Planning to come to LA for vacation?

Interested in the best places to see the Hollywood Sign?

You’ve come to the right place!

I have 9 places where you can see the Hollywood Sign, grouped in these 3 categories:

• From a tourist attraction
• From your car
• By hiking

So let’s get started!

From a Tourist Attraction

Location 1:  The Hollywood Walk of Fame at Hollywood/Highland.

With stars on the sidewalks, this is the epitome of Hollywood.  

This location is directly across the street from the El Capitan Theatre where Jimmy Kimmel Live is filmed.

It’s next to the Dolby Theatre, where the Academy Awards are given, and next to the main parking garage.

From Hollywood Boulevard, walk up the stairs into a shopping area.  You will be tempted with shops, restaurants, bars, ice cream, make up – all kinds of places!  But resist – at least for now.

Walk to the back of the shopping area, and you will see the Hollywood Sign.

From this angle, the sign is partially hidden by palm trees.

So head up to level 3.  There is a large, wide balcony, with a direct view to the Hollywood sign.  At this level, the Hollywood Sign is right above the palm trees.

Head up one more level to level 4.  The balcony is narrower, and the view is completely unobstructed – except by the other tourists trying to get the perfect selfie.

While on the 4th level, head to the front of the shopping center, to the opposite balcony.  The Hollywood sign is perfectly framed by the art deco arch over the balcony.

As the sun goes down and the arch’s lights come on, it creates a stunning view of the Hollywood Sign.

Location 2:  Griffith Observatory

Griffith Observatory is legendary.  It’s also on a hill adjacent to the Hollywood sign.  Here, you see an incredible view of the Hollywood sign.

Parking at Griffith Observatory is $10 per hour, when you can find a spot.  During the summer, it’s next to impossible, unless you arrive very early or very late.  

DASH offers an inexpensive alternative, though.  You can park on the street across from The Greek Theatre or in one of the adjacent parking lots, both for free. 

Then take the DASH to the Observatory for 50 cents in cash or 35 cents if you have a TAP card. The DASH runs every 15-30 minutes, so it’s a great alternative without the cost and stress of trying to find a parking spot at the Observatory.

There is so much to do and see at the Observatory.  

You will have views of the city, the hiking trails, and – of course – an amazing view of the Hollywood sign.

Location 3:  Academy Museum of Motion Pictures

If you enjoy film, actors, how movies are made, or the Academy Awards, then the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is for you.

The museum has four floors of film exhibits.

To see the Hollywood sign, head to the 4th floor.  Cross the Barbra Streisand bridge to the Dolby Family Terrace, a spherical observation deck.

You will get nearly 360 degree views of the city through this domed sphere.

To see the Hollywood sign, walk to the end of the terrace and look to your right.

You will see the Hollywood sign on the hill in the distance.  Of all the places in this article, the view from the Academy Museum is the furthest from the sign, and the least desirable view.  But it’s there, if you need to mark it off your bucket list.

By Driving your Car

Location 1:  Beachwood Canyon

Beachwood Canyon is the reason why the Hollywood sign exists.

Back in 1923, a developer wanted to develop the area, and he put up a sign to promote it. 

He named the development Hollywoodland.  The electric sign read “Hollywoodland” in large letters during the day, and flashed “Holly-wood-land” at night.  

The sign was only supposed to be up for 1.5 years, but here we are, 99 years later.  The city dropped “land” from the sign, so the sign now simply reads, Hollywood.  The Hollywoodland neighborhood is now called Beachwood Canyon.

One of the best ways (the very best way, imo) to see the Hollywood sign from your car is to drive up Beachwood Canyon.  It is Right. There!  Larger than life, directly in front of you.

This is a residential neighborhood.  You can get out and take photos if you want, but you’ll get great views by simply driving your car.

Location 2:  Mulholland Drive

Mulholland is a fantastic drive from Hollywood to the Valley.  The road is along the top of the Hollywood mountains, giving you amazing views into the valley on one side and city on the other.

But the Hollywood sign is only visible on a very, very short stretch of Mulholland.

Mulholland starts at Cahuenga.  Head up the hill about ¼ mile.

As soon as you cross Sunny Cove, pull over on the side of the road and look to your left.  

You will see a great view of the Hollywood sign.

You can cross the street and walk up to the curve to get a better shot, too.  But Mulholland is a busy street, so be careful when crossing.

If you look in the opposite direction of the sign, you will see an incredible view of downtown LA.

This location is not too much of a tourist site, but the Hollywood touring companies will stop their vans here, and other tourists may stop as well.  I’ve seen it both busy & deserted.  

Location 3:  Lake Hollywood Park

This is definitely a tourist spot.  You can park on the street for free, but parking spots are coveted.  You may need to park at the bottom of Lake Hollywood and walk back up to the park.

As you’re walking up the hill, you’ll see a sign that reads, Lake Hollywood Park, the entrance to the grassy park area.  The Hollywood sign is on the hill behind the park sign.

