It is possible to get very close to the Hollywood Sign - although it is not permitted to actually touch it.

The Hollywood Sign is one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. It sits in the Hollywood hills overlooking Los Angeles. Hiking up to the Hollywood Sign is one of the things everyone should do while in Los Angeles. For many first-timers to Los Angeles, having one's picture taken with the iconic sign is one of the city's musts.

There are three hiking options to the Hollywood Sign - Mt Hollywood Trail, the Brush Canyon Trail, and the Cahuenga Peak Trail. It may come as a surprise to most, but originally the Hollywood Sign had nothing to do with the movie industry when it was first put up almost 100 years ago.

Like the Eiffel Tower of Paris, the Hollywood Sign was only intended to be a temporary construction. It was built in 1923 to advertise a local real estate development (and not the Hollywood movie industry). It was left up as it became more popular, and in 1978 it was replaced with a more permanent steel structure.

Originally the Hollywood Sign was called the "Hollywoodland Sign." Today it spells out "Hollywood" in large 45-foot (or 13.7 meters) tall white capital letters.

The trademark rights for the Hollywood Sign are held by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Over the years, it has been the subject of frequent vandalism, and now there's a security system around the sign - so if one is hiking there, before getting any ideas, remember one is being watched!

So how close can one get to the iconic Hollywood Sign? No one can actually touch the Hollywood Sign, but the viewing area is very close. The Sign is off-limits and sits just below the ridge line.

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One of the three trails is the Brush Canyon Trail. No reservations are needed for this hike, but the trail can close due to overcrowding. The trail is part of Griffith Park and is a 6.5-mile trail to the Hollywood Sign. It offers fantastic views of Los Angeles and finishes at the Sign. It makes its way up around a thousand feet and even has a fun side trip.

If one has time, take the side trip to Adam West's Bat Cave - this is home to the Batmobile of the 60's Batman TV series (before Batman got all dark).

The Cahuenga Peak Trail is the most difficult of the trails and offers wide-angle views of both the Hollywood Reservoir and the San Fernando Valley. This trail is suitable for more experienced hikers, and the trail is less defined and more rugged than the other two trails.

As one hikes along the trail, keep an eye out for P-22 - the park's resident mountain lion.

The trail begins on the Aileen Getty Ridge Trails and includes the Hugh Hefner Overlook.

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The Mt. Hollywood Trail is the easiest of the three trails and has two starting points in Griffith Park. The shorter loop hike starts at Giffith Observatory's parking lot and goes for around three miles. One can also see the Sign from Griffith Observatory. There is a short but easy ascent along a ridge at the beginning.

The second trail is a little longer, and a little steeper with fewer people and starts just past the Greek Theater.

This is the most popular trail up to the Hollywood Sign and is suitable for families and children. As with all the trails up to the sign, summer can be very hot, so be sure to carry enough water. Note that the parking lot at Giffith Observatory is free but fills up quickly on the weekends; parking for the second trail is on the street.

Once one reaches the Hollywood Sign's perch at the 1,708-foot summit of Mt. Lee, remember trespassing is illegal - no matter how tempting it may be. Not only are there security cameras, but there is also a fence protecting it and an LAPD officer stationed there.

Aaron is a first-hand traveler who has visited more than 80 countries around the world. He is passionate about traveling and opening up the world for other intrepid explorers. He can be reached on Instagram at aaronspray