Charlie Turner’s Trail

The easiest, but worst way to reach Mount Hollywood is along Charlie Turner’s Trail that starts at the Griffith Observatory parking lot near, of all things, the George Harrison Tree (see
if you think I’m joking).
The hike starts with a traffic and parking headache at the Observatory parking lot. The lot is often full so people park along the road to the parking lot. With so many other trails around Los Angeles that don’t have issues with congestion, I don’t understand the need or appeal of coming here unless you’re already visiting the Observatory. On the plus side, there is water and bathrooms at the parking lot for those who need extra pampering while on a short hike.
The proper trail is a super broad dirt road that takes wide-​swinging switchbacks to the top. Just stay to the right until the final leg to the top. The trail includes a Tiffany (the jewelry store) sponsored rest stop along the 1.7-mile one-​way path. So if you were looking to get out into the wilds of nature, this is clearly not the right hike.
The undesignated trail is a steep path straight up the ridgeline. As this cut-​through trail attracts inexperienced hikers, be careful of reckless fools falling into other hikers along with overly scared people blocking the path due to their hesitation. The short-​cut trail is 0.8 miles one way.
Either route is about a 400 foot elevation gain which isn’t much ascension.
If foggy or hazy, there isn’t much to see. Try going on a clear day when the view from Mount Hollywood extends across the Los Angeles basin.

Took a young friend visiting L.A. on spring break. We had fun getting our hike on as well as seeing the Hollywood Sign at a closer view. Great exercise! Great day full of sun.

Hike here from the bottom in the early mornings. The views are amazing.
There is always plenty of friendly people hiking, even if you go at like 5am.
The hike isnt too challenging, but you will definitely break a sweat. From the bottom of the mountain (Los Feliz) to the Observatory takes me about 30 minutes walking. You can even drive up there.
After the Observatory you can keep hiking and there is several different paths to take. The longer paths arent as steep/​rocky, the shorter paths are steeper and have more rocks, gravel, etc. Takes me about 15 – 20 minutes walking to get all the way to the top from the Observatory (taking the steep and short path).

Dante’s Peak– This is an easy, short hike for someone looking to change their workout routine. The best way to get there with less crowds of people: Exit Vermont off 101, pass Los Feliz and park at bottom of street as it turns, walk up the street meant for hikers and cyclist, be mindful of coyotes (my mom and bumped into 2 of them today), and you will reach Observatory. Start walking towards Mt. Hollywood Hiking Trail sign, pass Dante’s View and you will eventually reach the highest place-Dante’s Peak. The restrooms are so very clean and stocked with teepee. My mom (who is in her 60’s) walks through this trail calmly. I go at her pace to make sure she is comfortable. The incline gives your lower body a good workout. We finished our hike in 50 minutes on a Wednesday morning.

Easy trail, lots of dogs and runners. The trail is well kept, no trash, lots of trash cans around — surprising that litter was almost non-​existent which is great!
People do leave dog poop though. Bummer.
Horse poop too.
Trail isn’t little kid friendly unless your kid is really good at not falling off cliffs.
Parking at the Observatory can be crazy. We heard lots of honking but it’s worth it to try the lot first. If you’re an expert at parallel parking, try your luck before you get to the Observatory lot.

Crowded at the beginning, then very quiet. Easy hike, great views.

Been coming here for years now leo has join our. Family and he seems to enjoy it here we try and come up here as much as possible

This hike is beautiful on a mild, clear day! I can’t wait to go back without my kiddos, simply because I was quite anxious at times with my young kids. There are more than enough areas for my kids to plummet to their deaths, so, unlike other kid-​friendly hikes, I had to keep them away from the edge and was hovering a bit– exactly what I DONT want to do in nature on a hike. We like to explore and go on adventures.
My kids are 3&5, so I’m sure you can understand. we did do some awesome «minecraft excavating» on the mountainside.
The view is gorgeous and it’s amazing to feel SO close to the clouds with the backdrop of the Hollywood sign and our beautiful city below.
Bonus that you can end your hike at the observatory, have a bite to eat and take in a show. Ah, living in LA def has some amazing perks.
I will be back

