Horseback Riding in Los Angeles: What to Expect on a Griffith Park Trail Ride

Yes, you can ride a horse in the middle of Los Angeles. A few miles up the hill from Hollywood Boulevard, a dirt trail climbs out of Beachwood Canyon into Griffith Park. The Hollywood Sign sits on the ridge above and the whole city spreads out below.

Sunset Ranch Hollywood has been putting riders on that trail since 1929. You don't need to have ridden before. This guide answers what first-timers ask us most: who can ride, what to wear, which tour to pick, and whether it's worth the trip.

The short version

Ready to pick a ride? See day tours or evening tours.

Why Griffith Park is special

Griffith Park is more than 4,200 acres of mountain in the middle of Los Angeles. It has over 50 miles of trails, and most visitors never set foot on one. They see the Observatory, take a photo of the Sign, and leave.

The trails are where the park earns its reputation. Ten minutes up from the barn, the traffic noise drops away. You're in chaparral with hawks overhead, and coyotes and deer are regular sights. Then the ridge opens and you can see downtown, the San Fernando Valley, and the Pacific on a clear day.

Horses belong here. Long before the Observatory or the Sign, this land was Rancho Los Feliz, a working ranch crossed on horseback. Griffith J. Griffith gave 3,015 acres of it to the city in 1896 as a place of rest "for the plain people." The bridle trails came with it, and riders have used them ever since. We tell the whole strange story in The History of Griffith Park.

For everything else in the park, see our Griffith Park guide.

Sunset Ranch: riding under the Sign since 1929

Sunset Ranch opened in 1929, six years after the Hollywood Sign went up as an ad for the Hollywoodland housing tract. The neighborhood filled in around it. The ranch stayed a ranch.

It sits at the very top of Beachwood Drive, past the old Hollywoodland gate, on its own small parcel tucked against the park. The trail starts at the barn. There's no trailer ride and no drive to a trailhead. You get on your horse and you're climbing into Griffith Park.

Sunset Ranch is the only public riding stable on the Hollywood side of Griffith Park. The other stables sit across the mountain on the Burbank and Glendale side, a long way from the Sign. If you want to ride out of Hollywood itself, with the letters above you as you climb, this is the place.

Almost a century on, the routine hasn't changed much: horses, dust, a guide who knows the trail, and a view that keeps getting bigger.

What the ride is actually like

A guided trail ride is closer to a scenic hike than a rodeo. The horses walk these trails every day and know the route better than you do. Here's how it goes.

1. Arrive and check in. The ranch is at the end of Beachwood Drive. Leave extra time to park, especially on weekends.
2. Get your helmet and your horse. Helmets are required and free to borrow. The guides match each rider to a horse.
3. Learn the basics. Before anyone leaves the barn, a guide shows you how to steer, stop and sit. That's all you need.
4. Head up the trail. You ride single file behind your guide, climbing out of the canyon. The Sign is on the ridge and the city opens up behind you.
5. Stop for the view. Guides pause at the lookouts so you can take it in and get your photos.
6. Ride back and cool off. Grab a cold drink at the ranch and a last photo before you head down the hill.

Expect dust, sun and a few steep stretches. Riding uses muscles you don't normally notice, so a two-hour ride can leave first-timers a little sore the next day. Most people think it's a fair trade.

Day ride or evening ride?

Pick the one-hour Mulholland Trail Tour if it's your first time, and the Mt Hollywood rides if you want the summit.

Go with a day ride if you're new to horses, riding with kids, or fitting the ranch into a busy day. One hour is enough to get the views and stay comfortable. Morning rides are cooler and the light is better for photos.

Go with the evening ride if the sunset is the point. You climb in golden light, watch the sun drop toward the Pacific, and ride home above a lit-up city. Two hours is a long first ride, so come ready for it, and bring a layer for the ride down.

All three trails can be booked as a private tour for just your group.

Who can ride: age, weight and experience

Riders must be at least 8 years old and under 240 lbs. No experience is needed.

