Runyon Canyon Hike Guide

Name: Runyon Canyon Park
Address: 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90046, USA

3.5 miles - Moderate Effort
Or: 1.6 miles, 1.8 miles
1:30 Hours (Total)
900 Total Feet of Climbing
Max Elevation of 1,295 feet
Leashed Dogs Allowed

Runyon Canyon is a fun hike tucked right into the middle of Hollywood. It's a great place to see celebrities, view the Hollywood Sign (in the distance), visit a hidden sculpture, and get a good hike in. In fact, Runyon will give you sweeping views from Catalina Island to the Santa Monica Mountains on a clear day. There are crowds here, so don't come expecting a pristine hiking experience. Runyon Canyon won a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence, and is worth hiking at least once.

In this Guide:

Turn by Turn Hike Directions & Video
Runyon Canyon Trail Maps
What's the Deal With Parking? (Planning Your Trip)

Quick Links:
Park Website - NOAA Weather Report - My Sep 2024 Gear

Trail Options In Runyon Canyon

Runyon Hiking Routes

This guide gives you a few options to hike Runyon:

a short 1.6 mile out-and-back hike to the scenic viewpoint (red)
extend the viewpoint hike into a 1.8-mile loop (red + purple)
do a 3.5 hike around all of Runyon Canyon Park (red + orange)

All of the hikes have at least 500 feet of climbing, but the climb is short and the hike is doable for all levels.

If you have the time I do recommend doing the full loop. It shouldn't be more than about 2 hours and will give you lots of views. And the crowds die out on the loop back.

What to Expect on the Runyon Canyon Hike

If you're looking for solitude and pristine wilderness, Runyon Canyon Park is not going to make you happy. Just remember that you're in the middle of a city, and it can get crowded with people hiking, working out, walking their dogs, celebrity spotting, and just enjoying the scenery. Prepare your expectations accordingly.

There are no bathrooms at Runyon Canyon Park.

Vendor Selling Water In Front Of Runyon Canyon Park — Occasionally you'll see vendors selling water and other refreshments at the entrance, but don't count on it.

Is Runyon Canyon Closed?

No, Runyon Canyon re-opened in the summer of 2017 after being closed for renovations for four months. It was closed for 4 months in order to repair a leaking water line that went through the park from the 1930s. When Runyon Canyon reopened, some of the paved trails were improved and they added some water fountains. Otherwise the park is the same as it was before.

Runyon Canyon Park is open from 6am-6pm daily, although you'll find people in the park after hours as well.

Directions to Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon Park is in the heart of Hollywood, and 20 minutes from downtown LA. If you’re staying in Hollywood, you might be able to walk to the trailhead.

Here's the address and link for the entrance to Runyon Canyon Park: 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90046, USA.

Where Can I Park At Runyon Canyon?

There's no parking lot for Runyon Canyon, you have to park as close to the main entrance at 2000 N Fuller Ave, Los Angeles, CA, 90046 as you can. There's only street parking, and that can be a problem, since about 35,000 people visit Runyon Canyon every week (1.8 million a year!).

If you want to park at Runyon Canyon, you have a few options. First, I always do well when I arrive early and park on the street around the entrance. Spots open up as locals drive to work. Second, you can park farther away and just walk there. Street parking in the area is free. The third option is to park in parking lot close by, and then walk 10-15 minutes to the park entrance. If you're staying in a Hollywood area hotel, the park entrance is probably within waking distance.

The worse times to park seem to be afternoon when people come to the park after work. Also, you should look out for permit only parking zones. There are plenty of parking spots without restrictions, but some do.

Parking for the Runyon canyon hike — Here's some parking on Hillside Avenue, only five minutes from the park entrance. This was 7 AM on a Friday morning, and there were five open spots at this point.

Gear For the Runyon Canyon Hike

The nice thing about Runyon Canyon is that you can just do it in workout clothes and sneakers. It's not a hardcore hike that requires any special gear.

Gear That I Love Right Now

Nothing is sponsored or promoted, just the actual gear that I use.

Garmin InReach Mini 2Hit SOS or just tell loved ones that you're running late where your cell phone has no service. Review here.

Topo Pursuit 2The best hiking footwear I've ever owned. No blisters. Get them wet, they dry quickly. Lots of cushion and comfort.

Garmin Epix ProHiking maps, route info, and fitness stats on my wrist. Review here.

