Mt. Bell Out-and-Back

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This out-and-back hike uses the North Trail, Mt. Hollywood Trail, North Mt. Bell Trail, South Mt. Bell Trail, and the Mt. Bell Summit Trail to reach the top of Mt. Bell and offer great views along the way.

This hike begins from the trailhead for the North Trail off of Griffith Park Drive, just south of the Mineral Wells Picnic Area. From here, follow the North Trail as it climbs to the west. After 1/2 of a mile of hiking, you'll reach Amir's Garden, a great place to escape from the bustling metropolis and enjoy the peaceful collection of various plants. Once you've had your fill of the garden, you can rejoin the North Trail as it heads westward again, climbing along a ridgeline.

You'll then reach a T-intersection, with a water tank on your left, at the edge of the former Toyon Canyon Landfill. Turn left here to continue following the North Trail. After hiking a little ways further, you'll pass another water tower before quickly reaching a trail junction. The North Trail comes to an end here and you'll turn right to follow the Mt. Hollywood Trail to the south.

From here, the trail gradually ascends toward Vista Del Valle Drive. Once you reach the road, you'll turn left and follow it for about 100 feet to the left before reconnecting with the trail on your right. The Mt. Hollywood Trail then briefly parallels the road while heading to the east before bending to the south. You'll quickly reach a juncture with the North Mt. Bell Trail. Turn right here and follow the trail until you reach another T-intersection, at which point you'll turn left to follow the South Mt. Bell Trail briefly until you spot the steep Mt. Bell Summit Trail diverging to the left. Follow this trail up the slope and you'll finally reach the top of Mt. Bell, which sits at 1,582 ft.

Once you've had a chance to enjoy the views of the area, especially Mt. Lee and the Hollywood Sign, you can turn around to follow the same route to the original trailhead at the Mineral Wells Picnic Area.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

The carefully curated Amir's Garden is named after Amir Dialameh, an Iranian immigrant, who first created the stunning garden in 1971 following a fire that roared through the area. Nowadays, Amir's Garden is maintained by volunteers inspired by Amir's passion for nature and stewardship.