Hollywood Ending

Hike to a Lookout Near the Hollywood Sign

01.16.2020
Hike to a lookout near the Hollywood Sign

At times the Hollywood Sign seems to take on a new gleam. Or maybe it just got a fresh paint job.

Either way, it’s a fitting icon to see up close, and there’s a good hike for that. Make the 3-mile round-trip hike up Aileen B. Getty Ridge Trail, which crosses the 1,820-foot summit of Cahuenga Peak.

The best view of the Hollywood Sign actually comes at a lookout named for a major donor: Hugh Hefner. Enjoy cinematic vistas over LA from above the iconic sign before returning the way you came.

BONUS:Take your chances on seeing Hollywood royalty post-hike. The nearby Smokehouse Restaurant is located close to Warner Brothers Studios, making it a common dining spot for industry luminaries. It's currently open for outdoor dining and take-out.

Near the Cahuenga Pass, exit Hwy. 101 at Barham Blvd. and drive north 0.3 mile. Turn right onto Lake Hollywood Dr. and take this winding road for 0.5 mile. Park at the intersection with Wonder View Dr. and begin walking up Wonder View. The pavement ends after a quarter mile. Find the singletrack heading east next to a plaque that honors the Save the Sign Campaign. After reaching the summit of Cahuenga Peak, the trail crosses a saddle to Hugh Hefner Overlook and connects to Mount Lee Dr. behind the Hollywood Sign. Wear pants; there’s calf-scratching brush along the trail. Dog-friendly!

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