If there were a competition for the sign that is best known around the world — barring fast food and beverage signs — the Hollywood sign would definitely be in the top running, as it has served as an icon of fame, fortune, and dreams come true since the early 20th century. The irony of its significance lies in the fact that it started out as mere promotional advertisement for real estate plots, back in 1923.
In the meantime of course, hiking the Hollywood sign feels like a rite of passage to many tourists and even Californians. You start your hike up on Canyon Drive and Franklin Avenue, by car, if you so desire. It is possible to comfortably drive for a while on Canyon Drive until arriving at a parking lot. This is where your Hollywood sign hike really starts. Once you reach the parking lot, all you really have to do is follow the signs. Make sure you take water, use sunblock, and wear a cap or hat, as this is a sunny desert climate, and you will be at a higher elevation. This hike is as sunny as it gets in California, and shade is sparse, so be sure to take it easy and only push yourself to limits you can comfortably handle.
Hiking the Hollywood sign consists of a long and winding trail, dirt until the very last part of it, and there aren’t really any signs to speak of. Sometimes the road forks, but it is possible to stay pointed in the right direction simply by keeping track of the large antenna that is in vicinity of the Hollywood sign. You will never get lost on the trail to the Hollywood sign if you orient yourself toward this antenna.
Eventually you will come to a fork in the road, at which point there will be pavement again. Whether you go to the the right or left, you will end up at the Hollywood sign either way. Taking the left will get you to the front of the sign, the right will take you to a place behind the sign.
However, be warned that you will not be able to get all the way close to the Hollywood sign. You will not be able to unwrap your sandwich in the shade of the H. The area is protected, either by a barrier or a chain link fence, and even though some people disregard the barrier, it’s for your own safety and respect for the environment that you don’t. There can be legal repercussions for disregarding the restrictions, so it makes better sense to just enjoy the beautiful views of the San Fernando Valley and the city of Los Angeles, and relish the opportunity to make a journey that some only dream of.
Wrapping up our post on hiking the Hollywood sign, we thought you might also be interested in: Camper’s Guide: California’s Carrizo Plain National Monument!
Featured Image from Nathan DeFiesta/Unsplash
