Berlin Forest Beginner

One of our 16 Ways to See the Hollywood Sign

Los Angeles, California and Berlin, Germany have been sister cities since 1967. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of that arrangement, the cities exchanged some local flora in 1990. Here in L.A., we got Griffith Park’s Berlin Forest – a small grove of pine trees above Griffith Observatory that may not feel much like a forest, but is still a lovely place for a picnic.

This area of Griffith Park can be reached as a side stop on a larger hike or by a very short and easy trail that begins at the north end of the main parking lot for Griffith Observatory. Avoid the almost-always crowded lot and look for the street sign that marks the Charlie Turner Trailhead for the Mount Hollywood Trail.

The trail itself is a broad, open path lined with pines. It’s one of the few hiking areas in Griffith Park that’s reliably shaded, and although the walk itself is short it’s certainly lovely in its own way.

After a few short minutes of easy hiking, you’ll reach Berlin Forest itself. This small but pleasant grove of pine trees is a great place for a relaxed lunch after a visit to the Observatory or just a nice place to sit in the shade and soak in views of the sunset or city below.

When you’re done soaking in the views (or eating lunch) head back the way you came – or consider turning this into a more substantial hike up to Mount Hollywood or a loop via Western Canyon and the West Observatory Trail.