The Lonesome Pine

THE LONESOME PINE HIKE

DISTANCE: 9.6 Miles Roundtrip
ELEVATION: 1821'
ELEVATION GAIN: 1101'
TYPE: Out-and-Back
HIKING TIME: 5.5 hours
RATING: Strenuous
FEATURES: Vistas of Downtown LA, San Gabriel Mtns.,
Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island, Hollywood Sign,
Hollywood Reservoir, plus bag 4 peaks (Mt.
Bell, Mt. Lee, Cahuenga and Burbank Peaks)

TRAIL HIGHLIGHTS

As you look at the stretch of mountains that make up Griffith Park there is a distinct landmark on the western most peak high above the Cahuenga Pass, a solitary pine watching over all Los Angeles. This pine has been an inspiration to local hikers for years, a sort of touchstone to attain that allows you to point out the tree to friends as you pass by on the 134 in your car and say, "I've been up there." The tree is known by many names: the Magic Tree, the Tree of Wisdom and, my favorite, The Lonesome Pine. For all its mystery and seeming inaccessibility, the pine is rather easy to get to from a short path off Wonder View Drive near the Hollywood Reservoir. But a magical spot like the Lonesome Pine shouldn't be quite so easy to get to, and besides, you're looking to take a hike, right? This trail will take you around Royce's Canyon and across 4 peaks (Mt. Chapel, Mt. Lee, Cahuenga and Burbank Peaks) and past the famed Hollywood sign before delivering you to the Lonesome Pine. You will walk paved road through densely forested slopes of oak and pine, scramble along a single-track through coastal chaparral and hike the ridge separating the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley (Puma-22's territory) and scale the highest peak in Griffith Park. For those looking to take in a longer hike with a variety of terrain, but don't want to drive all the way to the San Gabriel or Santa Monica Mountains, a trip to the iconic Lonesome Pine in Griffith Park may be just the answer.

Click the full frame icon in the upper right corner for a larger map in a separate window.

Directions to Trailhead

Griffith Park
Griffith Park Drive, across from the Griffith Park Composting Facility
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Exit the 134 at Forest Lawn Drive and proceed .3 mile.
Turn right at the light onto Zoo Drive and proceed .2 mile.
Turn left at the stop sign onto Griffith Park Drive and proceed .8 mile.
Turn right into the dirt parking lot across from the composting facility.

Trailhead is located at the 3-way stop on Griffith Park Drive .2 mile west of the parking area.

The Lonesome Pine Trail Guide
Click for printable .pdf map and guide.

Parking

Parking is located in the dirt lot across from the Griffith Park
Compost Facility. Rest Rooms and drinking water can be found
nearby at the Mineral Wells Picnic Area just around the bend.

The Lonesome Pine Trail is an out and back trail. Roundtrip
distance is approximately 9.6 miles (including the walk to and from
the trailhead). To reach the trailhead, walk west along Griffith Park
Drive approximately .25 mile to the three-way stop. Cross around
the white gate onto Mt. Hollywood Drive (closed to vehicular
traffic).

Trailhead

At the three-way stop, proceed straight and cross around the white
gate onto Mt. Hollywood Drive. Mt. Hollywood Drive is a paved
road closed to vehicular traffic. It is a favorite destination for
hikers, runners and bicyclists. The road winds through a wooded
section on the north side of Griffith Park and offers numerous
views the San Fernando Valley, Verdugo and San Gabriel Mtns.

You will follow Mt. Hollywood Drive for approximately the next 2.5
miles until it intersects with Vista del Valle Drive.

Travel Town Water Tank

Views of Mt. Thom in the Verdugos and Cahuenga Peak in Griffith
Park.

Royce's Canyon Trailhead

Trailhead for Royce's Canyon

Scenic View

There are several viewpoints along Mt. Hollywood Drive; this is the
last and the best.

