GP-eX Segment 13:
WISDOM TREE LOOP
ONE OF MOST PERFECTLY-PAIRED HIKES in the Park, this segment combines two of the most sought-after photo opps – the Wisdom Tree and the Hollywood Sign — in two distinct experiences. The first two miles has challenging, rocky uphill and downhill scrambles; but the remaining three+ miles are paved and dirt descents and with flat sections all surrounded by incomparable views. You share part two with hikers from around the world who are drawn to one of the world’s most popular landmarks.
Notes: As with all hikes, know your abilities. This trail has several steep sections with loose rocks. Buddy up or make sure someone knows your plans and expected return time. There are no restrooms along the trail and small dogs may need to be carried down a few short sections. Dogs are not permitted along the reservoir trail, which is LADWP property.
There are future plans to move the trailhead path slightly S and create a dirt trail to parallel paved Wonder View Dr. The new route will be clearly signed and parking remains the same.
PARKING
Lake Hollywood Dr.
LENGTH
5.4 miles
GAIN
1,142 ft.
DIFFICULTY
Difficult (first 2 mi.), then Easy
DIRECTION
Clockwise
1.The trailhead is a short walk from the parking area on Lake Hollywood Dr., but the track recording begins at the NE corner of Lake Hollywood and Wonder View Dr. Walk NE uphill on Wonder View, being respectful of the residents. You soon pass a beautiful oak on your R, the DTLA skyline comes into view on the SE and the Hollywood Reservoir appears at the SW. Shortly beyond you will pass “Rafael and Chris’s Somewhat Unusual Cactus Garden” and then arrive at a black gate (.22). Pull out the handle and continue straight past a water tank on your L to the start of the trail, marked by a bronze plaque on a large rock (.33, sign #93).
3.Turn L/W and head straight W toward Cahuenga Peak on the Aileen Getty Trail. The trail splits several times; stay L at each (the splits reconnect). The Burbank Airport and Warner Bros. Studios are to your L/N. After a short flat section, the trail climbs and Forest Lawn and the Tom LaBonge Headworks Water Complex appear on your L/N. You pass an L.A. City Flood Control District marker on the R, and shortly after, the Cahuenga Peak marker (1.24), the highest point in Griffith Park. Congrats!
4.Use caution as you continue SW downhill through some steep sections that require the use your hands for support and balance. Pass a small tree that offers a convenient handhold (1.28) and then continue your descent on a rocky, slippery path. You arrive at a saddle that levels out before you hike up the back side of Mt. Lee. Stay L on the trail that splits as you climb. The Innsdale fire road to the R/S is below (which you will be at soon) and the communications towers atop Mt. Lee to your L. Soon, the back side of the “H” in the Hollywood Sign appears. Turn R at a junction (1.58) to walk up to the Hugh Hefner Overlook plaque. Take the trail behind you back down. When you arrive at paved Mt. Lee Dr., a large Trust for Public Land bronze plaque is on your L and sign #1 (Aileen Getty Ridge Trail) is on your R.
[Hugh Hefner photo credit: Luke Ford]
5.Proceed SW up paved Mt. Lee Dr., as the back side of the Hollywood Sign appears through the chain-link fence on your R. At the top (1.72), turn L and take a small uphill SW to a bench with vistas of the Observatory, DTLA skyline, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the Tyrolean Tank, the Hollywood Reservoir, Century City and Santa Monica. If you turn around, you see Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills and the Disney Animation Studios across the freeway. You see this viewpoint again from far below once you’re on the Innsdale fire road.
Now retrace your steps to paved Mt. Lee Dr. and turn R/NW to begin a long stroll downhill. A white slatted fence is on your L and look ahead to find the front range of the San Gabriels and the Glendale skyline. Closer within the Park, you see the top of Toyon Peak in the distance, followed by Mts. Chapel and Bell, and Tank #152 to the E. At the cut in the hill on the R/E (2.16) check out the Mulholland Trail fire road below.
6.Paved Mt. Lee Dr. curves SW (2.28). At that turn, the single track Mt. Chapel trail (in Segment #12) is ahead, but stay on Mt. Lee as it continues downhill, staying to the sides of the road to avoid bicyclists. At the junction with Mulholland Trail fire road on the L (2.61, sign #3), continue straight on the paved road, passing the Tyrolean Tank on your R. This flat section snakes around; Western Canyon is below on your L and Berlin Forest is on the horizon. Mt. Lee Dr. ends at a popular location for photos of the Hollywood Sign (3.05). There’s a small palm on the R/N and a yellow gate before a path leading up to the Tyrolean Tank. Ignore that path and stay straight/W, walking through the door in a chain-link fence to the R of a white stucco column (3.08). Do not go through the arch on the L, which leads to Deronda Dr.
7.Walk through a short “corridor” connector lined with white stucco walls and down a few stairs. Veer R/N, passing a “Trail Head” sign and homes on your L. Stay R and continue past a beautiful garden of cacti/palm trees to the dirt Mulholland Highway trail. Picture-perfect views of the Hollywood Sign are at every turn here. After a few curves, you see a small house façade with a water fountain/bottle refill (6101 Mulholland). Look above at the Hollywood Sign at teeny-tiny fellow hikers on the overlook you were on earlier.
Continue downhill past the Hollywood Sign chalet A-frame to the junction with 6100 W. Mulholland Hwy. and 3300 Ledgewood Dr. Take a hard R and continue down the divided Mulholland Hwy., a live road with traffic. Be respectful of the residents. Look for a mailbox on your R at 6161 Mulholland in a small brick post (3.5). Turn R here between several homes, passing a chained gate to head N. on the Innsdale Trail. More views of the sign abound here, as do birds riding on updrafts.
8.The trail ends at a white gate (3.96). Continue onto the sidewalk and down the hill. At the stop sign at Tahoe Dr., turn R/W (4.11). Continue on Tahoe until it ends at 6400 Tahoe/Montlake Dr. (4.39). A white gate with “Hollywood” on it is on your L; this is one of the entrances to the Hollywood Reservoir path. To continue, turn R/N.
Bonus
From Tahoe you can turn L/S on Montlake Dr. past the white Hollywood gate for a flat walk around the reservoir, adding 2 miles for a total of 7.4 miles. Note that pets are NOT permitted on this LADWP property. The loop will end at Lake Hollywood Dr., where you turn L/N to continue to the start at the corner of Lake Hollywood and Wonder View Dr.
9.Continue on the dirt path on the R side of Montlake Dr. as it curves around the reservoir. The path reaches the junction with the Lake Hollywood North Gate (5.07). Use caution — there’s no crosswalk or stop sign — if you decide to cross Lake Hollywood Dr. to refill your water bottle. Before you head up the last hill, look high up to see the flag at the Wisdom Tree. Then continue N up Lake Hollywood Dr. to the trailhead at the NE corner of Lake Hollywood and Wonder View Dr. to complete the loop.
