Mt. Hollywood

MT. HOLLYWOOD HIKE

DISTANCE: 6.2 miles Roundtrip
ELEVATION: 1625'
ELEVATION GAIN: 1125'
TYPE: Out-and-Back
HIKING TIME: 2.5 - 3 Hours
RATING: Strenuous
FEATURES: Vistas of Downtown LA, San Gabriel Mtns.,
Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island, Hollywood Sign,
bag multiple peaks on one trip

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

For most of the Griffith Park's History Mt. Hollywood has stood at the center as the tallest and most visited peak in the park. With the addition of Mt. Lee and Cahuenga Peak in 2010, Mt. Hollywood fell to the third highest peak in the park, but the stream of visitors hasn't changed due to the relatively short hike on the Charlie Turner Trail from the Griffith Observatory. However, the Charlie Turner Trail is a rather uneventful hike, more a thoroughfare to a destination than a journey to be undertaken. The Hike-LosAngeles trek to Mt. Hollywood's summit is a more challenging and inspiring hike. Beginning near the Pony Rides on Crystal Springs Drive, the trail passes Beacon Hill, Glendale Peak and climbs the spine of Hogback ridge with its sweeping vistas as the canyon walls fall away before delivering you to the top of the park's central peak. The climb is steep, and in a few instances brutally so, but the views are all encompassing, from the San Gabriels in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. So mingle with the mob on Charlie Turner or take the challenge of Hogback Ridge. If you're a true hiker, we're guessing you'll choose the latter!

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Directions to Trailhead

Griffith Park
Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Exit the 5 at Los Feliz Blvd and head west approximately .2 mile. Turn right onto Crystal Springs Drive at the entrance to the park and proceed .4 mile. Park along Crystal Springs Drive or in the Pony Ride Lot.

Trailhead is across Crystal Springs Drive on the dirt fire road next to the Marty Tregnan Golf Academy.

Mt. Hollywood Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf trail guide and map.

Trailhead

The trail begins on the dirt fire road next to the Marty Tregnan Golf
Academy. The trail curves to the right and climbs .1 mile to a hairpin turn
to the left, continuing another .15 mile to the first trail junction.

Trail Junction 1

As you reach the junction the trail will level out briefly. The trail forks with a
hairpin turn to your right and a second trail almost directly in front of you,
running parallel to a high chain link fence at the back of the golf academy
driving range. Follow the trail along the fence.

Once you have cleared the fence you will descend briefly into the next canyon
and then begin a long, steady uphill climb until you reach the Klass Water Stop
in just over a mile.

Trail Junction 2

The trail forks again, but this time you will take the hairpin turn up and to your
right. The trail will become quite steep for the next .3 mile.

As you climb this section of the trail, you may notice a number of dead and
burnt trees. This entire section of the park was devastated by fire in the spring
of 2007 and the surrounding slopes where reduced to little more than ash.

Hiker's Rock

At around .9 mile into your hike you will come upon a large rock that has fallen
from the slopes above. This rock has been perched on the edge of the trail
for years and has offered hikers a spot to rest and take in the view. Following
the 2007 fire, as more dirt and rock eroded from the upper slopes, park crews
bulldozed the debris to the edge to maintain an open fire road. In the process
they completely covered the rock. Hikers have, over the intervening years,
slowly scraped away the dirt to expose the rock once again.

Trail Junction 3 - 5 Points

For the last .5 mile or so you've had a relatively easy climb. The trail will
become moderately steeper at the 5 Points intersection, but it's only .2 mile to
the Klass Water Stop.

5 Points is the intersection of 5 different trails. The trail immediately to your
right is a short trail up to Beacon Hill (1001'). If you are a peak bagger, you
may want to make the short side trip to the summit for a nice view of Glendale
and Forest Lawn Cemetery. The trail directly opposite you will take you down
to the Carousel and Shane's Inspiration section of the park. The trail angling
off to your left skirts the Water Stop and comes out at the Heliport. To your
immediate left is the trail to the Water Stop. Make the hairpin turn to your left
and continue for .2 mile.

Beacon Hill, 1001'

Access this summit with the eastern most trail at 5 Points.

Trail Junction 4 - Joe Klass Water Stop

The Joe Klass Water Stop is a small picnic area with tables, water fountain and
horse watering trough for equestrians. A stainless steel bowl has also
been placed at the water fountain for your four-legged friends.

When you leave the Water Stop, continue uphill on Vista del Valle Drive (a
paved road closed to vehicular traffic) for .3 mile past the heliport/scenic
overlook on your left to the next trail junction at the green maintenance shack.

Helipad

Officially designated as a helipad, this scenic vantage point has spectacular
views of Los Feliz, Silverlake and downtown Los Angeles. It is also a frequent
filming spot for movies, television shows and commercials.

Trail Junction 5

Turn left off the paved road onto the dirt fire road. Two different fire roads
converge at this intersection. Take the one on the right, going uphill past the
green maintenance shack and continue for approximately 1.0 mile. This is the
Hogback Ridge Trail and will contain the steepest climbs of the hike and some
of the best views.

Trail Junction 6

Just under .4 mile from the last Trail Junction you will reach a footbridge.
Cross the footbridge and continue on Hogback Ridge Trail to reach Mt.
Hollywood. The footbridge marks the beginning of the steepest portions of the
trail and once you clear the small knoll just past the bridge, the views open up
dramatically on all sides as you make your way along the ridge.

For peak baggers or those looking for an interesting side trail, Henry's Trail,
named for the late Henry Shamma of the Sierra Club, starts on the nearside of
the footbridge and leads to Glendale Peak, 1184'. This side trail is a more
secluded and easier climb than the upcoming portion of Hogback Ridge and
offers its own grand views with far fewer people.

Glendale Peak, 1184'

Access this peak from Henry's Trail at the foot bridge.

Hogback Peak, 1480'

This high promontory on Hogback Ridge is officially unnamed, but has been
given the name Hogback Peak by hiking enthusiast Dan Simpson. You can
check out some of Dan's hikes at www.simpsoncity.com/hiking.

Trail Junction 7

Hogback Ridge officially ends at Dante's View and the intersecting Mt.
Hollywood Trail (aka Charlie Turner Trail) fire road coming in on your left. At
this intersection you will find another water fountain and a watering bowl for
pets. If you have time, take a few minutes to explore the garden's of Dante's
View. It offers some of the only shade on the entire hike and has picnic tables
and walking trails.

Completely destroyed by the 2007 fire, Dante's View has made a remarkable
comeback thanks to park staff and the many volunteers who care for the
gardens. Dante's View was originally created and cared for by Dante Orgolini
in 1964.

To make the final ascent to Mt. Hollywood, continue through this intersection
to the next trail junction less than .1 mile ahead.

Trail Junction 8

At this junction make the hairpin turn to your left and continue past the picnic
area for a moderate .2 mile climb to the summit of Mt. Hollywood.

Mt. Hollywood, 1625'

Congratulations! You've reached the summit of the third highest peak in
Griffith Park. From here you can see Downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, the
San Gabriel Mountains, the Pacific Ocean and, on clear days, Catalina Island.

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