A group of us went hiking at Griffith Park last weekend.  We went on a 7 mile hike up to the Hollywood sign.  Because I am training for a Mt. Whitney backpacking trip we have planned for this summer, I packed up my backpack and brought it along on the hike with me.

Hike Basics

miles: 7.0, out and back

elevation gain: 1032 ft

duration: 3 hours

For the driving directions, I went off this map provided by the Department of Recreation and Parks Griffith Park website.  Head north up Canyon drive.  You drive through a good length of a neighborhood before you hit the park gates as you drive up Canyon Drive.  We parked in a lot after you pass a playground but before Camp Hollywoodland off of Canyon Drive.

For the trails, I used this map provided by Dan’s Hiking Pages.  We headed north up the Brush Canyon trail, then turned left onto Mulholland Trail, and then turned right on Mt. Lee Drive.  Mt. Lee Drive ends behind the hollywood sign.  We wanted to catch a better view of the Hollywood sign, so we followed Mt. Lee Drive all the way back down the mountain.  After we took some pictures, we headed back up until we reached Mulholland Trail and then followed the original route we took back.

You can shorten the hike to the hollywood sign by parking off of Beachwood Drive and starting the hike on Hollyridge Trail, making a left at Mulholland Trail, and a right at Mt. Lee Drive.  The shorter hike is a 3.0 mile hike.

At the intersection of Brush Canyon and Mulholland trail.

Sunday is a busy day for Griffith Park trails.  There were trail runners, hikers, horse riders, and a military group.

The view from the top of the trail.

The back of the Hollywood sign.  Not the most photogenic view of the sign.

The girls.

View of the Hollywood sign from the bottom of Mt. Lee Drive.

Me and Kel.

One of the things I don’t like about Griffith Park hikes is how dry it usually is.  I was surprised to see lots of greenery and yellow flowers this trip out.