But don’t stop here!  Keep going to the top of the Hill, and you will be rewarded with an incredible, unobstructed view of the Hollywood sign – unobstructed except for all the other tourists there to see it.

The view is worth every huff & puff getting to the top of the hill.  So don’t stop halfway up, even if you’re tired.  Keep going to the top to get that amazing view!

As a side note, if you cross the street and look over the fence in the other direction, you’ll get an incredible view of the Hollywood Reservoir with Mulholland Dam holding it back.  

Lake Hollywood Park is also an amazing spot to see the sunset.

Hiking

Location 1:  Beachwood Canyon

The former Hollywoodland area is very hilly.  So the developer included 6 outdoor, stone stairways to traverse the different levels.

I’m focusing only on the 2 stairs to get to the location in Beachwood Canyon that gives you the best view of the Hollywood sign.

As you drive up Beachwood Canyon Drive, you will pass stone gates.  Continue on Beachwood Canyon Drive, until you come to Woodshire Drive on the left.

Pull over and park.  

Pay attention to the parking signs.  There are parking restrictions on weekends & holidays during the day.  If you’re planning to do this hike on the weekend, then park on Beachwood Canyon before the stone gates and walk up to Woodshire Drive.

At Woodshire Drive, you’ll see the first set of steps – the Saroyan steps.  These are the most beautiful of all the steps, imo.

Walk up these steps.  

At the top, turn left and walk along Belden.  

At the curve in the road is the next set of steps nestled between 2 houses.  

Walk up these steps to Durand.

Turn left on Durand.  

When you get to the intersection of Durand and Flagmore, continue on Durand about 200 feet or so, then turn around.

That’s where you will get an amazing view of the Hollywood sign from the neighborhood that made it possible.

If you continue up to the top of Durand, just past the castle-looking house, and look to your right, you’ll have a birds eye view of the Hollywood Reservoir.

And speaking of the reservoir, that’s the next hiking location.

Location #2:  Hollywood Reservoir

Park at Tahoe Drive and Lake Hollywood.  You’ll see a gate with “Hollywood” on it.  Enter this way and start walking.  This flat, paved hiking trail takes you to Mulholland Dam. 

The Hollywood sign is to your back, so while you’re walking to the dam, you’ll need to turn around to see the sign.

Once you get to the Mulholland dam, enjoy the history.  Mulholland Dam was designed by William Mulholland and built in 1924.  It’s a gravity arch dam, meaning that the curve of the dam holds back the force of the water, distributing the pressure evenly to keep the dam from collapsing.

If you look over the edge of the other side of the dam, you’ll see a row of bear heads.  These were at the top of a series of beautiful, large concrete stairs that descended into the valley.  But the stairs have long been covered by landscaping, for 2 reasons.  

First, the concrete steps were not a pretty view for the people who had a view into that area.  

Second, people were afraid the dam would collapse.  

William Mulholland designed & built a second gravity arch dam (St. Frances Dam) shortly after completing this one.  But he made some engineering errors.  And it was built on land unsuitable for a dam, which was undetectable by engineers in the 1920s.  

Shortly after the dam was completely filled, it broke.  

The dam completely shattered, flooding neighborhoods, killing hundreds as all the water rushed over 50 miles to the Pacific Ocean.

Same dam design, same dam designer – it scared the residents of Los Angeles.  They feared the Mulholland Dam could also collapse.  

By covering the stairs with dirt and landscaping it, the city fortified the strength of the dam to ensure it wouldn’t collapse, and beautify the area.  

After you’ve admired the engineering feat of Mulholland Dam, turn around and head back out the way you came.  This time, you will be facing the Hollywood sign.  

Alternately, you can loop around the entire reservoir.  

If you want to do this, then I suggest starting in the opposite direction from the Hollywood gate.  

The entire loop is about a 3 mile hike.  It’s flat, it’s easy, and lots of great views.

Location 3:  Hiking to the Hollywood sign

I’ve saved the best for last – hiking to the Hollywood sign.

Head north on Beach Drive, which is a few blocks away from Beachwood Canyon Drive.

Drive straight into the park and find a parking spot.

Keep walking in the direction you were driving.

This will take you to the Brushwood Canyon Trail, which heads straight up to the Hollywood Sign.

There are some forks, but the trail is well marked, so all you need to do is follow the signs.

The hike is about 2 miles to the sign.

The hike is a large fire road with a gentle incline, so the hike isn’t all that difficult.

But please be sure to take water, sunscreen & a hat.  There are parts of the trail that are completely exposed to the sun – no shade at all.  So water, sunscreen & a hat will all 3 be needed.

Once you get to the top of the trail, you have 2 options. 

To the right, you’ll keep heading up, until you get to the back of the Hollywood sign.  That’s a pretty incredible view.

If you head to the left, you’ll go towards the front of the sign, with a jaw-dropping, incredible view. 

This is the view you will be telling your family about for years to come.

That’s a Wrap!

So there you have it – 9 ways to see the Hollywood sign, at a tourist attraction, by car or by hiking. Which one did you do? Or want to do?

If you’d like to see these places, then check out my video, below.