usual, I took about a hundred of all three.<\/p>\n

Related Post: <\/strong>Girls Getaway To Hollywood & Beverly Hills<\/a><\/div>\n

\"Featured-Image-HollywoodSign\"<\/h3>\n

Getting Home From The Hollywood Sign<\/h2>\n

As you\u2019d imagine, the hike back down is oh-so-much-better than the hike up. You\u2019ll have a few views of the sign as you get further and further away, and the chance to photograph the beautiful horses along the trail.<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve fully descended \u2013 hoorah! \u2013 you can grab an Uber and get on your way to a celebratory, post-hike drink. You\u2019ll need to walk a couple of blocks down from the parking lot to get cell reception, but after that you\u2019re all set \u2026 and, very, very sweaty.<\/p>\n

\"Horses-on-Hollywood-Hike\"<\/h3>\n

Know Before You Hike<\/h2>\n

Before you head out on your Hollywood hike adventure, keep the following in mind:<\/p>\n