Southern California - How to get from Valley to Hollywood?

Is there any good way from the SFV to, for example, Hollywood? I took the red-line once into Hollywood, and then when I got bored there, I biked back. I tried to find my way along the Cahuenga pass, but somehow ended up on a street parallel to the 101 that got narrow enough, with enough traffic, that I found myself on the sidewalk, dodging telephone poles and garbage cans.

There's got to be a good way from the Orange Line bikeway to Hollywood. I could take Lankershim to Ventura, to Cahuenga, to Highland, but I don't think that works for getting back, does it?

I could take Lankershim to Ventura, to Cahuenga, to Highland, but I don't think that works for getting back, does it?

Nope, it doesn't work.

If you like hills, work your way up to Mulholland and back down. Otherwise, the only truly bike friendly route is a detour east through Los Feliz and around Griffith Park.

You could also take the subway.

If you head up Lake Hollywood Dr (less traffic but not really bike friendly) from Barham you can make your way through the residential area past the "lake" and down to Hollywood. If you have google earth or something similar you could map it out as there are a LOT of turns to make.

DBD:beer:

Going from Hollywood to the Valley on Cahuenga is not that bad, the secret is you need to stay on the right side of the freeway. The best way to get there is to go up Highland and cross the bridge over the 101 near the Ford Theater. It's just past the Hollywood Bowl, just be patient when getting past the freeway on ramp, it can take a while for the lights to change in your favor, but they will. That part of Cahuenga is one way and most of it is pretty wide. Once over the hill you can take Barham to get back on the other side of the freeway.
As mentioned before the only other two decent options are to go over Mullholland or through Griffith Park. There aren't many safe ways to get up to Mullholland, avoid Laurel Cyn if you value your life. I sometimes use a route starting up Nichols Cyn, but it's a grind. A safe passage through Los Feliz is hard to find and going through Griffith will add about 5 miles.

I took Coldwater once. That was a mistake. I like hills, but it's just too narrow.

It's surprising that I can get to Santa Monica in relative safety, and even to places like Manhattan Beach, but going to Hollywood, which is only ten minutes on the freeway from my place is next to impossible.

I'll check out some of the alternatives mentioned. Adding five miles to go through Griffith Park isn't that bad. I would have expected that it would be farther than that. Just riding down Forest Lawn to Griffith seems longer than five miles by itself.

Maybe the subway is the best option. :)

I asked a similar question a couple of weeks ago here (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=440008&highlight=cahuenga), in case any of these answers help you. I have pretty much decided that, until I am a much stronger hill climber, I'll either go around through Griffith Park or hop on the subway from Universal to Hollywood & Highland and ride under the Cahuenga Pass.

I took Beverly Glen before and it wasn't that bad. Just watch the downhill speed going into Hollywood and be prepared to really climb coming back.

But if your goal is just to get to Hollywood, the subway is in fact the best method.

The goal wasn't so much "Just getting there", as it was "riding there." If I can ride from my place in Van Nuys to Agoura Hills, to Malibu (Topanga), to Santa Monica and beyond (Sepulvida), Burbank and Glendale (Victory), I ought to be able to ride to Hollywood and beyond. It's just that there seems to exist no good route besides the freeway. I know I'm on a ROAD bike, but the roads in that area just don't seem condusive to any form of transportation beyond a motorized vehicle.

Ahh, then try Beverly Glen. It's not perfect, but it seems to have less traffic than the other choices. If you're not scared of a steep climb home (I don't think it gets any worse than 10%) and remember to be alert on the descents, it's worth a shot.

I did it a few weeks ago. I'm new to the area and didn't know what I was getting myself into. My bike has an 11-23 / with a standard chainring. Wow those hills were tough.

Check out my motionbased log. It's tittled Home to Hollywood sign.

I'm also looking for an alternate route to hollywood than the cahuenga pass. A few weeks ago I had to stop my ride short when the road narrowed at the cahuenga pass heading towards Hollywood. I will probably go through that path one of these days but would like to take a safer route if possible.

I've looked at the lake hollywood route on google and aside from being hilly, it looks like a better route and may possibly have some nice views.

I did it a few weeks ago. I'm new to the area and didn't know what I was getting myself into. My bike has an 11-23 / with a standard chainring. Wow those hills were tough.

Check out my motionbased log. It's tittled Home to Hollywood sign.
Yeah, the mountains around here aren't very tall, but they're steep!

In part it depends on where in Hollywood you are trying to get to. The ride through Griffith Park, or even down the LA River from Glendale lands you just east of Hollywood and isn't actually so far out of the way. North Hollywood isn't really north of Hollywood, it's more like northwest--north of West Hollywood. It's been a while since I've done the Cahuenga pass, but I recall that cmonster is right--coming from Hollywood to the Valley is not as bad as going to Hollywood from the Valley.