You don’t have to hike up a mountain to see peak views. You can do it the L.A. way … by filling up your gas tank and taking a leisurely drive along Mulholland Drive. Aside from celebrity homes, this famed road that ribbons through the Santa Monica Mountains hasn’t changed much since it was built in 1924–and that’s the appeal. To navigate Mulholland’s twists and turns is to discover beautiful urban scenery and unexpected wild beauty, right in the middle of the city. 

Twelve overlooks dot the famous drive. Here are our favorites: 

Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl (7036 Mulholland Drive) is the most popular for good reason. Walk up a flight of 67 steps to a circular stonewalled rotunda to get a downright romantic panorama that includes the downtown skyline, the Hollywood Bowl, and the Hollywood Sign.

Drop by the Universal City Overlook (7701 Mulholland Drive) to catch a glimpse of movie-making magic at work. This northern perspective gives a bird’s-eye perspective of Universal and Warner Bros. Studios amid the San Fernando Valley and the Verdugo Hills. 

Stop at the Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook (8401 Mulholland Drive) for lush valley views and access to the 5-mile Betty B. Dearing Mountain Trail if you’re looking to explore the area by foot (pack a snack and plenty of water if you do this).

At the Barbara A. Fine Overlook at the Summit (11801 Mulholland Drive), walking along a short and secluded nature trail offers a lovely vantage of Fryman Canyon, the Simi Hills, and the San Gabriel Mountains. Tip: Cross Mulholland from the overlook parking lot, and you might just see all the way to the ocean.

To get to Mulholland Dr., take the 101N to exit 11A toward Barham Blvd. Merge onto Cahuenga Blvd., turn right on Lakeridge Place and make another right onto Mulholland. Some overlooks offer small free parking lots while others have designated street parking. Noted overlooks are open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., while the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl is only open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Story and photos by Yvonne Pasquini, @yvonne_pasquini