HOME Travel Guide Common Sense Travel
decorative font style

Polaroid of the Week: Hiking the Hollywood Sign – L.A. at My Feet

Polaroid of the Week: Hiking the Hollywood Sign – L.A. at My Feet

After two failed attempts due to traffic and cloudy skies, I finally hiked to the iconic Hollywood Sign. My hiking partner and I scrambled up rocks to a viewpoint above and behind the sign, reaching it after about an hour—just in time for a stunning sunset. You can't drive there; access is only by foot or horse, and views are from above, not in front.

Originally erected in 1923 as "Hollywoodland" to promote local real estate—not tied to movies—the sign deteriorated over time. Playboy founder Hugh Hefner led a fundraiser raising $250,000 to restore it.

The Trust for Public Land, which protects the sign and surrounding areas, has improved access with clear trails on Mount Lee's rugged southern side. Options include: Mt. Hollywood Trail (short, moderate); Canyon Drive Trail (longest); Cahuenga Peak Trail (shortest, most challenging). We took a shorter Mt. Hollywood route from Sunset Ranch at North Beachwood Drive's end (3.5 miles round trip from Griffith Observatory alternative). The ranch also offers guided horse rides.

The hike offers sweeping views of L.A., Glendale, and the Valley, though the sign remains hidden until the end. Start at Griffith Observatory next time for longer trails and better sign views.

Up close, the scale astonishes: each letter is 45 feet (14 meters) tall, spanning 350 feet (110 meters) total. For scale, I'm 5 feet 8 inches tall.

Don't climb the security fences—penalties are steep: $1,000 fine, restitution, one-year probation, and 20 days on a Cal Trans crew.

Find more on Hollywood Sign hikes here.

Tourist Attraction
  • Polaroid of the Week: Discovering Vibrant Copenhagen on a Budget Day Trip

    While many might view detouring to another country for a cheaper flight as inconvenient, I seized the opportunity. A $200 savings on my Europe-to-LA flight from Copenhagen, plus just €20 from Berlin via budget transport, made it an easy choice. Europes competitive airlines, buses, and trains have made such adventures affordable and exciting.My must-sees were straightforward: the iconic Little Mermaid statue, the vividly painted Nordic houses lining the canals, and Christiania, the citys renowned

  • Polaroid of the Week: Trekking the Majestic Negev Desert on Israel s National Trail

    Last week, I arrived in Israel and dove straight into the National Israel Trail. After one night in Tel Aviv, our group drove south to the heart of the Negev Desert, where we were dropped off to hike solo for days, unlikely to encounter another soul.The journey began tougher than expected—the midday sun blazed without shade, intensifying the heat. Yet, the stark beauty of the barren ocher landscape captivated me. I relished hours of walking over sand and rocks, amid a vast expanse devoid of tree

  • Polaroid of the Week: A Boy in Authentic Mazunte, Mexico

    After a month exploring inland Mexico, we reached the Pacific coast last weekend, celebrating our 100-day travel milestone. We stayed in Mazunte and Zipolite—stunning, near-deserted beach villages. While Zipolite draws hippies and backpackers, Mazuntes locals embrace a traditional life rooted in the land.