Simply one of the must hike trails in Southern California. It provides breathtaking, unrivaled 360 degree views of LA, LA County, all the way to Orange County.
Charlie Turner’s Trail can be located by the entrance of the Griffith Observatory Parking lot. You can also enter the trail from further below the trail. It isn’t labeled and walking towards the Observatory, you’ll see a path down on the right and a semi steep path on the left. Take the left path.
I’ve seen the view many times from the Griffith Observatory but the view above and beyond Hollywood peaks on this trail simply trumps the Observatory view in every way. I was even able to see the tiny fireworks from Disneyland. Everything looks amazing and almost insignificantly small from the highest point of the trail. The view leaves an impression where you can almost reach your hands out and control the city. If brave, I suggest grabbing flash lights and do a less dense/​crowded night hike and allow time to soak in all the glory. This is now the trail I would take friends and family from out of town as you can a perspective much more massive than what any sort of media can provide of LA.
Trail Tidbits:
— Trail length is approximately 3 miles and I would gauge it as moderate.
— There is an elevation gain approximately 500ft.
— A simple map can be found here:
— The trail provides unparalleled 360 views of the LA area and beyond.
— Parking can be found for free on the road towards and leaving the observatory (or simply at the observatory).
— Trail heads can be found near the entrance of the Observatory, you will see a mock street sign. OR an unmarked trail-​head walking towards the Observatory.
— For thrill-​seekers, there are plenty of quite steep shortcuts that allow you to save an ample amount of time without too high of a risk. I’ve tested a lot of them with no problems.
— As of July 2015 there is a tea-​house embedded just beyond the high point picnic area that is a must see:
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— Bring shoes with plenty of traction, it will save you from a lot of trouble since there are bursts of elevation changes.
— If you want to avoid the crowds, plan your hike around 7:30 PM and bring flash lights! The moonlight (if available) usually allows ample lighting however.
What are you waiting for? Go check out this this trail for yourselves!

NOTE: don’t mistake this for the Griffith Hike trail.
Trailhead starts at the lamp post named: «Charlie Turner Hiking Trail»
Anyway, this is my Absolute most FAVORITE hike in LA. Coming from a local, its nice to get out of the city while still being in it sometimes. You get a sense of solitude and stillness being up there & this trail offers that and an amazing view of Burbank, Glendale, LA, Santa Monica & the Hollywood Sign.
There is an intermediate & extra harder trail if you know how to look for it. Mostly packed on weekend nights & Dog friendly!
Pros: lots of parking. E v e r y t h i n g.
Cons: not as strenuous and challenging as runyon, BUT you get a more rewarding view here.
If you’re new to LA, this is a must!

This trail is about 6 miles round trip to the Hollywood sign. There are many ways to get to the sign from this starting point, but all ways lead to the same place. The starting point is actually at the Griffith Observatory.
For the most part, the hike is pretty tame. There are some hills and steeper/​more challenging parts, if you choose to take them, but all-​in-​all the pitch is not difficult. The last ¹⁄₃ of a mile before you reach your destination, you are walking on an asphalt road which is fairly steep. Once you get to the top, you will actually be behind the Hollywood sign — definitely a different perspective and looking out onto the city of LA.
There is no shade and it gets quite busy, so go early to avoid the crowds and heat.
parking — free street parking or park in the Observatory lot

Good short hike up a narrow trail but got a good distant view of the Hollywood Sign. Go early and you’ll get a feel of the fresh morning air! I enjoy walking my doggie up this place. Bring water and sun screen!

