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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.

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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).

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  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.

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  Travel Town Water Tank

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

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  Royce's Canyon Trailhead

         Trailhead for Royce's Canyon

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  Scenic View

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

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  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/

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  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.

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  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.

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  Mt. Chapel, 1614'

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

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

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  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.

Picture
  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.

Picture
 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.

Picture
 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.

Picture
  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.

Picture
The Lonesome Pine on Burbank Peak
LIghtbox feature now active. Click on any trail photo for a larger version.
The Lonesome Pine Trailhead
Trailhead
Mt. Hollywood Drive
Mt. Hollywood Drive
Picture
Travel Town Water Tank
Picture
Scenic View from Mt. Hollywood Drive
Haunted Picnic Table
Haunted Picnic Table #29
Mt. Chapel
Mt. Chapel, 1614'
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Single-Track Trail 1
Picture
Single Track Trail 2
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Ridge Trail
Hollywood Sign
Hollywood Sign, Mt. Lee
Cahuenga Peak
Cahuenga Peak, 1821'
Hollywood Reservoir
Hollywood Reservoir from Cahuenga Peak
Downtown Los Angeles
Downtown LA from Cahuenga Peak
The Lonesome Pine
The Lonesome Pine
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