There are currently two options for hiking to view Hollywood, CA’s iconic Hollywood sign, since the closure of the trailhead at the top of Beachwood Drive for the Hollyridge Trail. The most well known option is a 6.4 mile hike up Brush Creek Trail from the Canyon Drive trailhead. However, there is still a shorter option that offers views of the sign for the majority of the 4.6 mile round trip hike. This route is up Innsdale Drive, Mulholland Highway, and Mount Lee Drive, and includes several great overlooks for taking pictures and selfies with the sign.
This is a moderate hike, with a few hundred feet of uphill climbing. It’s also completely unshaded, so ensure you take sunscreen and water with you on LA’s many warm and sunny days.
The route is a little tricky, and includes several unmarked twists and turns. We used the directions found on this website (https://www.hikespeak.com/trails/hollywood-sign-hike-innsdale-drive-mulholland-highway-mount-lee-drive/), but still had a 1-mile+ detour along the way. There are several places where the way up isn’t super clear, but if you follow the directions in the website and the crowd, you should be fine.
Mulholland SIgn
There are also a lot of places that are well and thoroughly marked as no hiking areas. Take care to follow the well worn trail, and you should stay well clear of all of the threatening signs and postings.
No Hiking Signs
Make sure you look both ways as you’re hiking the trail though. There are several overlooks that offer outstanding views of downtown Los Angeles and shouldn’t be missed, even on a hazy day like our hike.
LA Skyline
The Innsdale Drive, Mulholland Highway, and Mount Lee Drive route is a great way to get to outstanding views of the Hollywood Sign. There is a well marked fence keeping (most) people from climbing on the sign or taking closeup photos these days. But, this reasonably accessible hike offers great views of one of California’s most iconic sights.
