Coastline view from the Newton Motorway
Text and photography copyright 2010 by David W. Lockeretz, all rights reserved. Information and opinions provided are kept current to the best of the author’s ability. All readers hike at their own risk, and should be aware of the possible dangers of hiking, walking and other outdoor activities. The author does not take any responsibility for injuries sustained during hikes or walks on the routes described here. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.
Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Road to Newton Motorway
- Location: Santa Monica Mountains, near Malibu. From the Pacific Coast Highway, take Corral Canyon (2.3 miles west of Malibu Canyon Road, 0.7 miles east of Latigo Canyon Road) north for 5 miles to its end. Park at the Backbone trailhead.
- Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
- Distance: 5.6 miles
- Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
- Difficulty Rating: PG
- Suggested time: 3 hours
- Best season: September – June
- USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
- More information: trip reports here (as loop, no longer accessible); Backbone Trail segment descriptions here.
- Rating: 7
Here’s another nice hike on the Backbone Trail. I’ve already covered the westernmost section of the trail in Point Mugu State Park and the Newton Canyon portion, and this section is a little farther east, starting on Corral Canyon Road.
It was once possible to make this a loop hike, but unfortunately a section of the Castro Motorway, the would-be return route, goes through private property and has recently been blocked off. Nevertheless, this hike makes a nice trip through upper Solstice Canyon, passing through some nice wooded areas and providing good ocean views.
From the parking lot, the trail dips down into the canyon, reaching the bottom at about 1.3 miles. The trail takes a right turn and arrives at a meadow. At this point, it begins a climb out of the canyon, first under the cover of oaks and then exposed, rising about 700 feet to arrive at the Newton Motorway (2.8 miles from the start). The views here are nice, taking in Catalina and several other Channel Islands on a clear day. If you like, you can climb up a few switchbacks more to the gate and get a little more of a view. You can also extend your hike by hiking southwest on the Newton Motorway or west on the Backbone Trail toward Latigo Canyon Road (a section of the trail that will be covered in an upcoming post), or just head back to the car the way you came for a total round trip of 5.6 miles.
