The best ways to photograph the iconic LA Hollywood sign up close

Everybody knows how to see the Hollywood sign: look up.But getting a good view of it — or figuring out how to get close — is surprisingly complicated.We spent a day testing some of the most popular ways to see Los Angeles’ most recognizable landmark, from Hollywood Boulevard and Griffith Observatory to hiking into the hills behind it.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story The first thing to know is that the best route depends on the kind of view you’re after.If you’re already sightseeing on Hollywood Boulevard, Ovation Hollywood is probably the easiest option.

Head up to the fourth-floor bridge and you’ll get a clear view of the sign without making a separate trip.The tradeoff: you’re still a considerable distance away.For a better all-around Los Angeles experience, Griffith Observatory is hard to beat.

The DASH bus can take you up for just 50 cents, and from one stop you get views of the Hollywood sign, the observatory and the city below.If what you really want is the classic straight-on Hollywood sign photo, Lake Hollywood Park gets you surprisingly close with almost no effort.But getting behind the sign is where things become more complicated.One option is the roughly three-mile hike up the mountain.It includes steep, exposed climbing and can be a demanding way to reach the viewpoint behind the letters.The surprising discovery is that you don’t have to climb over the mountain at all.If getting as close as possible is the goal, approach the sign from the Deronda and Mulholland side instead.

There is no visitor parking at the entrance, so getting dropped off is the easiest option.From there, you already have an extremely close front-facing view of the sign.Continue up Mount Lee Drive and you can reach the same viewpoint behind the Hollywood sign ...