How Long Is The Hollywood Sign Hike
The famous Hollywood sign is one of Los Angeles’ most well-known landmarks, towering majestically over Griffith Park just west of Highway 101. It was designed by artist Arthur Beeman in 1932 as an homage to ancient Greek monuments that inspired awe in onlookers and viewers.
The word “hollywood” comes from the Spanish words holgramo (to admire) and aguila (arrow), which refer to the way the shape of the letters resemble. According to legend, when asked what he wanted for his birthday, Cecil B. DeMille replied, “A house with lots of windows so I can look at my children grow up,” and thus the name Hollywood was coined!
However, the iconic landmark you see today wasn’t always here. In fact, it took more than 70 years before it made its appearance! And even then, there were many debates about whether it was allowed or not.
Many people don’t know this, but the Hollywood sign isn’t actually part of Griffith Park. It sits on private property owned by the Walt Disney Company, and therefore, permission to climb it and view the lettering must be obtained from them first.
Tips for a successful hike to the Hollywood Sign
This article will talk you through some easy ways to make your trip more fun!
The Hollywood sign is one of the most well-known landmarks in California, and it’s definitely worth visiting, but making the journey there can be pretty expensive if you don’t know what costs are involved ahead of time.
Many people visit the Hollywood sign every year, so unfortunately we cannot keep you from going here unless there was actually a threat or cancellation. But even then, there are many things you can do to stay close to nature while also having lots of fun.
Equipment you should have
While most people usually focus on what they do not have, it is important to know about all of your equipment. You do not want to be spending money on buying new clothes or shoes if you do not have enough clothing for winter or spring season lay offs due to lack of weatherproof gear.
Likewise, you do not want to spend money on snowboard boots if you are only riding at very limited times of the year. By having proper winter and spring season preparedness, you will save some major costs!
General winter preparation items include warm heavy sweatshirts or flannel shirts, wool hats, leather gloves, and footwear that can handle wet and dry conditions. Make sure to purchase durable products!
For skis and snowboards, make sure to check out https://www.retrogearworld.com/blog-category/skiing-and-boarding/.
Trail conditions
The next level is whether or not you are willing to climb more than a few hundred feet above sea level. If so, then how long your hiker self will enjoy the view depends on what time of year you go and trail conditions.
In spring and summer, when it’s warm, the Hollywood sign comes into its own. However, in winter, when there isn’t much sunlight for natural light exposure, the Hollywood sign can be less impressive.
During these times, it may be better to just admire it from afar rather than take one of the treks up the hill.
The best time to visit is during late fall or early winter, when the weather is cold but the scenery is beautiful. You get some crisp pictures while also getting an appreciation for the beauty of nature at its finest.
Winter hikers should beware though- large groups may turn away casual visitors due to safety concerns.
Popular hikes to the sign
Taking your dog along is always an excellent idea as you can play off of each other’s energy. If possible, bring some food for both of you so that you don’t have to worry about one of you being hungry!
Many people begin their treks to the Hollywood Sign with what is called the Easy Route. This route does not go past the gates at the top of Mulholland Highway but instead continues up through the hills of Griffith Park.
The gate here has a short tunnel which allows for easy access back down onto the highway if your dog decides to take a break or needs to be walked back home. There are also many benches where you can sit and admire the view while your pet licks its feet and/or eats something.
This article will discuss another option beyond these two routes. The South Gate Loop takes more time due to it traveling past the main entrance to the park before returning via the same road it started from. However, this gives you more opportunity to enjoy the scenery and learn more about the area.
If you do decide to take your dog on this longer hike then there are certain things that must be considered. Make sure that you have enough water and snacks for both of you. Also, remember to dress in layers so that you can keep warm and comfortable.
Photo tips for hikers
Taking good pictures while hiking is like dancing- you can’t really do it unless you know how to pose, focus on the right things, and have some basic skills!
Hiking with kids is especially difficult because they are constantly moving and wanting to take over the camera. Plus, parents usually want lots of cute photos so they hold their child closer which doesn’t work too well when trying to get that perfect shot.
To avoid having to repeat “aww look at me I held my kid close” as your friend says about every photo of them with her newborn, here are our photographer tips for taking great parent and children photos during the hike up the Hollywood sign. 🙂
Tip number one: use slow shutter speeds
We recommend using at least a 1 second exposure (for most cameras this is a few seconds longer than normal). This creates a nice blurry background effect which looks cool.
Best times to go
The best time to visit this attraction is in early spring or late fall, when there are less people around. If you want to see lots of people, do it during summer!
In winter, the weather may make it difficult to view some of the beautiful sights at the top of Mount Charleston. Due to heavy snowfall, many of the natural features such as waterfalls and cliffs can be covered up which would otherwise require a lot of attention.
Also, due to heavy rain, some parts of the trail can become too muddy and slippery for walking or hiking shoes. This could also prevent you from viewing all of the scenery because of wet feet.
Best time to go: In the middle of the day, when there’s less traffic and fewer people around. You will get the most out of your experience if you arrive before sunup and/or after sunset.
Fun facts about the Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood sign gets its name because it was made to look like the famous Hollywood landmark, the iconic Griffith Observatory with its rounded top. It was not always tall!
In fact, before 1926 when it was purchased and re-designed, only half of it was visible from most places. In those days, it was just a white stripe against the mountains.
It took many years for people to realize that this unique structure actually has something special to offer beyond beauty. Now you can enjoy it as such!
The Hollywood Tower is an incredible place to spend some time outside and experience nature in all its glory. You will notice lots of colors in the surrounding landscape, beautiful shapes, and interesting patterns.
These are all part of what makes up our natural world and why we should care for it. By spending time looking at the scenery, you give back one bit to nature every time.
There are several ways to get close to the tower and learn more about it. Some require advanced hiking skills or preparation, while others are easier. No matter which ones you pick, they are all very fun!
Google maps gives us great tools to find out how long it takes to walk up to the Hollywood Sign and how much space there is between highway exits. This way, you do not have to rely on someone else’s estimate or their own perception of how fast you go.
Want to see more photos?
The next time you’re in Los Angeles, make sure you take some time to visit one of our most famous tourist attractions - the Hollywood sign!
While many people may know about the iconic photographs taken by Arthur Fonseca that feature just part of the “Hollywood” sign before it was covered up for preservation purposes, few are aware of how long it has been since the last complete exposure.
In fact, when the signs were uncovered again in 1981, there was much speculation as to whether or not this would even happen ever again due to safety concerns. Thankfully, nature won this battle and work began once again to uncover the full beauty of the Hollywood sign.
Sadly though, due to weather conditions at the very end of March, only parts of the letter “O” could be seen from certain angles. This did not stop photographers and tourists alike from taking pictures, however!
As we all know, timing is everything when it comes to photography, so those wishing to capture the whole Hollywood sign must be willing to wait and do their best to come back later during the same season. Hopefully, Mother Nature will cooperate and help us out!
Not only does visiting the Hollywood sign offer beautiful views, but it also gives you an opportunity to connect with nature. When traveling outside of urban areas, spending time exploring rural landscapes and photographing unique structures and locations can really add depth to your images and showcase another side of the country.