Haunted Picnic Table #29

The Haunted Picnic Table is on your right, nearly crushed beneath
the tree that killed two young lovers on a Halloween Night many
years ago. The park tried to remove the tree, but after a
groundsman died of apparent fright, the tree and the table have
been left alone.

Read more about here: http://www.latirnes.com/news/local/la-me-
haunted30oct30/

Trail Junction 1

Mt. Hollywood Drive intersects with Vista dell Valle Drive coming in
on your left. Continue walking straight on Mt. Hollywood Drive for
about 120' past the second gate. Make a sharp hairpin turn to your
left and proceed uphill on the dirt fireroad for .35 mile toward Water
Tank 153.

Trail Junction 2

The dirt fireroad dead ends here and becomes a narrow, rocky
single track path and will lead you in .2 mile to the ridge line
separating the Los Angeles Basin from the San Fernando Valley.
This is about as remote an area as you can find in Griffith Park.
Oh, and you're entering Puma-22's hunting territory. Good Luck!

You can also work your way up a rocky path on the back side of
the water tank to reach the actual summit of Mt. Chapel. Trail to
the summit is less than .1 mile.

Mt. Chapel, 1614'

1st of 4 summits you can bag on this hike.

Alternate Return Trail

As you come up on the ridge line, you will notice another single-
track user path rising up on your left to intersect with the ridge line
trail. This is an alternate path around Mt. Chapel and leads back to
Trail Junction 1. You may want to consider taking this trail on your
return trip for a little shorter distance and different views. On your
return trip simply take the path veering off to your right and
downhill. To return the way you came, keep on the path to your left
and go uphill.

To reach the Lonesome Pine continue on the ridge for .25 to Trail
Junction 3.

National Park Wildlife Cameras

Along this ridge you will pass two National Park Cameras set to
record wildlife at night. These are the cameras that captured
images of Puma 22, Griffith Park's resident mountain lion.

Trail Junction 3

The ridge tail forks at this point with what appears to be the main
trail continuing up and to the left. You want to take the trail on the
right and going down for about .05 mile to Ft. Lee Drive.

Trail Junction 4

The ridge trail intersects with Mt. Lee Drive. Continue going
straight on Mt. Lee Drive, keeping the San Fernando Valley on
your right.

The next trail junction is .5 mile ahead.

Trail Junction 5

This is the Trail Junction for the Hollywood Sign and Mt. Lee.
Follow the road (and the people) around the curve and you'll
come upon the H in the sign.

To reach the Lonesome Pine, leave the road, continue past a
bronze marker dedicating Cahunega Peak as part of Griffith Park
and resume the ridge trail. You will reach Cahuenga Peak in .33
mile.

Hollywood Sign

Take a quick side trip here to get a glimpse of the backside of the
Hollywood Sign. This is as close as you can get to this iconic
emblem of glitz and glamour. Continue a few more feet to claim the
peak of Mt. Lee.

Mt. Lee, 1708'

Mt. Lee is now the second highest peak in Griffith Park,
surpassed only by Cahuenga Peak, which you will be summiting
shortly. The city of Los Angeles operates an emergency
operations and communications center from the mountain, which
accounts for all the antennae. It should go without saying, but do
not enter the gated area.

Cahunenga Peak, 1821'

Cahuenga Peak is the highest point in Griffith Park and the twelfth
highest named mountain in the Santa Monica Mountain Range.
From here you have spectacular views of both the Los Angeles
basin and San Fernando Valley and the Pacific Ocean. The
Lonesome Pine is visible from here on the lower ridge .3 mile
west.

Burbank Peak, 1690', and the Lonesome Pine

Impressive views of the Cahuenga Pass, Hollywood and, on a
clear day, the Pacific Ocean, all from under the shade of the
Lonesome Pine. This single tree can be seen as you pass through
the pass on the 101 or travel through Burbank on the 134. It's
always fun to point out to friends that you've been "all the way up
there."

Beneath the tree is a tool box with registers inside. Leave your
name and date and tell a little about your experience. When you're
ready, simply retrace your steps to return to the parking lot.