Hiking Hotspot: 2 Great L.A. Hikes with Views of the Hollywood Sign

When thinking of Los Angeles, the first terms things that come to mind to most include: crowds, tourists, Hollywood, traffic, smog, and pollution. With a metro area population of over 12 million, things can get pretty hectic, dirty, stressful, and crowded. Despite all the commotion, I really enjoyed my time living in Long Beach. Yes, it was crazy at times, however, I got to see and do so many unique things. As a big movie buff, I had to make at least a few trips over to see the most famous symbol of the movie industry. You do not need to go over to Hollywood to see the famous sign (in fact, the area is a bit tourist trap in my opinion). The best views can be enjoyed via hiking.

Because L.A. is surrounded by the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains, it is home to a number of great hiking destinations. The city has a bad reputation as being home only to endless traffic and congestion, but I found out quickly that there is a lot of nature to enjoy. Two of the best tourist hikes within the city limits are found at Runyon Canyon and Griffith Observatory. Both of these hikes offer terrific views of the city, the iconic sign, and the renowned Observatory. And, best of all, there is no fee to access either trail. One of the great things about L.A. is that there are so many free activities. While I totally overpaid for rent, it basically evened out with all the free attractions I got to enjoy.

Runyon Canyon

This hiking area is known to be the best place to see a celeb in action other than a TV taping – after all they do need to stay in shape and the hills here will kick anyone’s butt. If you ever watch TMZ, you have probably seen the paparazzi try to capture pics of celebs jogging and walking amongst the Hollywood Hills.

Runyon Canyon is located right in the heart of the city, just a few blocks away from the Blvd. Weekends are very busy, however, weekday mornings are quite calm. If you want to avoid the tourists trying to celeb watch, it’s best to avoid weekends! I come here more for the beautiful scenery and the fantastic workout (the hills here are challenging to say the least).

I recommend escaping the touristy attractions like Walk of Fame and enjoying the craziness from afar. A hike in the Santa Monica mountains is sure to be a more memorable experience than anything else you will see in Hollywood, which honestly is nothing special (a one time visit in my opinion). This beautiful oasis provides a much needed refuge from the traffic and congestion of the city. Places like this really show us how peaceful and beautiful a city can look from up above. Sometimes we need to look at the city from another angle to see its’ true beauty.

The main trail here consists of a 3 mile loop with a few really steep uphill sections. The hills are so tough here that I did some of my half marathon hill training sessions here. Hiking this moderately intense trail will not only give you a fantastic all over body workout, but also the opportunity to enjoy prime views of the city, the sign, and surrounding mansions!

I recommend planning your hike on a weekday if you are looking for a serene, natural experience away from the crowds. On a morning workday, you will not come across nearly as many hikers. You may see a handful of walkers and a few joggers, but nothing like the hordes of tourists that come out full force on the weekends. Runyon is the perfect place to escape for an hour or 2. Take in the beautiful views around you, get in a fabulous workout, take some great pics of the beautiful mountains, and then treat yourself to a fresh smoothie – this is my perfect day in the city.

Sometimes, we need to just stop and take a look around. Runyon Canyon shows us that all cities look beautiful from afar.

Tip: Try out one of the free yoga classes, held several times daily. Check the Runyon Canyon Yoga Schedule to plan your visit.

Griffith Observatory

The Griffith is an iconic institution that was gifted to the city by a philanthropist of the same name. It’s free to everyone and it’s an awesome place to stargaze, study astronomy, hike, and enjoy vistas of the city. The Mt. Hollywood trail offers the best views of the sign in the city – you can really get up close. Too many tourists just head straight into the Observatory without a second glance at the trails. This is definitely one of the city’s prime attraction for fitness enthusiasts.

This is one of the best urban hikes with fantastic views all around.  The trail is short, coming in at about 3 miles. It’s moderately easy with numerous steeper sections, which is all worth it for the spectacular views of the city and beautiful Observatory. The hike is much easier than Runyon and features better views of sign, so casual hikers just looking for views over a monster workout should probably choose this trail. On a clear day, you can see all the way down to the ocean. Bring your camera with for this hike for sure.

And don’t miss out on the wonderful L.A. skyline view from the deck of the observatory. Let’s just say that the views are as good as it gets on a non smoggy day!

Tip: Visit just after sunset for great night views of the city. Also, be sure to visit the Observatory itself which is home to wonderful exhibits and shows, a scenic observing deck, and public telescope viewings. Best of all, admission is free! Read more about the history of the Griffith.

Tips for a smooth hike at either area:

*Wear a hydration backpack. You are hiking in the dry desert and will need plenty of water. One water bottle, on either of these hilly hikes, just isn’t enough.

*A GPS watch comes in handy for tracking your distance, pace, and total time. The Forerunner is my go-to multi purpose fitness watch which I use on every run, hike, and bike ride. It’s waterproof, has a long battery life, finds the satellite easily, and hooks up to your computer so you can track your progress over time.

*Hike in the morning. The temperatures will be a bit cooler and there will be less foot traffic, meaning a more peaceful & enjoyable experience and better photo opps.

*Try to pick a clear day so you can enjoy the city views.

*I always recommend a quality hiking stick, especially for uphill hikes. Benefits of using hiking sticks include less stress on your joints, better traction especially when going downhill, extra balance when walking over rough ground, a better workout in your upper body, and extra protection in case of a wildlife encounter (bang and wave your stick to ward of mountain lions, etc.)

Address & Parking Information

Runyon is located at 2000 N. Fuller Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046. Free parking is available on the side streets (just watch the signs).

The Griffith Observatory is located at 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027. A free parking lot is available as well as side street parking.