Osprey Hikelite 26Lightweight, carries all your gear, and your back doesn't get sweaty. Oh yea, it's also one of the most inexpensive packs you can get.

Check out the complete list here. ( Updated September 2024)

Hiking Runyon Canyon With a Dog

Yes, you can hike Runyon Canyon with your dog! There are well marked areas where you can have your dogs off-leash. Everywhere else, you just need to leash your dog. 90 of the park's 160 acres are marked for off-leash use, so there's plenty of space to let a dog roam free. Water fountains in the park provide some refreshment as well (bring your own bowl). The renovations at Runyon Canyon even repaved surfaces with macadam, not asphalt, which is cooler on your dog's paws.

Dog friendly sign in Runyon Canyon Park — Dogs can roam leash–free in over half of Runyon Canyon Park.

Runyon Canyon Trail Maps

Want me to take care of the details so you can just enjoy the views? I offer this as a guided hike.

Use This Map:
View in CalTopo | PDF Map | GPX File

How Will You Navigate?

Using the Apple Watch for Hiking

Garmin Fenix 7 & Epix Review For Hikers

How To Read a Topographic Map

Garmin GPSMAP 67i Review

Runyon Canyon Hike 3d map — This Runyon Canyon hike takes you on a loop of the popular trails in the park, including a side trip to an art installation. You can also do a couple of shorter options (keep reading).

Runyon Canyon Hike elevation — There's a lot of up and down in this hike, with the steepest climb at the beginning of the hike. Once you do the first steep climb, most of the hard work is behind you.

Runyon Canyon Hike Directions

The Street Outside Of Runyon Canyon Park Entrance — The entrance to Runyon Canyon is at the end of Fuller Ave, up the hill.

Runyon Canyon Park Entrance Sign — You’ll see the entrance sign for Runyon Canyon Park. Head through the gate. Runyon Canyon Park has been around since 1983 when the City of Los Angeles purchased it from private owners.

Sidewalk In Runyon Canyon Park — Once through the entrance gate, hike straight on the paved trail, ignoring turn-offs. You'll also pass the Runyon Canyon yoga field on your left.

Trail In Runyon Canyon Park — After a few minutes, you’ll come to this big gate for the off-leash dog area. Keep hiking straight on the Inspiration Point Trail.

Trail To Hidden Sculpture — At about 0.2 miles in, there's an optional detour to a hidden sculpture. It only adds a few minutes onto the hike and is worth checking out. If you're not interested, head right and go up the hill toward Inspiration Point (directions further down).

Runyon Updates 2 — Soon after getting on this trail you'll see some ruins of the old residences that were once here.

As you pass the ruin, here's an interesting side note. In the 1940s the A&P supermarket heir engaged Frank Lloyd Wright to build a resort and hotel here, but the move was blocked by the local government. Frustrated, he sold the property and left the area. The new owner tore down all the structures to avoid paying real estate taxes. Hence the ruins.

Runyon Updates 3 — Follow the trail through the wooded section for a few minutes and you'll reach the Rock Mandala created by artist Robert Wilson. Walk the meditative mandala circle, soak in the good vibes and then hike back the way you came to the last junction.

Trail And Runyon Canyon Park — When you get back to the junction, head left up the hill. This is also the hill you'll head up if you skipped the Rock Mandala sculpture.

Runyon Updates 4 — Go straight past the abandoned basketball courts.

Inspiration Point Hiking Trail — At about 0.7 miles, you reach Inspiration Point and hiking trail levels out. The trail continues back around to the left.

Bench Overlooking Downtown La — There's a nice bench at Inspiration Point to catch your breath on before you head up to Clouds Rest. You'll get nice views of downtown LA in the distance (it's those tall buildings). On a clear day you can see out to Catalina Island.

Hill And Running Canyon Park — Continue up this steep section of the trail. Most of the climbing (about 350 feet) on the hike is on this stretch of trail.

View Of Hollywood Sign — Here's where you can see the Hollywood Sign from the Runyon Canyon hike. As you hike up to Clouds Rest, look off to the right and you'll see the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory in the distance. I have a guide to hike to the Hollywood Sign too.

View Of Downtown La — This section of the trail is tough. Turning around to soak in the views is a good excuse for taking a break.Before Runyon Canyon was a park, the Kahlua importer Jules Berman owned it and planned on building luxury homes here, but the community shut it down.

