Which freeway can i see the hollywood sign

In the s, the sign was once again in bad shape. Hollywood's A-list rose to the challenge and various celebrities helped foot the bill for a complete restoration. The famed landmark got its most recent paint job in In , a large chunk of Mt.

Lee came under threat of development after the Howard Hughes Estate sold a large parcel of land there to Chinese developers. A fundraising campaign which covered the sign with the words "Save Our Peak" successfully raised enough money to buy the land and add it to the adjacent Griffith Park, protecting the cherished view for future generations.

On a clear day, the Hollywood Sign is visible all across the Los Angeles Basin, including from Downtown high-rise buildings, and even from Signal Hill, almost 30 miles south through the coin telescopes at least. Driving or walking around Hollywood Blvd, you can look north at just about any intersection and see the sign, but the following suggestions offer some special viewpoints with great photo opportunities to get a nice shot of the Hollywood Sign.

Weather conditions and smog affect visibility, but you're pretty close here, so even in rain or fog, you can usually make out the sign. There are coin operated telescopes to get a closer look, so don't forget your quarters. When you park in the parking lot at the Griffith Observatory , there's a nice view of the Hollywood Sign over the next ridge.

The closest view of the sign is along the railing on the right side of the parking lot as you face the Observatory. Driving Mulholland Drive is an attraction in itself, but the easternmost viewpoint on Mulholland Drive near the freeway , called the Hollywood Bowl Overlook , also has a great view looking back at the Hollywood sign to the northeast. Check it out on the map. This shot was on the day they were taking down the letters. At the back corner of the parking lot at Griffith Observatory is the trailhead for several Griffith Park hiking trails on Mt.

Just a short way up the main trail, just past the sign indicating that L. Dante's View on Mt. Hollywood is a bit of a hike from the parking lot at the Griffith Observatory , but its high vantage point provides an incredible view south over Griffith Observatory to Downtown Los Angeles and West to the Hollywood Sign on Mt.

It's one viewpoint where you find yourself looking across, rather than up at the sign. A forest fire burned Dante's View in , but there's little evidence remaining. T he Hollywood Freeway : drivers on the northbound freeway get a brief glimpse of the Sign in between the Santa Monica Boulevard exit and the Sunset Boulevard exit.

The Hollywood Bowl : the sign can be seen behind the bowl - and a little to the left - but only from the upper bleachers. The Bronson Caves. Ron then hiked up the trail from Bronson Canyon to the Sign, and got this shot from behind:. For the best view, take Beachwood Drive north up into the hills. Turn left north up Gower three blocks, under the freeway to Franklin Avenue.

Turn right east on Franklin, then immediately turn left north up Beachwood Drive, into the hills. The scene from the movie that features James Dean is iconic. The parking lot of the observatory is also one of the starting points for those who want to embark on the Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail , which we will talk about in detail later in the section about the trails to reach the summit of Mount Lee that allow you to approach the Hollywood Sign from behind. Lake Hollywood Park , in my opinion, is the best viewpoint to photograph the Hollywood Sign.

Mulholland Drive is one of the scenic roads that run along the hills of Los Angeles. It has the added benefit of having been immortalized in countless Hollywood films. If you go to the terraces of the mall, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign. The best spot is on the third level crossing bridge.

Compared to the rates of other parking lots in L. After taking some pictures, why not take a nice walk along the edge of the lake?

The Hollywood Reservoir has three separate entrances. If you decide to use your car or to rent one , here are some tips on where to park depending on the entrance you decide to use. Obviously, you should always pay attention to any signs of no parking. North Beachwood Drive is a 2-mile road and at the end of the road, you will find the entrance to the Sunset Ranch , which we will discuss in detail later.

I recommend that you do not go all the way to the end. In fact, you will begin seeing some nice views of the sign at the intersection with Scenic Ave and then going towards the Hollywood Hills. First of all, I want to make it clear that you cannot in any way touch the Hollywood Sign or get very close to it. In fact, the area is fenced and guarded by cameras and security personnel to avoid accidents and vandalism that have taken place over the years, even though these are rare occurrences.

If you want to get as close as possible the only solution is to climb to the top of Mount Lee and admire the view of Los Angeles from behind the Hollywood Sign. In other words, you can only reach that point where the radio antennas stand out. Before seeing the routes to reach the top, there is some basic information that I must outline not only for the sake of your safety but also to help you understand that you will not get as close to the sign as you might expect.

I advise you to read carefully so as not to encounter unpleasant surprises. If you are going to reach the top of Mount Lee to see the view from behind the Hollywood Sign , the first thing you should know is that the residents of Beachwood Canyon the residential area below the sign are fed up with the crowds of tourists who flock to the top of Mount Lee either on foot or by car along the winding, narrow streets that climb up the Hollywood Hills. The first consequence of this is that they have put up intimidating and misleading official-looking road signs all over this area that aim to discourage people from venturing into this part of Los Angeles.

Some time ago there was even a petition to remove the Hollywood Sign from Google Maps. The second consequence is that law enforcement agencies both private and public are present and ready to report any minor parking violations.

I love watching the sunset on the sign from this angle, and even though it is far away, it is still a great viewpoint. Bonus points if you hike Mt Hollywood from the observatory as there are some great views from up there as well. Next up, the Hollywood Bowl is a unique spot to view the sign. If you visit during the day, you can walk to the top and get some good views of the sign behind the famous bowl.

Or you can drive up to the Jerome C Daniel Overlook of the Hollywood Bowl on Mullholland and get great views out towards the sign as well.

For my second to last recommendation, a hike in Runyon Canyon Park will also give you a good view of the sign. I like this park in general as it is an excellent way to break a sweat in the city with views of Hollywood, but if you turn the other way, you can see the Hollywood Sign in the distance. It is another viewpoint that is relatively far away but provides an interesting perspective.

My last recommendation is the closest that many tourists get to the sign, and that is at the mall on Hollywood and Highland. I wanted to share this bonus suggestion as well if you are looking for a fun photo of the Hollywood Sign, and you have a zoom lens.