Cahuenga Peak rises over Griffith Park, offering excellent views of Los Angeles, Burbank, and that iconic landmark, the Hollywood Sign. Wonder View Trail climbs to the top of Cahuenga Peak from the west side, and it’s one of the better ways to reach the Hollywood Sign if you want something less crowded than the standard routes.

The hike itself is about three miles round trip with an elevation gain of 925 feet, so it’s a solid workout without being brutally long. You’ll be climbing a rugged single-track trail that doesn’t see as much foot traffic as some of the other Hollywood Sign approaches. The trail crosses two peaks on the way up, which means you get variety in the terrain and multiple viewpoints as you climb.

Once you reach the summit of Cahuenga Peak, the real payoff starts. The views across Los Angeles and toward Burbank are genuinely impressive from up there. To continue to the Hollywood Sign itself, you’ll cross a saddle using the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail to reach the top of Mount Lee where the sign sits. This routing is notably shorter than some alternatives—the traditional 6.4-mile hike from Brush Canyon Trail or the 3.5-mile option from Hollyridge Trail, both of which tend to draw bigger crowds.

What makes Wonder View worth the trip is the combination of good elevation gain, fewer people, and the fact that you get to summit two peaks before finishing at the Hollywood Sign. The single-track terrain keeps things interesting, and on a clear day, the views from Cahuenga Peak alone are worth the effort. If you’re doing this hike, start early to avoid the afternoon heat and crowds that build up later in the day.