Hollywood Sign via Brush Canyon Trail
Los Angeles, California
Details
Distance
5.04 miles
Elevation Gain
1155 ft
Route Type
Out-and-Back
Description
Added by Hunter Day
Hike the Brush Canyon Trail to an iconic view of the city of Los Angeles from one of the most recognizable landmarks in the United States. Escape the rush of the city to catch spectacular sunset views!
Getting to the parking lot near the trailhead and finding an open space can seem like the most daunting part of this whole excursion. There are free parking lots along the road to the trailhead, so keep an eye out. There are also several ways to get to the trailhead from other parking areas; I added a little distance by parking at the Griffith Observatory Parking lot and making my way to the North side of Canyon Drive. The dirt road/trail begins on the East side of the canyon and starts to rise above the trees. Remember if you are planning to catch sunset to be at the trailhead 2 hours before sunset that day. Also note that you will be completely exposed to the sun for the whole hike so bring plenty of water!
Stay on Brush Canyon Trail for 1 1/4 miles Continue on the trail for a little bit longer until you see it merge with the road on your right. Merge on to Mullholland Fire Road and follow it left, you can see the Hollywood sign for 95% of the hike so you will always know if you are going in the right direction. The road is pretty level for the next mile, it goes around a few ridges and points but be sure to keep an eye on your destination! Bear right at a junction with Hollyridge Trail coming up from Beachwood Drive and the horse stables at Sunset Ranch. Hike past another overlook and continue along Mulholland until the trail hits Mount Lee Road, 2,25 miles from the start. Turn right and follow the winding, paved road to the summit, gaining 450 feet in 0.95 miles. As you climb, look back for a view of the Griffith Observatory and Downtown Los Angeles. The road eventually ascends to the north side of the mountain for a view over Burbank, the Verdugo Mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains. At the top of the mountain the path horseshoes up and to the left, that is where you can get an unbelievable view of the expansive city and the iconic Hollywood Sign! Take a much needed break and take in the sunset, get some water, snap some photos, enjoy that you can escape the city and get a view like this!
You may be hiking back the lot in the dark so bring a flashlight! Try to stay on the same trails you hiked in on but if you think you are lost just look for Griffith Observatory and head that way. P.S. and if you are feeling up to it grab a few photos of the city from the observatory.
Download the Outbound mobile app
Find adventures and camping on the go, share photos, use GPX tracks, and download maps for offline use.
Get the appFeatures
Hollywood Sign via Brush Canyon Trail Reviews
Easy-to-access trail with lots of parking. 180 degree views of LA and the perfect spot for an unobstructed view of the sign!
5.0
I underestimated the incline on this hike, ha! Kicked my butt, but the end was worth it. Great views - good amount of people and dogs, but you'll get some great pics!
4.0
Hiking up to the Hollywood sign was pretty steep but halfway through it leveled out. I’m really glad it wasn’t too hot. During the summer, during the afternoon time, it would be a hot hike. So I was thankful for the beautiful weather. So worth the hike for the view.
5.0
Did this hike as a family with our teenagers and our boxer dog. Not a pleasure walk but not too strenuous. Challenging moments with a good amount of uphills. We loved it though! Worth the trek for sure! We followed directions to the entrance on hikingguy.com. Trailhead is on 2927 Canyon Drive. There’s a small parking lot there. Luckily it was rainy and not too busy so we didn’t have trouble parking. If you start there you can divert and go to the Griffith Observatory as well.
5.0
Coming from Italy everything here looks big and crowded! So take this review for what it is... an european review! Anyway although the trail looks to me more like an highway, I have to say I had a really good time there! The view is just stunning, you can see every part of LA. Also I really appreciated the fact that you can be in the wild nature, literally minutes away from the city! Wanna definitely go back and take the right turn to the Griffith Observatory. I wouldn’t rate it as “advanced”.
4.0
Leave No Trace
Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
Nearby
Bronson Bat Caves
Hollyridge Trail to the Hollywood Sign [Closed]
Garden of Oz
Mount Hollywood Trail
West Trail Loop
Glendale Peak via Henry's Trail
Community
© 2024 The Outbound Collective - Terms of Use - Privacy Policy