Bench Overlooking Los Angeles — After that tough climb, you reach the bench at Cloud's Rest, which overlooks LA at 1,040 feet.

If you want the shortest hike option, enjoy the views here, then turn around and go back the way you came up for the red 1.6 mile hike. Otherwise continue.

Runyon Canyon Road — At the next trail junction, head right to do the 3.5 mile loop.

To do the shorter 1.8 mile loop, hike down the hill to the left in the last picture and skip ahead, which will take you back to start of the hike.

These remaining directions are for the 3.5 mile loop trail.

Runyon Updates 5 — Continue hiking on the paved Runyon Canyon Road. Keep your eyes open for 3003 Runyon Canyon Rd on the hill to the left, which is one of only two houses in Runyon Park and was built by Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright built it in the 1940s for the heir to the A & P Grocery fortune, and it was once home to movie star Errol Flynn, who liked to (jokingly) call Runyon Canyon his personal estate.

Runyon Updates 6 — Keep going straight toward the Mulholland Entrance, avoiding the trail on the left.

Runyon Canyon Park North Entrance — At about 1.7 miles, you'll reach the gate for the Runyon Canyon North Entrance, located on the famous Mulholland Drive. When you get to the gate, hike left along the fence.

You're now hiking on the Indian Rock Hiking Trail. Continue along the fence.

West Ridge Hiking Trail — Shortly after the last split you'll reach an open plateau with some smaller side trails. Make the hard right onto the main trail.

Another historical side note. In the early 1870s these hills were the hideout of Tiburcio Vasquez. He robbed but was known for his chivalry. From his angle, he was fighting the oppressive US regime that was treating the Spanish-Americans poorly, from the US government perspective, he was a bandit. Either way, the character of Zorro was modeled after him. In 1874 he was caught at Runyon and hung.

View Of Sky From Runyon Canyon Park — This part of the West Ridge Hiking Trail has lots of great viewpoints.

pink mansion In Runyon Canyon Park — At about 2.2 miles, you'll start to see the infamous pink mansion, built in 1990 but never really lived in aside from a short stint being the "marijuana mansion." The last I heard it was up for sale at $15.9 million as a tear down. Keep to the left as you hike past the mansion.

Mansion In Runyon Canyon Park — Keep hiking to the left of the mansion.

Stairs In Runyon Canyon Park — Just past the mansion, hike down the stairs on the West Ridge Hiking Trail.

Danger Sign On West Ridge Hiking Trail — Keep hiking past any "no hiking" signs on the main trail, avoiding any side trails that go down the side of the hill.

West Ridge Hiking Trails Overlooking La — Once you're reached the high point on the West Ridge Hiking Trail, the rest is all a nice downhill walk with great views into LA.

Turn On West Ridge Hiking Trail — At about 2.8 miles you’ll reach the end of this stretch of the West Ridge Hiking Trail. Hike left down the steep decent.

View Of La From Westridge Hiking Trail — Watch your footing as you hike down the hill. Sections of the trail can be slippery with loose sand.

Bench On West Ridge Hiking Trail — At about 3.1 miles the decent ends, and you arrive at a fenced in section. Make the hard left and hike down the trail.

West Ridge Hiking Trail Meets Runyon Canyon Road — At about 3.2 miles, make the hard right onto the Runyon Canyon Road Hiking Path. Note the path is paved now.

If you took the 1.8 mile purple shortcut, you will rejoin here.

Intersection With Inspiration Point Trail — The trail comes back to where you started, make the right to exit the park at Fuller Ave.

Cris Hazard At Runyon Canyon Park — Pat yourself on the back! That's the hike!

Need More Info?

Have a question about the guide? Join my Patreon and ask me a question.
When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.
Do you have an update to this guide? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to update the guide.

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This Guide Was Written by Cris Hazzard

Cris Hazzard 4 Mile Trail Yosemite
Hi, I'm Cris Hazzard, aka Hiking Guy, a professional outdoors guide, hiking expert, and author based in Southern California. I created this website to share all the great hikes I do with everyone else out there. This site is different because it gives detailed directions that even the beginning hiker can follow. I also share what hiking gear works and doesn't so you don't waste money. I don't do sponsored or promoted content; I share only the gear recommendations, hikes, and tips that I would with my family and friends. If you like the website and YouTube channel, please support these free guides (I couldn't do it without folks like you!). You can stay up to date with my new guides by following me on YouTube, Instagram, or by subscribing to my monthly newsletter.