Griffith Park Classic

Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood

Hike the Griffith Park Classic Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood

Explore LA county’s largest park on a 5.25-mile instant classic lollipop loop with landmark locales and hidden havens. The Fern Dell to Mount Hollywood hike in Griffith Park features the famous observatory, hidden gardens, and an awesome view of the Hollywood Sign. There's also guided weekday evening and monthly full moon hikes in the park (see Bonus info below).

Park and start your hike at the Fern Dell Nature “Museum” Trailhead (at Fern Dell Drive and Black Oak Drive). This sycamore-shaded path meanders along a quaint stream and a mixture of exotic ferns and coastal redwoods. After half a mile you’ll connect to the Observatory Trail junction; choose the East Observatory Trail for the ascent, 1,100 feet. The views and prime photo spots of the Griffith Observatory are constant, along with glimpses of Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign to the west (look for the bench with skyline views just before the final stretch to the observatory).

From the Griffith grounds, find the Charlie Turner Trailhead at the north end of the parking lot. Pass through the Berlin Forest, a pine sanctuary dedicated to LA’s Germanic sister city. Cross the bridge and stay left, followed by a right at the next junction and a left after that. As you continue on this gradually ascending path, ignore steep spur trail shortcuts to the Mount Hollywood peak. The reward for your patience: Dante’s View, a garden oasis formed and maintained by a local volunteer in the 1960s with, you guessed it, outstanding vistas.

Just past Dante’s View, make two lefts and finish the last uphill stretch to the summit of Mount Hollywood (1,625 feet) and cinematic views of the park and the cityscape beyond. With the observatory to the south and the Hollywood Sign to the west, this site is truly a classic. Tip: When you’re ready to head back, start down the way you came, but take a left to hike the west route around the mountaintop.

undefined

It’s a less knee-buckling descent and passes by Captain’s Roost (Dante’s original garden spot before a fire destroyed it). There’s also a Tiffany & Co Foundation overlook bench, which provides the views closest in distance to the Hollywood Sign. We’re pretty sure a lot of proposals have occurred here … or will …. From the observatory, this time take the West Observatory Trail down along the chaparral-lined path. At the bottom, you’ll go by The Trails, the resident cafe, before rejoining the Fern Dell path back to your car. We love LA.

BONUS GUIDED EVENING AND FULL MOON HIKES: The Sierra Club Angeles Chapter leads weekday evening hikes at varying levels of difficulty, as well as monthly full moon hikes.

To get to the Fern Dell trailhead, take the I-5 to the Los Feliz Blvd. exit and turn right (if coming from the north) or left (if coming from the south). Stay on Los Feliz Blvd. for 2.3 miles until you see the famous bear statue and Griffith Park sign on your right. Turn right here onto Fern Dell Dr., where street parking is available. The next intersection is Black Oak Dr. and the Fern Dell trailhead will be on your immediate left. Dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View