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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Hollywood Hills offer stars a hiking escape from glitz of L.A.

Hikers can find stunning year-round views from behind the famed Hollywood sign in Los Angeles. (Associated Press)
Solvej Schou Associated Press

LOS ANGELES – You can see the stars all dressed up on the red carpet at the Oscars. But if you want to see them in their sweats, head to the Hollywood Hills – from Runyon Canyon to the west, to Bronson Canyon in Griffith Park, with its 53 miles of paths, to the east.

Jennifer Aniston, Sheryl Crow and other celebrities have been spotted on some of the trails, particularly in Runyon, but regular, nature-loving folks flock to them as well.

Although the trails are located in the hills just above the famous Hollywood sign, in spirit they’re far from the glitz and glam of the city below.

Runyon Canyon Park: Your best bet for seeing some famous faces hiking in the Hollywood Hills is to head to Runyon Canyon Park, located a few blocks above Hollywood Boulevard.

I started visiting Runyon in the ’90s, after a conservation group and the city of Los Angeles bought 160 acres there, reclaiming the area from squatters. The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks designated 90 of the acres off-leash for dogs, and the area is enormously popular among dog-lovers – including celebrities like Jessica Biel, who was photographed hiking its 3-mile round-trip loop with her two pooches.

The top peak boasts vast views of Hollywood, including the Capitol Records building to the east.

Griffith Observatory: One of my favorite hikes is going up to the Griffith Observatory, the 75-year-old domed L.A. landmark perched in the hillside of Griffith Park, which encompasses 4,217 acres of wild land east of Runyon.

It’s a roughly 2.5-mile round-trip trek to the observatory and back from the base of the trail in the Fern Dell picnic area located off Fern Dell Drive, in the neighborhood of Los Feliz, just east of Hollywood. Chaparral and bushes of wild yellow flowers named Sticky Monkey pack the trail in the spring.

A playground with swings surrounded by ferns, sycamore trees and picnic tables sits across the way from a newer addition to the park, The Trails cafe. The tiny, cozy shack, with its outdoor tables, chalkboard menu and hippie-ish vibe, attracts every outdoorsy type, from hikers to cyclists, mommy-and-me groups and celebrities such as Amanda Seyfried and Flea. The scones are tempting on the way back.

Hiking in Griffith means seeing more animals than any Angeleno is used to. I regularly come across coyotes, rabbits, gophers, squirrels, deer and the occasional French bulldog.

During a recent hike, a lone, giant, wild-eyed coyote stepped into the middle of the path several yards ahead of me. We stared at each other for five minutes, both of us still as glass. Eventually, the coyote turned and sauntered off the path.

Griffith Park remains a busy filming location for everything from theatrical features to commercials, and the observatory appears in “Rebel Without a Cause.” A bust of actor James Dean is located on the observatory grounds.

Bronson Canyon and the Hollywood sign: On the southwestern flank of Griffith Park, Bronson Canyon is best known for its famous “Batcave,” where the “Batman” television series used to film in the ’60s, and opens up into gorgeous hikes near the Hollywood sign.

To see the short hillside tunnel, drive north up Bronson Avenue, off Franklin Avenue, until it curves into Canyon Drive and ends at a dirt trail and parking lot. Hike above the lot, take a quick right and go up about a quarter of a mile.

Hiking straight from the lot leads to a snaking path to the Hollywood sign. The immediate area surrounding the sign is restricted and monitored by surveillance cameras and motion detectors.

A shorter 3-mile round-trip hiking path to and from the Hollywood sign starts in the hills of nearby Beachwood Canyon. You’ll end up above the sign, able to see the large, looming letters from behind, plus a sweeping view of L.A., from sparkling Lake Hollywood to the west to the Griffith Observatory to the east.