Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive is a mountain road in Los Angeles County that runs 21 miles along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains and Hollywood Hills, linking two sections of U.S. Route 101. The route follows the natural ridgeline and offers alternating views of the city to the south and the San Fernando Valley to the north, passing through residential neighborhoods, parks, and undeveloped land.

Construction began in 1924 by a group of investors seeking to promote interest in property in the Hollywood Hills, under the direction of engineer William Mulholland. Over the following decades, the road was gradually extended westward, with some sections paved and others remaining as dirt trails.

The name honors William Mulholland, the engineer who brought water to Los Angeles and made settlement in the hills possible. Today, locals use the overlooks along the route as popular meeting spots, especially at sunset or at night when the city lights up below.

Several sections of the route are unpaved and open only to pedestrians and cyclists, while cars must take detours through parallel roads. The best views are typically found in clear weather and during morning or evening hours, when the sun is low and the light illuminates the city.

The eastern terminus near Cahuenga Boulevard offers simultaneous views of the Hollywood Sign and the downtown Los Angeles skyline. At this point, the two mountain ranges meet, and the orientation of the road shifts abruptly from east-west to north-south.