The Hollywood Sign is easy to see and impossible to touch. It sits on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, it is fenced and watched around the clock, and you cannot walk up to the letters. What you can do is choose a viewpoint that suits your time and energy, from a shopping center balcony to a two-hour hike that ends above and behind the sign. This guide covers the main options and the rules.
In this guide
It is part of our Los Angeles attractions guide. The Griffith Observatory guide and Griffith Park guide cover the park the trails run through.
Hollywood Sign at a glance
- Location Mount Lee, in Griffith Park above Hollywood
- Built 1923, as a real estate sign reading “Hollywoodland”
- Letters About 45 feet tall since the 1978 rebuild
- Easiest views Ovation Hollywood at Hollywood & Highland, Griffith Observatory
- Closest legal approach The trails behind and above the sign
- Trail hours Sunrise to sunset, every day of the year
- Cost Free; parking may cost money
A short history
The sign went up in 1923 as an advertisement for a housing development called Hollywoodland. In 1949 the last four letters came down and the sign became “Hollywood”. By the 1970s it was badly worn, and in 1978 it was rebuilt with new steel letters, about 45 feet tall, which were unveiled on November 14, 1978. The Hollywood Sign Trust looks after it today, and its website has a longer history.
Easy viewpoints
Ovation Hollywood (Hollywood & Highland)
The shopping center at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue has upper-level terraces that look north to the sign. It is the simplest option if you are already walking the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The view is a long one, so the letters look small in phone photos. Use zoom.
Griffith Observatory
The observatory terraces face the sign across the canyon, and on clear days you can get the sign and the observatory domes in the same photo from nearby paths. The building is free and closed Mondays, and parking near it is paid. The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz bus runs from the Vermont/Sunset B Line station. See our Griffith Observatory guide.
Lake Hollywood Park
This small city park at 3160 Canyon Lake Drive has a lawn with a close, straight-on view of the sign. It is open from sunrise to sunset. It sits in a residential area with limited street parking, so follow the posted signs and keep noise down.
Hikes that get you closer
All of these trails are in Griffith Park and are open from sunrise to sunset. The Hollywood Sign Trust lists them from easiest to hardest in this order.
Mt. Hollywood Trail
The Mt. Hollywood Trail starts near Griffith Observatory and climbs to the top of Mount Hollywood, with views of the sign to the west. It is the easiest of the three and a good choice if you are already at the observatory. Paths branch off it, so carry a map.
Brush Canyon Trail
The Brush Canyon Trail starts at the top of Canyon Drive in Bronson Canyon, near the Bronson Caves, and climbs fire roads toward the back of the sign. It is longer and steeper, with little shade.
Cahuenga Peak Trail
The Cahuenga Peak Trail is the hardest. It is steep and narrow in places and leads to the ridge west of the sign. It is best for experienced hikers in good weather.
Hiking tips
- Start early. Most of these routes have little shade.
- Carry at least a liter of water per person, more in summer.
- Stay on marked trails and fire roads.
- Check closures before you go. Parks close some areas on red flag days.
- Rattlesnakes live in the park. Watch where you step.
For more routes, see our best hikes in Los Angeles list.
Rules
Going past the fence or touching the letters is illegal. The sign has cameras on it around the clock, and police patrol the area. Griffith Observatory does not allow drones, and flying near the sign draws attention from the patrols. Many of the streets below the sign are residential, and some have parking limits, so read every sign before you park and do not block driveways.
Where to park for each viewpoint
For Ovation Hollywood, use the center’s own garage or a nearby paid lot; street parking on Hollywood Boulevard is scarce. For the observatory, the paid lots at the top fill early on weekends, while free spaces near the Greek Theatre mean walking up to a mile uphill. For Lake Hollywood Park and the Bronson Canyon trailhead, you will be parking on residential streets with posted limits. Arrive early, read every sign and be ready to walk a few blocks.
Planning by time and fitness
If you have 20 minutes, look from Hollywood & Highland while you walk the boulevard. With an hour or two, go to the observatory or Lake Hollywood Park. With half a day and good shoes, hike the Mt. Hollywood or Brush Canyon trail. Families with small children usually do best at the observatory, where there are restrooms, exhibits and paved terraces.
Getting there
Public transport works for the easy viewpoints. The B Line stops at Hollywood/Highland for Ovation Hollywood and the Walk of Fame, and at Vermont/Sunset for the DASH bus to the observatory. For trailheads, a car or rideshare is simpler. See our LA Metro guide for fares, and our hub on getting around Los Angeles for driving tips.
Photo tips
Many photographers prefer the morning, when haze is usually lighter. Haze tends to build through the day in warm weather. After rain the air is often clearest. A zoom lens or the telephoto setting on a phone helps from Hollywood & Highland and the observatory. On trails, the sign looks best from the side, with the city behind it.
Pairing it with other stops
A sign visit fits easily with Hollywood Boulevard, the TCL Chinese Theatre forecourt and the observatory. If you are planning a full day, our 3-day Los Angeles itinerary puts these together, and our list of things to do in Los Angeles has more nearby.
Frequently asked questions
Can you walk up to the Hollywood Sign?
No. The sign is fenced, monitored by cameras and patrolled, and going past the fence is illegal. Trails get you above and behind it.
What is the best free place to see the Hollywood Sign?
Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood Park both have clear, free views. Ovation Hollywood is the easiest if you are already on Hollywood Boulevard.
Which trail is closest to the Hollywood Sign?
The Brush Canyon Trail and the Cahuenga Peak Trail get closest. Cahuenga Peak is the harder of the two.
How tall are the Hollywood Sign letters?
The letters are about 45 feet tall. They date from the 1978 rebuild.
Do I need a car to see the Hollywood Sign?
Not for the easy viewpoints. The B Line reaches Hollywood/Highland, and the DASH bus from Vermont/Sunset goes up to the observatory. The trailheads and Lake Hollywood Park are easier by car or rideshare, since buses do not climb those residential streets.
What time of day is best for photos?
Morning is a good bet, because the air is usually clearer before haze builds. Days right after rain are often the clearest of all.
Official sources: Hollywood Sign Trust; Lake Hollywood Park; Griffith Observatory; LA Metro.
Photo credits
Featured image: Downtowngal / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0