Wisdom Tree Hike (+ Cahuenga Peak and Hollywood Sign)

The Wisdom Tree hike, one of the most popular in Los Angeles, offers a lot of bang for your hiking buck, right in the middle of Hollywood. The Wisdom Tree, the only tree to survive the 2007 Barham fire and a source of inspiration thousands, sits atop Burbank Peak, the highest peak at the end of Griffith Park. From the top you'll be able to soak in not only the good vibes of the Wisdom Tree but also sweeping views of LA and the mountains surrounding it. The hike is short but steep and is doable by most everyone.

When planning, always check the park website and social media to make sure the trails are open. Similarly, check the weather and road conditions.

I also have a few Wisdom Tree hike extensions in this guide that are worth your time.

• You can also continue to Cahuenga Peak, the highest in Griffith Park, and then on to the Hollywood Sign. This adds another 1.4 miles to the hike for a total of 3.2 miles (about 2 hours total time).
• If you visit the Hollywood sign, you can come back on a loop trail to one of the least visited areas of Griffith Park, which offers sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley (also known as "the Valley"). If you add the Hollywood Sign and this loop on the hike is 4.2 miles (2-3 hours total hike time).

How to Get to the Wisdom Tree

Okay, please read this section carefully because parking is tricky. The actual trail starts a short way up a paved road (Wonder View Drive), but you can't park on it. Some other online guides for the Wisdom Tree hike have the parking listed on Wonder View Drive, but there is no parking or thru-traffic there. Please be respectful of locals (and avoid a tow) by parking in the right place.

The good news is that there is plenty of free parking on Lake Hollywood Drive. Just park on the side of the road wherever there isn't a no-parking zone. Park as close to the top of the hill as possible.

Use this trailhead address:
Lake Hollywood Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068

There are no bathrooms at the trailhead or anywhere on the hike. There are porta-potties at the start of the nearby Lake Hollywood hike though.

Gear For the Hike

The good news is that you can get away with fitness clothing on this hike. But many sections are steep and rocky, so I'd recommend trail runners or hiking shoes. You can get away with sneakers in a pinch. And if you happen to have trekking poles, they'll help on the steep sections (up and down) as well. There's almost no shade, so protect yourself from the sun and bring 0.5L of water per hour of the hike.

My Latest Gear Picks

As a hiking guide, I test lots of hiking gear. On my picks page, I'll show you all of the gear that I actually use. I don't accept paid promotions or talk about the stuff that doesn't make the cut. It's just the gear that works best, so you don't have to waste your money.

All My September 2023 Top Gear Picks

Wisdom Tree Trail Maps

Overall the trails are in good condition and are easy follow, but it's not a wide and gradual trail like the hike to the Hollywood sign. That said, there are no dangerous sections; all the trails are solid and safe. Just watch your footing on the steep and rocky parts.

Explore Map on CalTopoView a Printable PDF Hike MapDownload the Hike GPX File

Best Smartphone Apps to Navigate: AllTrails | GaiaGPS | OnX

Hike Landmarks (Full 4.2 Mile Loop)

3D Map

What is the Wisdom Tree?

• The mountains around Burbank Peak were slated to become luxury homes in 2008. The community fought against this, and with the help of donors like Hugh Hefner, Steven Spielberg, Tiffanies, and most of the movie and TV studios, the land was bought from the developers and donated to Griffith Park in 2010.
• In the 1980s, McDonald's would give away tree saplings for Arbor Day. Legend has it that the Wisdom Tree is one of those.
• In 2007 there was a wildfire here (the Barham Fire) and the area was devastated; the only tree left standing on the top of Burbank Peak was the Wisdom Tree.
• Local resident Mark Rowlands put a notebook and some pens under the lone tree and visitors started leaving their words of wisdom in it. Mark still maintains the tree and notebooks.
• The Wisdom Tree quickly became a favorite place for visitors. But all the attention wasn't necessarily great, and some people carved their names into the tree, broke off branches, peeled bark, and other dumb stuff.

The Wisdom Tree is a special being in a special place. Please treat it with respect. Don't touch it, carve into it, climb it, or break bark off. Please pick up any trash you see on the trail and bring it out.  A good piece of wisdom is to leave everything in better shape than you found it.

Wisdom Tree Hike Directions

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If that's all you want to do, you simply hike back down the way you came up. This hike on its own is beautiful and a great adventure. But if you want to continue onto the optional extensions, keep reading.

Cahuenga Peak and Hollywood Sign Extension

With just a little more trail time you can hit the highest peak in Griffith Park, Cahuenga Peak, and then Mt Lee, which is perched behind the Hollywood Sign. Doing an out and back to the Hollywood Sign is 3.2 miles total (about 2 hours total time).

Valley Overlook Loop Extension

From the Hollywood Sign you can go back the way you came, or you can add a mile on and do a loop trail that offers sweeping views of the San Fernando Valley and mountains around LA. The loop will bring you back to the start of the hike without going up the way you went down. Adding the loop makes the hike 4.2 miles total (2-3 hours total hike time).

Have a question about the guide or want to see what other people are saying/asking? View the Youtube comments for this video. Leave a comment and I will do my best to respond.

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