Things to do nearHollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign stands as California's most recognizable landmark, drawing visitors to the Santa Monica Mountains with sweeping city views and a century of cinematic history.
The Hollywood Sign began its life in 1923 as a real estate advertisement reading "Hollywoodland," erected to promote a hillside housing development in the Beachwood Canyon neighborhood. The last four letters were removed in 1949 when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce took over maintenance of the sign, and it was restored and rebuilt entirely in 1978 through a fundraising campaign that drew support from celebrities and civic donors.
Today the sign sits within the boundaries of Griffith Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States, and the surrounding landscape of coastal sage scrub and oak woodland gives the hike to viewpoints a genuinely wild character despite its proximity to the city. Visitors approach from several trail systems, including routes through Bronson Canyon, Beachwood Drive, and Lake Hollywood Park, each offering a distinct angle on the letters and the ridgeline behind them. The trails vary in difficulty, with some routes gaining several hundred feet of elevation over a mile or two of exposed terrain.
Wildlife sightings along the way are common, including coyotes, mule deer, and a wide variety of raptors that ride thermals above the hills. The neighborhood of Los Feliz at the park's southern edge offers cafes and restaurants where hikers often gather after a morning on the trails.
The Hollywood Sign endures as a symbol not simply of the film industry but of the particular ambition and reinvention that have defined Los Angeles for more than a century, making it a destination that rewards the effort of the climb with something more than a photograph.
7-day forecast
Chance of rainTips for visiting Hollywood Sign
Visit during the early morning hours to beat the heat and enjoy clearer air before the midday haze settles over the Los Angeles basin.
Take the Brush Canyon Trail from the Bronson Canyon trailhead for one of the closest and most direct approaches to the sign.
Bring at least two liters of water per person, as the exposed trails offer little shade and can feel significantly warmer than temperatures in the city below.
Head to the Griffith Observatory overlook at dusk for a different perspective, where the sign is framed against the fading light over the Pacific.
Check the LA Hiking permit system before you go, as some trailhead parking areas near Griffith Park require advance reservations on weekends.
Top tours & experiences near Hollywood Sign
Hollywood Sign 1-Hour Guided Photo Tour
Ride a mini-van to a quiet trail for Hollywood Sign photos in 1 hour
Hollywood Celebrity Homes Guided Bus Tour
See Hollywood Hills, celebrity homes, and Beverly Hills from an open-air bus
Los Angeles 5.5-Hour Sightseeing Tour
Explore Los Angeles with multilingual audio and a local driver guide
2-Hour Hollywood & Beverly Hills Star Tour
See Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and star homes in 2 hours
Explore Los Angeles VIP Sightseeing Tour With 3 Stops
See top Los Angeles sights on a small-group VIP tour with photo stops
Ferrari Driving Tour on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Drive a Ferrari California to a Hollywood Sign viewpoint
Helicopter Tour of Malibu With Landing
Touch down in Malibu and see Los Angeles from a private helicopter
Los Angeles Doors-Off Aerial Photography Flight
Frame Los Angeles landmarks with doors-off helicopter access
Guided 5.5-Hour Los Angeles Sightseeing Tour
See LA’s landmark neighborhoods with guided stories and time to explore
3.5-Hour Hollywood & Beverly Hills Bus Tour From Santa Monica
Ride an open-air bus from Santa Monica Pier to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Walk of Fame
Customize a Private Los Angeles SUV Tour
Explore LA in a private Cadillac Escalade with a chauffeur–guide
Explore Los Angeles on a 5.5-Hour Guided Tour
See top Los Angeles sights on a narrated 5.5-hour convertible bus tour
Hollywood & Beverly Hills Celebrity Homes Tour From Santa Monica
See Hollywood highlights and celebrity homes in 3.5 hours from Santa Monica
Ferrari Tour to the Hollywood Sign
Drive or ride in a private Ferrari for Hollywood Sign views
Cybertruck Tour of Hollywood
Drive or ride a private Tesla Cybertruck to the Hollywood Sign
Drive a Lamborghini on a Hollywood Sign Tour
Take the wheel—or ride along—on a private Hollywood Sign route
Hollywood Content Creator Driving Tour
Create cinematic Ferrari or Lamborghini content across Hollywood and Beverly Hills
Tesla Cybertruck Driving Experience From Hollywood Walk of Fame
Take the wheel or ride through Hollywood Hills in a Tesla Cybertruck
Romantic Ferrari Tour Near Hollywood Sign
A private Ferrari date with Hollywood Hills views
Hollywood Sign Roofless Tesla Ride
Take in Hollywood Sign views from a custom roofless Tesla
Hollywood Sign Lamborghini Driving Tour
Cruise Hollywood and Mulholland Drive in a Lamborghini with Hollywood Sign views
Hollywood Sign 30-Minute Tesla Driving Tour
Enjoy a private roofless Tesla ride with Hollywood Sign photo stops
Los Angeles Movie Stars' Homes Guided Tour
See Los Angeles landmarks and select movie stars' homes with live local commentary
Hike to the Hollywood Sign With a Private Guide
Customize a private Griffith Park hike with Hollywood Sign views
Hollywood & Beverly Hills Guided Afternoon Tour
Discover Los Angeles history and city views with a local guide
Hollywood Celebrity Sights Tour
Hollywood landmarks, celebrity homes and photo stops in one city tour
Customized Los Angeles Highlights Guided Tour
Shape your own Los Angeles sightseeing route with a flexible guided itinerary
Los Angeles FIFA World Cup Helicopter Tour
See World Cup stadiums and Los Angeles landmarks from a private helicopter
Warner Bros. Studio & Hollywood Boulevard Tour
Explore Hollywood landmarks and go behind the scenes at Warner Bros. Studio
Custom 5-Hour Los Angeles & Hollywood Private Tour
Design a private LA day around the sights you want to see
Custom Los Angeles Highlights Guided Tour
Design a private LA sightseeing day with a guide and chauffeur
Los Angeles 6-Hour Highlights Tour
Shape a private LA sightseeing route around your must-see stops
Los Angeles Private 6-Hour Highlights Tour
Customize your Los Angeles route with flexible stops and pickup
Los Angeles 60-Minute Helicopter Tour
Private aerial views from Long Beach to Hollywood
Long Beach 45-Minute Helicopter Tour
See Los Angeles beaches and landmarks from a private helicopter
Doors-Off Helicopter Photography Flight Over Hollywood
Frame Hollywood icons and downtown LA from an open-air R22
Los Angeles Doors-Off Helicopter Photo Flight
Frame Los Angeles landmarks on a doors-off aerial photo flight
Los Angeles Doors-Off Aerial Photography Flight
Shoot Los Angeles landmarks from a doors-off helicopter
Los Angeles Doors-Off Helicopter Tour
Doors-off aerial photography over Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles
80-Minute Long Beach Helicopter Tour
See Southern California’s coastline, beaches and Los Angeles landmarks from the air
Guided Hollywood Sign E-Bike Tour in Griffith Park
Ride canyon roads to Mount Lee above the Hollywood Sign