Boy Scout / Mt. Hollywood Trail

The Boy Scout to Mt. Hollywood Trail is a 4.5 mile loop that includes The Griffith Observatory, The Captain’s Roost, Dante’s View and The Bird Sanctuary. The 850′ elevation gain is spread evenly over the route and the trails are wide and maintained giving it a difficulty level of 5/10. Views of everything. On a clear day I’m sure you and your buddy Sarah Palin can see Russia.

The Parking – 30 roadside spots along a cul-de-sac. You should be driving up Vermont Ave towards the Greek Theater and before you get there you will see the Roosevelt Golf Course to the right so turn left instead and that area is all yours!

The Best Thing – The top of Mt Hollywood AKA Tom LaBonge Lookout. 360 views from the city to the valley. It’s where you imagine the Hollywood Sign would be.

The Route – The trail begins at the corner across from the prominent cinderblock restroom bunker. Uphill for a quarter mile and you will hit an asphalt road that accesses a Water Tank. Jog that to the right and then jog back to the left to stay on your dirt Boy Scout Trail. When you arrive at the crowded 3-way overlook just below Griffith Observatory check out the view then turn around and head straight up towards the observatory.

Run past that famous landmark and into the parking lot. At the end of the lot the trail picks up again and heads into the Berlin Forest. Don’t worry, it’s a short forest and the Mt. Hollywood Trail continues on the other side as you head down and cross the bridge. It’s a bridge over a tunnel so it might not technically be a bridge – whatever. Cross it.

On the other side avoid the temptation to scramble up the short-cut to the right. Stay on the main trail like a civilized person who uses a napkin and doesn’t talk on their cell phone in the grocery store. This trail is wide and still has a decent incline so enjoy that. The next intersection has 4 legitimate trails and 2 rogue trails. Again, like a fully evolved human, take the hard left.

This trail passes the Captain’s Roost and at the next right, take that uphill. From here the top of the mountain is barren and covered with a web of trails but you will see the overlook with signs and benches and hitching posts for your horse. Go look. Say, “what’s Tom LaBonge got to do with it?” and start back down.

This is where the web of trails gets the most confusing. For this route, always run right. That will get you on the Hogback Trail towards Dante’s View. At Dante’s View look around, have a drink, look at plants, and then head to your right. You will be closing the circle back at the 4 way legit and 2 rogue trail intersection. When you arrive take the soft left that begins with such a steep, sandy slope that you might think twice, but don’t. Think only once and head down there for it becomes a nice single-track trail.

This continues past the old Bird Sanctuary that doesn’t look like it’s opening back up any time soon (it’s 2023 right now). You emerge onto the main Vermont Canyon Road that people drive up to the observatory on so, take the dirt path along the road. Dirt path, dirt path, cross the street at the Greek Theater then, sidewalk, sidewalk, sidewalk and… back to your car. 4.5 miles. Boom.