Lake Hollywood Loop

Hike Lake Hollywood Loop in LA County

Lake Hollywood Loop Hike in LA Count

Lakes, cormorants, action! Make your next walk of fame in Tinsel Town a serene reservoir hike. This 3.5-mile loop around Lake Hollywood has some of the best views of the Hollywood Sign. The LADWP has enclosed the reservoir with a fence, but the wide paved path still offers great views of the Hollywood Sign throughout the walk.

The reservoir is a protected haven for a variety of ducks, gulls, cormorants, and other local waterfowl. The fence disappears after 1.25 miles, when you cross the Mulholland Dam, built in 1924 (look for the plaque). It exhibits art deco dog heads on the southern wall. You’ll see the town of Hollywood, but the real glamour view is to the north in the form of a perfect, unobstructed look at Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign, looming over the water. It’s truly top billing and primed for a social media photo titled “Dam good view!!”

Continue on the loop path, staying left at both the junction with the alternative entrance and a singletrack dirt trail (you can take this for an extra 1-mile out-and-back). In about a mile, the Hollywood Sign views come back, a sequel!

After about 2.75 miles, you reach the northeast gate, marked by a Hollywood-ized barrier gate. Enjoy your final views of the 7,900-acre lake as you exit the park and finish the last three-quarters of a mile via a dirt trail along Lake Hollywood Drive. You know, always a Hollywood ending.

Hollywood Lake Loop Hike

BEER BONUS: Time for the golden reward at Golden Road Brewery. Take a patio seat and fill up on pub food or sweet treats like Butterscotch Banana Budino. Wash it all down with a glass of Hefeweizen or a seasonally brewed IPA. This is nice spot to watch the sun set over the river.

To get to the Lake Hollywood Reservoir northwest trailhead, take the Cahuenga Blvd. exit off the US-101. If coming from the north, take the Lankershim exit and turn left onto Cahuenga Blvd., followed by a left onto Barham Blvd. If coming from the south, exit Barham and turn right. Take the next right onto Lake Hollywood Dr. When you reach the intersection with Wonder View (the currently closed Wisdom Tree trailhead), turn right and find parking near the bottom of the hill (map). Park on the steep stretch of Lake Hollywood Dr. and find the trailhead (and accompanying map) at the bottom of the hill behind a chain link fence. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Taking the Stage: Tyler Ranch

    Hike the recently opened Tyler Ranch Staging Area in Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, with 18 miles of new trails. This 6.5-mile loop up Sunol Peak is a challenge and rewards with exceptional views of seasonal iridescent hills.

    View
  2. A woman stands at Dante's View in Death Valley, looking out to Telescope Peak and Manly Lake, Badwater Basin below.

    Sunset Hike (and Manly Lake Vista!) at Dante's View

    It’s one of the world’s best places to watch a sunset. Dante’s View is a 5,476-foot vantage of the whole southern basin of Death Valley from the top of the Black Mountains. On clear days you get views of both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S. 

    View
  3. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View
  4. The Carson Show

    Carson Falls is ready for primetime. This three-tiered, 100-foot stunner is hidden back in a canyon outside of Fairfax and reached on a 3.25-mile (round-trip) hike.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Lava Lava

    Once a land of volcanic activity, Mojave National Preserve shares plenty about its past via a quick yet adventurous hike to the Lava Tube in the Cima Dome Volcanic Field.

    View
  2. Kelso Dunes

    The hike to the top of Kelso Dunes in the Mojave National Preserve is only 3 miles (out and back), but you’ll feel like you’ve hiked much farther by the time you’re done.

    View
  3. William Kenyon Overlook

    Some of the best vistas of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park are easily accessible via a short and sweet 1.25-mile (round-trip) hike just off the CA-78. Enter your next favorite desert viewpoint: the William Kenyon Overlook.

    View
  4. Beaudry Bountiful

    There are no cars allowed on Beaudry Loop, but this 6-mile hike takes you on a wild ride. You’ll be climbing 1,500 feet up the southern Verdugos along a chaparral-lined trail with gorgeous mountain and urban vistas every step of the way.

    View