This trail is fairly easy and enjoyable for anyone from beginners to the more experienced. Difficulty level from 1 to 5 I would rate this 1 ½. Many different trail routes to choose from that take you on many different directions. The further you go up in elevation the better the views. Some pretty great scenic views of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Hollywood and even the beach on a clear day. Trails are wide and not too steep for the novice. If you want to pretend your Rambo like me those trails are available too but be careful… it can be a bit dangerous especially if you’re taking the route up the pipe just past the bridge.
This place is extremely popular and gets packed early and throughout the day. Parking can be a nightmare so be patient. Restrooms with drinking fountains are available in between the parking lot and the Observatory. Use them if you plan on taking an extended hike. As usual eat a lite healthy meal and hydrate yourself well before the hike. Take a small snack like a fruit or power bar with lots of water, a towel preferably in a small back pack and a head bandana. Dress appropriate and make sure you have good traction on those shoes.
I love pictures so please share your pictures and your thoughts on this great trail.

Cant beat the views! The hike is lovely and not a bad workout. There are some great short-​cuts you can take to the top if you want a bit more of a challenge. But it’s a nice hike to take with friends or in a group.
Dogs are prevalent and you might also see some horses and riders on the trail. Remember to take water and sunblock — there isn’t much shade. To get to it you can either get there from the parking at the observatory or from the bottom of Fern Dell.

The Charlie Turner’s Trail begins at the edge of the Griffith Observatory parking lot. If you walk a little past where the outside bathrooms are, you’ll be able to find the clearly marked trailhead.
By following this path, you will be rewarded with sweeping views of downtown LA, Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood sign. If you want to take the most direct way to Mt. Hollywood, it will be about 6 miles roundtrip. This trail is very wide and suitable for beginners. If you are trying to challenge yourself, there is a steep ‘shortcut’ you can take that will shave ~10 minutes off your trip.
There are so many other trails that you can take if you are more adventurous, since the main trail does not take very long at all. I definitely want to come back to explore the other areas next time!
TIP: This is also the trail that the Griffith Observatory uses for their Sunset Walk and Talk! If you want to be educated while you exercise, check their online schedule for dates and times –

I originally had in mind to give this trail a 2 or 3 stars. Before my hike-​walk was over I changed my mind.
I was in pain from some minor muscle injury, but I missed walking on trails so much I didn’t want to abstain completely. I searched for a super easy trail and found this trail.
Easy to get to, easy to find, and really easy to walk/​hike.
PROS:
— free parking
— easy markers tell you you’ve arrived (can’t miss the big Charlie Turner’s Trail sign)
— Dante’s View
— wide trails
— steady incline
— alternate trails can make it more challenging
CONS:
— NO shade
— CROWDS
— herds of people
— CROWDED
— get there early or you’ll park far, far away
— did I mention a lot of people go there?
Yes, I don’t like trails that are crowded. If you don’t mind lots of people, then disregard anything I might have to say regarding crowds. I had to pause at one point during my hike because a large family kicked up so much dust that I didn’t want to breathe all that dirt in. I love seeing people of all ages and types getting their fitness on, that does make me happy.
What changed my mind from giving this trail less stars was Dante’s View. It reminded me so much of Amir’s Garden. I was so happy exploring. I would have kept on exploring except for the fact that I was in pain still. Dante’s view is an oasis in the middle of a city filled with chaos and madness at times. You get up there and you’re away from it all for a few moments. I didn’t make it all the way to Dante’s Peak, I’ll try that another time.
This is a total beginner’s trail and anyone can attempt it. The views are nothing short of amazing if you want to see or show someone views of Los Angeles. If and when I return, I’ll be sure to get there early and beat the crowds ;)

Want a nice short hike, a good little decent workout & beautiful views all the way up? Look no further. Highly recommended for beginners & people of all ages. Distance round trip for hike is 2.5 miles. (If you want to lengthen, it does lead to other trails in the park).
You’ll arrive at the beginning of the loop trail. Work your way towards Dante’s view, a perfect picturesque area that entails gardens, picnic tables & scenery — much like Amir’s Garden. Continue upward spiraling round till you reach Dante’s Peak, the top where you’ll view all sights of the metro area –Hollywood, downtown LA, Burbank, SF Valley & of course the Observatory.
Weekdays, I can’t imagine it being too overwhelmingly crowded, however the earlier the better as suggested for all hiking trails in all areas. Weekends, definitely get their early! Parking gets filled up fast & you can park alongside road (there are other entrances to trail, but you want to go closest to the Observatory on hilltop) There are bathrooms located near Observatory & parking, as well as trash cans & water spigots too.
And yes, it’s crowded, but not unbearable if you don’t mind seeing pockets of people & doggies throughout. Everyone there at the time we went were polite & exercised courtesy.
Although I haven’t tried (yet), I highly recommend the moonlight hikes -(I prefer through an organized event or hiking group just to keep safe practice) I can imagine how gorgeous the city night lights must be!

