Lake Hollywood Loop

The Lake Hollywood Loop trail can be 3 or 6 miles and includes the ubiquitous Hollywood Sign selfie spot on Mulholland Hwy. Mostly flat with the option for a slight 200′ elevation gain on a dirt trail climb puts the difficulty at 3/10. A classic Hollywood Sign view and a truly “locals only” look at Lake Hollywood.

The Parking – Don’t just settle for Lake Hollywood Drive right off the bat. Sure, it’s the most plentiful and you can see the lake however the coolest spot to park is on Tahoe Drive. If you are coming in from Barham Blvd (like you should be) drive straight down Lake Hollywood Drive to the lake and continue along the “shoreline” until the road ends and turns left onto Tahoe Drive into the neighborhood. Street park right there.

The Best Thing – Run up the dirt trail to the Hollywood Sign photo-op spot on Mulholland with your tourist friends and the combo of Lake Hollywood, a trail run, and a hassle-free Hollywood Sign photo might make them say, “you know, Los Angeles is not as horrible as people say.”

The Route – From your Tahoe Drive parking head down to Lake Hollywood Drive and turn left past the decorative pipe gate blocking the road and then through the gap in the chain link fence blocking the road.  The first half of this route is super simple – run for 3 miles clockwise around the lake until you are back here again. Mark. Set. Go!

Okay, maybe some extra information might be helpful. Once you’ve completed about 2 ½ miles of the loop the road will reconnect with Lake Hollywood drive. The cars driving on that will make it difficult to run on so cross the street and run along the dirt sidewalk for ½ mile until you reach Tahoe Drive and you re-enter the car-free zone.

As you begin your second loop around Lake Hollywood you will notice the lack of shade. Get used to it. That is the only real downside of this trail. However, just before you reach the dam again look up and to the left and you will see another gated chain-link fence designating a new dirt trail heading uphill into the Hollywood Hills. Sure it’s a little dusty but that also mikes it slightly less toasty than all that black asphalt you’ve been on for 4 miles.

It’s about 1 mile on a moderate uphill slope with the occasional moderately decent view of the lake however, you will ultimately emerge into the middle of downtown Hollywood Sign tourist photo-palooza. This is Mulholland Drive or Way or Highway… either way, it is were English is truly a second language. Tourists from everywhere and since you didn’t park here, it somehow feels less terrible than it might.

Turn left, downhill, past the dog park, and the first road to your left will be Tahoe Drive. Turn left and run along the suburban sidewalks back down to your car. 6 Miles. Boom.