How to See The Hollywood Sign

Going to Hollywood and seeing the famous Hollywood Sign​ is something many people wish to do.

​It is a famous landmark in the background of one of the most popular cities in the world, but this famous sign isn't as easy to get to as you might think.

Checkout my other California guides for things to do in Hollywood, Los Angeles, and the surrounding Orange County and Palm Springs areas!

Until I looked into seeing the sign myself, I had no idea it required a hike to get to! If you want to get up close to the sign, it is a two-mile walk on a hot, exposed, uphill trail. 

I had seen so many glamorous pictures of the landmark that I thought it would be so much easier to access. Turns out that most of those pictures are taken on private property, and unless you have permission, it is highly frowned upon. 

View from the passenger side window as my mom drove up Mulholland Highway.

In fact, even stopping along the road where you can see the sign is frowned upon. The Hollywood Sign sits high up in the mountains of Beverly Hills, and the roads are narrow, winding, and not ideal for stopping and for photos. 

Please do not do this. It is extremely dangerous!

​After much research, I discovered a great, safe place to view the sign. It might not be the closest you can get, but it sure beats any other option I found! 
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​Lake Hollywood Park has the best view of The Hollywood Sign.

Search Lake Hollywood on your maps for the best view of the sign!

This tiny neighborhood park has a nice and open grass space ideal for a picnic, frisbee toss, or pick up football game and an outstanding view of The Hollywood Sign.

There's The Hollywood Sign!

My mom and I enjoyed the view and fresh air from the park for a while before continuing on with our day in Hollywood. We were so happy to have found this spot and to have avoided the hike to see it, because we had much more to do that day, and we were not dressed for a strenuous hike.

Mom and me and The Hollywood Sign!

If you want to see more of what we did during our day in Hollywood, read my blog post “How To Spend a Day in Hollywood”