Hollywood Sign and Mount Lee Summit Hike: The Best and Easiest Way (2025)
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products or services that I believe will add value to my readers.
The hike up to the Mount Lee summit and behind the infamous Hollywood Sign is one of the best hikes in Los Angeles. On a clear day, the views from the summit are unparalleled and you get a unique perspective of the sign that most don’t.
Before starting this hike, there are a few things you need to know. This trail has been involved in controversy over the years as parts of it (and former trailheads/parking areas) intersect with neighborhoods in the Hollywood Hills.
To avoid catching trespassing charges and fines, and to keep this trail accessible to everyone, you’ll need to know where to park, where to begin the trail, areas to avoid, gate access, and more.
In the post below, I will give you a step-by-step guide on the best, easiest, and most straightforward path to Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign (including a plethora of photo references). Be sure to bookmark this post to your device so you can refer back to it later on.
Trail Stats
Location: Los Angeles/Hollywood, California
Fee: None
Open: Sunrise to sunset
Family Friendly: Possibly, if your kids have hiking experience
Cell Service: Good, but spotty in some areas of the trail
Restroom: None
Parking: At Lake Hollywood Park along the street
EV Stations: None
Difficulty: Moderate to hard (depending on your fitness level)
Popularity: High
Mileage: 4.6 miles (from Lake Hollywood Park, to the summit, and back)
Time: 2-3 hours, round trip
Condition: Mostly flat and easy to follow
Features: Behind Hollywood Sign view and expansive views of Los Angeles (on a clear day)
Best Viewed: Any time of year
Pets: Allowed
Drones: Prohibited
Hazards: Sheer drop offs, heat exposure, and rattlesnakes
My Visit(s): April 2025
Where to Park - Lake Hollywood Park
For this particular hike, the only safe place to park is at Lake Hollywood Park. This park has become a hot spot for tourists wanting to capture an epic selfie with the Hollywood Sign and hills serving as the backdrop.
Due to this, you’ll want to start early. I got here at around 8am and was one of only three cars. By the time my wife and I got back to the car a few hours later, we were one of dozens and parking was getting tight (see photos below).
(8:15am)
(11:30am)
To avoid getting fined and potentially towed, be sure to park on the side of the street closest to the park as you’ll have unlimited parking between 6am and 8pm. On the other side, parking is limited to just fifteen minutes (there’s no fee to park on either side as of May 2025).
Other posts advise you to start your way uphill and walk along Mulholland Drive to start the hike. I advise against this, as this stretch of road is narrow with many blind spots and is often heavily trafficked. It’s simply too dangerous.
Instead of walking uphill, walk downhill on the sidewalk towards the residential area (pictured above). You’ll eventually come to the corner of Innsdale and Canyon Lake Drive. Once there, you’ll see a gate on your right (pictured below).
When I got here, there were vehicles parked in the area around the gate and in the neighborhood. While I didn’t see anything stating you couldn’t, I have read online that you’re subject to fines and being towed if you do.
I did see a parking enforcement vehicle in the area when we got back, but didn’t see the officer ticketing anybody. I still advise you to play it safe and park along Lake Hollywood Park, but the risk is yours to take (if you’re being dropped off, this is the spot).
The Innsdale Trail to the Hollywood Sign and Mount Lee
Now you’re officially on the trail to the Hollywood Sign and Mount Lee Summit. At that gate, you’ll see many signs stating “restricted access” and warnings of trespassing. This has to do with vehicles, NOT being on foot. It’s perfectly legal to walk through.
The trail is wide and mostly compact dirt. You’ll have a clear view of the Hollywood Sign on your left as well as views of the hills and downtown LA on your right. If the marine layer is present, your views will be obstructed.
After a relatively short period, you’ll eventually come to chain attached to two poles stretching across the trail (pictured below). You’ll also see houses on both sides of you with another trespass warning posted.
Simply ignore the signs and go around the pole on the right to continue. That trespass warning pertains to that home owners actual property behind their fence. It does NOT pertain to the trail. You’re still ok.