• Age. The minimum is 8. It applies to every tour.
• Weight. The limit is 240 lbs. It protects the horses on steep trails and keeps riders balanced and safe. Please be accurate when you book.
• Experience. None required. Guides teach the basics before the ride, and every tour is beginner-friendly.
• Health. Riding isn't recommended if you're pregnant, recovering from surgery, or dealing with a neck, back, hip, knee or foot injury. If you're unsure, call the ranch before you book.

Already a rider? These are guided trail rides at a relaxed pace, not open-country gallops. A private tour gives you the most room to set the pace with your guide.

What to wear and bring

Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes. Everything else is detail.

Wear

• Long pants. Jeans are ideal. Shorts mean chafed legs.
• Closed-toe shoes, ideally with a small heel. Boots are best and sturdy sneakers work. No sandals or flip-flops.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses. Most of the trail has no shade.
• A layer for evening rides. It cools off fast once the sun is down.

Bring

• Your phone, in a zipped or buttoned pocket
• Water for before and after the ride
• As little else as possible

Skip

• Big bags, dangling straps and loose scarves
• Your own hat. You'll be wearing a helmet.
• Valuables left in the car. Break-ins happen on Beachwood Drive, so take them with you or leave them at the hotel.

Weather and the best time to ride

You can ride in Los Angeles all year. Spring and fall are the most comfortable, and mornings and evenings beat midday in any season.

The best views come the day after a storm, when the air is washed clean. You can see from the mountains to the ocean.

Trails in Griffith Park sometimes close for heavy rain or high fire danger. If the weather looks rough on the day of your ride, contact the ranch about your booking.

Getting there and parking

The ranch is at 3400 N Beachwood Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068, at the very end of the road.

Drive north on Beachwood Drive, past the Beachwood Village shops and the stone Hollywoodland gate. Keep going until the road ends at the ranch gate on your left. Follow the Sunset Ranch signs once you pass the gate rather than trusting GPS alone.

• Parking. Street parking is available along Beachwood Drive. It fills up on weekends.
• Rideshare. Uber or Lyft is the easier choice on weekends and for evening rides.
• Valuables. Don't leave anything visible in your car. This is a busy tourist area and break-ins happen.

One point of confusion: the public hiking trailhead at the top of Beachwood Drive has been closed since 2017. That closure is for hikers. Ranch guests with a booking are welcome.

Full details are on our directions page. To build a day around your ride, see where to eat nearby and things to do near the Hollywood Sign.

Is it worth it?

For most visitors, yes. It's one of the few LA experiences that gets you out of a car and off a sidewalk, and gives you the Hollywood Sign without a crowd in front of it.

It's a good fit if you:

• Want the big views without a three-hour hike. The walking routes to the Sign run about 3 to 9 miles round trip. On a ride, the horse does the climbing.
• Are traveling with kids 8 and up who are done with museums
• Want a date or a celebration that isn't dinner
• Have never ridden and want an easy first time

It may not be for you if you:

• Want to trot, canter or ride on your own. These are guided rides at a relaxed pace.
• Are over the weight limit, pregnant, or nursing a back or knee injury
• Dislike dust, sun and the smell of horses
• Only want the closest photo of the letters. Our guide to where to see the Hollywood Sign covers the best viewpoints.

A note on expectations: no trail, on foot or on horseback, goes up to the letters themselves. They're fenced off. What you get on a ride is the Sign on the ridge above you and all of Los Angeles below.

Proposals, birthdays and private groups

Any of our trails can be booked privately, so your group rides alone with its own guide.

Proposals. The classic plan is the private evening ride to the top of Mt Hollywood, timed so you reach the summit at sunset. Tell us what you're planning when you book. We'll help with the timing and the route, and your guide will know when to stop. Start with our proposals page.

Birthdays and anniversaries. A private ride works for groups of 2 to 10. You choose the trail, the time and the pace. Every rider still needs to be 8 or older and within the weight limit, so check your guest list first.

Bigger celebrations and company outings. The ranch also hosts private events. You bring the caterer and we supply the setting: tables under string lights, horses nearby, and the hills behind you. Contact us about private bookings.

Ready to ride?

Pick your trail, wear long pants, and leave the rest to the horse.

• Day tours: the 1-hour Mulholland Trail or the 2-hour climb to Mt Hollywood
• Evening tours: sunset from the summit
• Private tours: the trail to yourselves

See you at the top of Beachwood.