Lake Hollywood Park Los Angeles
A lake at the Hollywood Sign!
Did you know that there is a hidden lake on top of Hollywood? The Hollywood Reservoir and the surrounding area called Lake Hollywood is one of the hidden parks in Los Angeles. The reservoir is used by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to supply the city of Los Angeles with water.
Built in 1924 by William Mulholland, the reservoir is held by the Mulholland Dam. Mulholland Drive is named after this architect. Actually, one of his first dams broke. You can see the art deco dog's head designs on the dam. There is a sense of early 21st century design in the dam that makes Hollywood older than it looks.
What I like about Lake Hollywood is the isolation right on top of the busiest neighborhood in Los Angeles, Hollywood. Hidden in the mountains, Lake Hollywood Park is not easy to get to even with a good navigation system. The entrance is embedded in winding streets and dirt roads. There's no parking lot for the cars of Los Angeles, only a small gate and sign. Once you get there, there are few hikers, joggers, and walkers. Unlike other hiking trails in Hollywood, the park is not filled with wannabe actors and producers. You can feel the peaceful silence of nature in the largest city of western United States.
The hiking trail around the park is open. The West Coast drought has been severe on the water level. There are several hidden reservoirs in Los Angeles.
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