CYCLING LEVEL: INTERMEDIATE (Some Steep Climbs / Descents)
BEST TIME OF YEAR: Year-round
STRAVA ROUTE: https://www.strava.com/activities/2668539800
🤷🏻♀️ I’ve never even heard about Mulholland Dam, but a few months ago!
I’ve cycled across all 48 US states in 5 years and the thought didn’t even occur to me ‘til recently – I haven’t explored much of my home town of Los Angeles. What is wrong with me? 😳😂😅🤣
Lately, I have been focusing on improving my climbing ability. I can’t believe how much I was missing! Los Angeles has a ton of mountains, steep hills, and hidden high-grade roads! ⛰🚵🏼♀️🚵🏻♂️⛰
With amazing weather, almost year-round, cycle-friendly roads, and cycling social clubs, you have no excuse to leave your bike in the garage or to not book a trip to ride out here. LA has it all!!!
Planning a cycling trip to Los Angeles? Don’t miss riding thru these 3 historical and famous landmarks in Hollywood, CA!
Mulholland Dam
Hollywood’s Mulholland Dam 1929, before it blended into the Hollywood Hills. Courtesy of the Herald-Examiner Collection – Los Angeles Public Library.
Table of Contents
DID YOU KNOW?
Original name was Weid Canyon Dam
Concrete-arched gravity dam constructed in 1924
The Dam can theoretically hold back Lake Hollywood
The Fear of the Movie Capital being swept away
Photo by Rich McCor @paperboyo
Hollywood Sign
After the Dam, you will ride a steep climb through Lake Hollywood Park, a tourist rest stop. Give your heart a breather, as you take in more picturesque views between the Hollywood Sign and Downtown Los Angeles.
As you head into narrower residential streets, watch out for potholes and cracks as you descend, then climb the infamous 17% grade Rockcliff Road. You may encounter annoyed residents, who live in high-traffic areas, so be kind and courteous. Always be conscious of oncoming cars as you climb, as there are many blind spots.
As Deronda Dr ends, there’s an unlocked metal door for you to squeeze into that leads you to a small set of stairs you will carry your bike up. The peak of the climb behind the Hollywood Sign is a doozy, but certainly well worth it!
Note that it’s best to hit the Hollywood Sign BEFORE 10am. Tourists and hikers will be flocking there in no time..
A 1929 publicity photo for the Hollywoodland groundbreaking shows a plow, mules and surveyors. (Bruce Torrence Collection / Hollywood Sign Trust)
DID YOU KNOW?
4,000 Lights Bulbs and a Searchlight
Farewell my precious “Land”
Restoration in 1978 required 9 Donors to pledge $27,777.77 each ($250k total)
O: Giovanni Mazza (Italian movie producer)
L: Les Kelley (Founder, Kelly Blue Book)
L: Gene Autry (actor)
Y: Hugh Hefner (Founder, Playboy
W: Andy Williams (singer)
O: Alice Cooper(singer), who donated in memory of comedian Groucho Marx
D: Dennis Lidtke (Businessman) donated in the name of Matthew Williams
Griffith Observatory
First of all, I’m an Astronomer-at-heart, so this most iconic building in LA never gets old. As you enter from Ferndale Road, you can stop half a mile up at Cafe Trails for some much-needed replenishments before another 2.5 mile climb up the Observatory.
Also, be mindful that by this time during your ride, you will brush against more cars, tour buses, and tourists. The Observatory itself does offer free public telescope viewings every night when it’s open (closed on Mondays) as long as the sky is clear.
(1933) Aerial view looking down at a nearly completed Griffith Observatory. Note the channel terraces on the hillside. Photo by WaterandPower.org
DID YOU KNOW?
A Philanthropist’s Vision to Broaden the Human Perspective
World Leader in Public Astronomy
A Very Special Telescope Indeed!
More to see in Los Angeles!
We will be filming and documenting more epic rides in and around the Los Angeles area. I can’t wait to share more cycling adventures!
In the meantime, here are some pretty cool cycling resources to get your fingers twirling with excitement! Fill up your calendar with some bucketlist cycling trips!
Any questions about cycling in Los Angeles? You got other suggestions? Drop me a message in the comments below!
THANKS FOR READING 🤟
Hey there, I’m Monica Busby — I started cycling seriously 5 years ago across 48 US States and Cebu, Philippines after being fed up of the rat race. “There has to be more to life than this”, I said to myself. So I picked up a bicycle and have been on a pilgrimage to cycle the world ever since. Adventure Travel and Entrepreneurship are my passions. Let me inspire you to cycle travel more with wild stories, scenic views, and business tips to live a lifestyle you have always wanted.
