Where to get free exercise in Hollywood

You might not automatically think of hiking when you think of Los Angeles, but you should start. You may be surprised by the fact that Greater Los Angeles is a doorway to great hiking, whether it be a day trip away, like Ojai, or right in the heart of Hollywood like the two places I will talk about in this post. Here are my recommendations for where to get FREE exercise in Hollywood.

Lake Hollywood/ Hollywood Reservoir

Situated in the Hollywood Hills just off of one of the busiest highways in Los Angeles is Lake Hollywood. This dam and reservoir built 1923-1924 is named for William Mullholland, the man responsible for bringing water to Los Angeles and Chief of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power at the time the dam was built. You may recognize the name Mullholland from the infamous drive that connects Hollywood to the San Fernando Valley or perhaps David Lynch’s movie by the same name. Without Mulholland, Los Angeles as we know it would not exist. I won’t go into his history here, but if interested you can learn more about him in the book Water to the Angels by Les Standiford. 

Although Lake Hollywood is technically part of Griffith Park, it falls a bit closer to Hollywood than neighboring Los Feliz. The lake that formed from this dam is a quiet oasis in the middle of one of the busiest neighborhoods in this city. This man-made lake has a path that winds its way through both shady trees and sun, and about halfway through you can walk over the dam that still has its 1920s details intact. The almost four miles offers one of the closest views of the famed Hollywood sign, without having to climb up Mount Lee. 

If you are wondering how close you get, this photo provides a great view of what you will see. I think people are surprised by how small the sign actually is.

The path around the lake is pretty even and perfect for running or pushing a stroller. If you have people in your group where walking is an issue, this can be a great option. Just keep in mind that it is an almost three-and-a-half-mile loop.

• Cost: Free. There should be street parking available.
• Ages: All
• Address: 3042 Lake Hollywood Dr., CA 90068-2714
• Getting here: Taxi/Uber/Lyft or car. I recommend putting the address above or the North Entrance into the GPS because the Beachwood Canyon route is very confusing.
• Other things to note: Sometimes, this area is closed due to mudslides due to rain. There is one porta-john just over halfway around. Other than that, there are few options for bathroom use.

Runyon Canyon

There are opportunities to do leisurely strolls like Lake Hollywood or hike up trails that totally kick your butt like those in Runyon Canyon. This canyon, located behind the Hollywood Bowl offers a wide range of moderate to strenuous hikes, sometimes teetering along the ridgeline of the Santa Monica Mountains. These views from the city can be pretty amazing, and rewarding after a steep climb. No wonder this area is a popular spot for personal trainers to take their clients.

Runyon Canyon is dog-friendly and has sections that are on and off-leash. It can be like a giant doggy play date.

• Cost: Free.
• Ages: There is a wide range of trails and ability levels here.
• Getting here: Believe it or not, this area is walkable from the Chinese Theater. Walk west on Hollywood to Vista and take a right.
• Parking: This may be one of your biggest challenges since this area is so popular. There is street parking in the area.

For more information, I turn to Modern Hiker who has spent years hiking California. Although I will continue to talk about hiking in Los Angeles, his blog is more comprehensive and should be your one-stop for hiking in L.A. This is his post about Runyon Canyon.

You can live your whole life in Los Angeles and not know that something exists. I hope you were surprised by all of this nature smack dab in the middle of the most touristy spot in Los Angeles. Now you know where to get free exercise in Hollywood. Go forth and explore!

If you are a nature lover, I hope to share a lot of Los Angeles nature with you over the course of this blog. We are heading into my favorite season in Los Angeles, tidepool season. The last weekends of August, September, and October will have low tides during daylight hours.

If I talked about exercise, you can kind of guess what I am going to write about next….

COMING UP…Where to eat in Hollywood.

[Disclaimer: I am an affiliate with Book Shop. Some of the links in this post include an affiliate link which, if you click and buy, I may get a little money from your purchase.]