Trails of the Angeles: 7 Peaks hike of Griffith Park, Mount Hollywood

The Mount Hollywood Trail takes you to the top of Mount Hollywood and offers commanding views of the San Fernando Valley, the Los Angeles Basin, and the San Gabriel Mountains. The trail also includes Dante's View, a terraced two-acre garden planted by Dante Orgolini in the 1960s, Cahuenga Peak with the Lone Surviving Tree of the Fires 2 years ago. Cahuenga Peak is the 12th highest named peak in the Santa Monica Mountains and is located just west of the Hollywood Sign and Mt Lee. It provides a spectacular 360-degree panorama of the Los Angeles Basin and the San Fernando Valley.

It's very cool to see the park from so many different vantage points and light settings within such a short period of time. Coyotes, deer, raccoons, opossums, rabbits, skunks, owls and hawks roam free. With 53 miles of hiking trails to choose from. It is an amazing five seconds. Suddenly the freeway is gone. You can't see or hear it. You're now hiking along the rim of a quiet little canyon. You have escaped. The panorama--a 360-degree view allows you to see Pasadena, Glendale, the Valley, Long Beach and Santa Monica from the same spot--that is what makes Mt. Hollywood special. Dogs and Horses welcome.

This was about 12 miles round trip... I can't give you details because I did not lead it. I recommend going with a group. We parked above the marry-go-round to start the hike from there.. but I did find these directions if you just want to go up to the sign..

Wonder View Trail - From Downtown Los Angeles, take the 101 freeway North. Exit Universal Center Drive. Turn left (over freeway) and make another quick left onto Cahuenga Blvd. Follow Cahuenga Blvd south for a half mile and turn left again onto Barham Drive. Take a quick right onto Lake Hollywood Dr and follow that up into the residential neighborhood. Look for Wonder View Dr and turn left. Follow Wonder View Dr up and park at end of street. Look for the trail leading up to Cahuenga Peak. The summit should take 30 to 60 minutes from here.