Mt. Hollywood from Old Zoo

This hike to Mt. Hollywood begins with the Bill Eckert Trail on the eastern edge of Griffith Park. Beginning just off of the start of the Mineral Wells Trail, the Bill Eckert Trail diverges to the left and heads north while climbing the hillside that can range from a gradual to steep grade. As you make your way up the slope, you'll have great views of Bee Rock and the metro area. After passing two water towers on your right, the trail will bend toward the west. Further along the trail, you'll reach the 1,000-ft. elevation mark, at which point you'll have stunning views of Burbank, Glendale, the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Verdugo Mountains. You'll quickly pass another water tower on your right before reaching Vista Del Valle Drive. The Bill Eckert Trail ends here and you'll turn right to follow the Vista Del Valle Drive Connector, which is closed to vehicles, for about 200 yards to reach the Mt. Hollywood Trail.Turn left off of the road here and follow the Mt. Hollywood Trail as it initially parallels Vista Del Valle Drive while heading east, and then as it bends south. The trail will then pass by the east side of Mount Bell and Taco Peak as it continues to climb. The trail will then soon reach a juncture with the East Ridge (Hogback) Trail. Avoid turning left here and continue straight to follow the Mt. Hollywood Trail momentarily until you reach its end at the summit of Mt. Hollywood, which sits at 1,625 ft. From here you'll have fantastic views of the entire L.A. Basin and on particularly clear days you might be able to see Mount San Gorgonio, Baldy, and San Jacinto. Once you've enjoyed the views you can return along the same route to reach the original trailhead.Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.