When you come out of the ally, you’ll walk onto a street and see the house (pictured below) in front of you. Go left here and keep as far left as you possibly can. This short section is the one and only time you’ll need to traverse along a street.
After a short time, you’ll come to another junction. There’s a side street leading to more houses on your right (Ledgewood Drive) and another street to the left (Mulholland) that’s blocked with cones. You’ll want to walk up Mulholland, keeping the Hollywood Sign in sight.
Again, you’ll see more restrictive access signs but just ignore them. Those pertain to vehicle access. Continue walking up the road, passing multiple houses on your left. Eventually, you’ll see a mural of the Hollywood Sign pointing the way up the trail (as well as more cones).
Additionally, you’ll pass a small field of California Poppies (if you’re here in spring/early summer) and a random art exhibit on your left. There’s also the one-and-only water bottle refill station here. The trail will then horseshoe, passing through yet another chained gate.
The trail remains exposed for a bit, passing several impressive homes on the right side before entering a grove of palm trees and another Hollywood Hills neighborhood. You’ll then come to the final oddball portion of the trail.
You’ll eventually arrive to what appears to be a locked gate. Go towards the left of the gate and go through the opening. Stay to the left and continue up the paved path, staying between the white walls.
Be sure to remain on that narrow path. On the other side of that white wall is private property. Please don’t give the homeowners any reason to report you. Every time that happens, this trail becomes that much closer to being closed off to the public.
Soon after the green gate, you’ll come to a fence and a door with a key-code pad (pictured above). Between sunrise and sunset, this door is unlocked, so simply open the door and go through it.
When you get to the other side of the fence, you’ll face another junction with a palm tree at the split. To continue to the summit of Mount Lee, go right at the junction. As a side quest, you can go left for a great photo opportunity and view of the sign.
From here, you’ll be hiking on Mount Lee Road. Long ago, it was possible to drive up to the Hollywood Sign. These days, it’s simply a service road for utility workers to reach the satellite and utility towers at the top.
Before long, you’ll reach the final junction of the trail. Going right will take you on the Mulholland Trail. Keep to the left to continue on to Mount Lee. From here, there are no specific instructions needed. Simply follow the road. You’re now just 0.9-miles from the top.
This portion of the trail is a winding, unrelenting uphill slog the rest of the way. While I wouldn’t classify it as “difficult”, I will say that depending on your fitness level, your milage will vary. What’s moderate for me may be hard to others, and vice-versa.
You’ll know you’re almost to the top when you reach the monument plaque in the photo below. The plaque is a dedication to those who donated to help keep public access to Cahuenga Peak and make it part of Griffith Park.
Near the plaque, you’ll see a side trail spurring off the paved road. If you want to side-quest to Cahuenga Peak, that’s the direction you’d go. There’s also a nice side view of parts of the Hollywood Sign from that trail as well.
Mount Lee Summit and Behind the Hollywood Sign
Staying on the paved road, you’ll see it make a sharp left around a rocky outcrop. You’ll also notice a chainlink fence on the right side. Head that way and shortly after making that left, you’ll get your first glimpse of the sign on your right.
You may see the sign now, but you’re not finished. To get to the actual summit of Mount Lee, you’ll need to go just a little bit further. Ahead of you, you’ll notice utility and satellite towers. To the left you’ll see a dirt path. Take that and then head up the short hill to the summit.
Once you’re up that hill, you’re officially on the summit of Mount Lee. From here, on a clear day, you’ll have expansive views of Los Angeles and the unique perspective of the backside of the Hollywood Sign.
During our visit, the marine layer was still hovering over the city, so our view was dampened a bit. Either way, the hike up to Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign is still one of the best hikes in Los Angeles and worth doing, no matter the view.
From here, simply head back in the same direction you came. If you still have energy, there are many other cool things in the area to check out. You can explore the old Los Angeles Zoo or gaze at the sky from the Griffith Observatory. To replenish those calories, I recommend a double smash burger at nearby For the Win restaurant.
EXODUS 13:21
