The Hollywood Sign Hike You Won’t Find on Google Maps
One of our favourite family adventures in Los Angeles — and it was completely FREE!
If you're looking for an iconic LA experience that doesn't cost a fortune, put this one on your list.
We found a walking route that takes you right up to the back of the Hollywood Sign, with some incredible views across Los Angeles along the way.
And the best part? It cost us absolutely nothing.
Follow the instructions below to replicate our hike.
Our Hollywood Sign hike
🚨 Important: This is a WALKING route only!
DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE THIS ROUTE.
This is really important because the route involves roads that aren't accessible to vehicles.
The exact walking route doesn't appear as one continuous route on Google Maps, which is why I've broken it down into three parts below.
You need to follow ALL THREE PARTS IN SEQUENCE.
Some sections have cones or barriers across them. These are there to prevent vehicle access — not pedestrian access.
📍 Part 1: Start the route
Follow Part 1 of the walking route here:
Follow this section until you reach the end point.
Then move directly onto Part 2.
📍 Part 2: Continue towards Mount Lee Drive
From the end of Part 1, follow Part 2 here:
Again, this is a walking route.
Don't attempt to navigate it by car.
📍 Part 3: Follow Mount Lee Drive to the top
This is where it gets really simple.
From the end of Part 2, keep following Mount Lee Drive all the way to the top.
Eventually, you'll reach the back of the Hollywood Sign! 🎉🙌
And trust me — you'll know when you've arrived.
For an even better photo opportunity and viewpoint, hike a little further up and then back on yourself, heading up the small dirt mound.
This gives you some fantastic angles for those iconic Hollywood Sign photos. 📸✨
⚠️ A few things to know before you go
🥾 Wear sensible shoes
Although we found the hike relatively easy, you are walking uphill and there are dirt sections.
💧 Take plenty of water
Especially if you're visiting during the warmer months. We took regular water and snack breaks.
🌅 Go early
We really recommend an early start. It meant we could complete the hike before it became too hot and made the experience much more enjoyable.
🚗 Don't drive the route
I can't stress this enough! This is a walking route only.
🗺️ Follow the three sections in order
The reason I've provided the route this way is because you won't find the complete trail as a single walking route on Google Maps.
⏱️ How long does the Hollywood Sign hike take?
We started at 7:30am and were back at the car by approximately 9:50am, making the total round-trip time 2 hours 20 minutes.
That includes the walk up to the back of the Hollywood Sign, time at the top taking photos and enjoying the views, and the walk all the way back down to the car.
We also stopped plenty of times along the way for water, snacks and photos, so you could potentially complete it faster if you're travelling without children or taking fewer breaks.
We completed the route as a family of five:
2 adults
18-year-old
15-year-old
6-year-old
Our 6-year-old managed the route brilliantly, and we found it to be a relatively short and manageable family hike.
⭐ Why we loved this hike
There are plenty of paid attractions and tours in LA, but we loved that this gave us an opportunity to experience one of the city's most famous landmarks completely free of charge.
You get:
✅ Incredible views across Los Angeles
✅ Photos right by the Hollywood Sign
✅ A fun family adventure
✅ Free parking at the start
✅ No tickets or tour required
✅ A great way to start your LA trip
And because we started at 7:30am, we were back down before the heat really started to build.
Save this for your LA trip!
If you're planning a family trip to Los Angeles, save this post.
It's one of those experiences that feels like a proper LA adventure without the hefty price tag — and the fact that you can stand at the Hollywood Sign without paying for an organised tour makes it even better!
Our total cost: $0. 💰
And honestly?
One of our favourite things we did in LA. ❤️
👉 Want more LA and California family travel tips? Follow @travel_savvy_mumma in instagram for itineraries, hidden gems, money-saving tips and family-friendly things to do across California.