I know I am starting to sound like a broken record, but the view is incredible and you can get a really good workout on Charlie Turner’s Trail.
We started at the bottom near the Trails Café. The first trail is called the Griffith Observatory Hike. Don’t forget to check-​in on Unilocal.Next time I’ll figure out the distance, but it is about a mile up to the Observatory. If you want to bump up your workout a little more then continue on to the Charlie Turner Trailhead. This trail begins on the north side of the Griffith Park Observatory main parking lot.
Important Note:
If you want to go to the top of Mt. Hollywood and back down to where you started at the Trails Café near Los Feliz and Fern Dell it is approximately 6 miles. It is a really good work out with a little over 1,000 feet elevation gain. You can also keep track of your progress on Map My Hike which is a free ap.
Misc. Info:
*Bathrooms near Trails Café at the bottom and more by the Griffith Park Observatory.
*Hiking boots not required unless you go on the smaller and much steeper trails. The main road up is basically a fire road.
*Don’t forget your water and you can also bring a picnic lunch. There are tables at the top. See my photo.
*Bring a jacket even if it is warm. It was at least 15 degrees cooler on the top and really windy.

When I want to get a quick hike in but don’t have a lot of time to devote to it, I usually opt for the Charlie Turner trail. You can park in the Griffith Park Observatory parking lot and the trail head starts opposite of the Observatory. Cross through the picnic area and the bridge and you’re on your way. I’ve seen that there are a couple of different way that people make their way up to Mt. Hollywood. I usually just stick to the regular trail, but I’ve seen some brave souls climb straight up. Don’t think I’ll ever do that, but you have to admire those that do. The trail itself is very well kept so you never have to worry about overgrown brush and stuff like that. If you go in the summer, watch out for rattlesnakes!
Once you get to the top of Mt Hollywood you can see a panoramic view of the LA Basin. The best time to go is the day after or a few days after it rains so you can see all the way to Palos Verdes and even catch a glimpse of Catalina Island.
This is the hike I usually take people who haven’t done much physical activity. Otherwise, they may not want to talk to me anymore. lol!

So I found this trail by reading this:
Check it out for other trails in Griffith Park! To get to this one, park by the Observatory… exit on Los Feliz and don’t go towards the zoo like we did and spent 20 minutes looking for where the entrance is! haha it’s distinctly marked. The hike is relatively easy and you head up Mt. Hollywood to see the Hollywood sign (it’s really not THAT close). Views of DTLA, Burbank, and the Observatory are awesome! The trail is pretty flat and curves around and up the mountain, BUT… you CAN make it more challenging for yourself.
My friend and I went off the trail a couple of times on smaller brush paths that other people had also clearly taken. It was a little harder to hike up to the peak point this way, but I enjoyed the challenge. Just be careful! Dante’s Peak is also on the way and it’s like a little grove/​oasis with a couple of benches and even a giant water tub that I saw people give their dogs a bath in…(something I would never let my dog do, but it’s a free country). We even saw someone bring up a guitar and they were sitting under the shade and singing =)
Now be careful if you wander off and start taking the trail downwards along the back… we started going that way from Dante’s Peak, but soon discovered that it would only lead us further and further down the hill away from the Observatory and we’d have to walk back up somehow. And that trail was NOT easy… steep and sandy and if you’re not wearing proper shoes, it’s very easy to slip. The hike back up was a pain in the butt in the 12pm sunlight too! haha… serves us right for being too adventurous. =P
Overall a fun hike and a good workout, but I’d go earlier to get parking and not overly baked in the sun!