Zuma Loop via Scenic Trail

Posted on February 2, 2012 by dlockeretz

On the Scenic Trail in Zuma Canyon

Oaks on the Zuma Loop Trail

Zuma Loop via Scenic Trail

Location: Malibu, near Point Dume. From Pacific Coast Highway, head north on Bonsall Drive (a mile west of Kanan Dume). Follow the road a mile to its end and park in the dirt lot. Parking is free.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 2 miles
Elevation gain: 350 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 1 hour
Best season: All year
USGS topo map: ”Point Dume”
More information: here; Everytrail report here
Rating: 6

This short loop provides a nice variety of scenery and a pretty good cardio workout, climbing up the steep west wall of Zuma Canyon.

From the Bonsall trailhead, walk north into the canyon. You pass by the Zuma Loop Trail (your return route) and the Ocean View and Canyon View trialheads, both part of another popular loop hike. Right after the Canyon View trail, look for the Scenic Trail, and take a right. The Scenic Trail, a short loop of about a quarter mile, lives up to its name, visiting a grassy field, getting up close to the east side of the canyon and providing nice views of the hills above.

Soon, the Scenic Trail rejoins the main route. Head right and almost immediately turn left on the Zuma Loop Trail, as the main one continues into the canyon. The Zuma Loop Trail begins its climb, under the shade of some oaks, and starts making switchbacks up the west side of the canyon. You come to a split where the Loop Trail continues to the right, farther uphill (the Rim Trail, which goes straight, is an option if you want a shorter hike). You get nice views of the mountains on the east side of the canyon and of the ocean.

After climbing 300 feet from the canyon floor, the trail starts descending. You rejoin the Rim Trail and finally arrive back at the bottom of the canyon. Take a right and retrace your steps back to the parking lot.

Text and photography copyright 2012 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. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.

La Jolla Valley Loop via Chumash Trail (Point Mugu State Park)

Posted on January 19, 2012 by dlockeretz

Entering La Jolla Valley, Point Mugu State Park

Ocean view from the top of the Chumash Trail, Point Mugu State Park

La Jolla Valley Loop via Chumash Trail (Point Mugu State Park)

Location: Western end of Point Mugu State Park, in Ventura County. From the end of I-10 in Santa Monica, take the Pacific Coast Highway for 36 miles. The Chumash Trail is on the north side of the road (right), across from an orange lookout tower, past the other two entrances to the park (La Jolla and Big Sycamore). From the San Fernando Valley, take Highway 101 to the Lewis Road/Route 34 exit (35 miles west of I-405). Go south for 5.4 miles on Lewis (it changes to Hueneme Road on the way) and turn left on Las Posas. Go 3 miles and turn left onto Pacific Coast Highway. Go 2.3 miles and look for the parking lot on the left. From Santa Barbara and Ventura, take highway 101 to exit 62/Pacific Coast Highway and follow it southeast for 13 miles.
Agency: Point Mugu State Park
Distance: 6.8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,200 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG-13 (Steepness, distance, elevation gain)
Best season: October to May
USGS topo maps: “Point Mugu”
Recommended gear: hiking poles ; sun hat
More information: Chumash Trail info and photos here and here; alternate route through the loop (including Mugu Peak) here; Everytrail report here
Rating: 8

This challenging and scenic route is like several smaller hikes rolled into one: a trip through a meadow with panoramic views, a pleasant walk through a quiet, shaded canyon–and an extremely steep climb and descent. There are several possible variations to the route; it can easily be shortened or extended.

The Chumash Trail is the westernmost trail in Point Mugu State Park, cutting through an area that could be described as the Santa Monica Mountains’ last stand before dropping to the ocean and the coastal plain of Ventura and Camarillo. It’s closer to Santa Barbara than L.A., but can still be reached in about an hour from Santa Monica along P.C.H. The small parking lot that provides access to the Chumash Trail is the westernmost of Point Mugu State Park’s three Pacific Cost Highway entrances. It’s the only one too with free parking – although the steepness of the Chumash Trail could be seen as a price of sorts.

From the parking lot, the Chumash Trail ascends at a grade that may make you question the presence of a benevolent higher power. The good news is that as you climb up the hill, you’ll get great views of the ocean, and the Channel Islands. Expect to spend at least half an hour on this 0.7 mile stretch, which climbs nearly 900 feet. Several false trails branch off but the main route is usually pretty clear. About half way up, the trail splits but soon comes back together. At this point, the grade lessens slightly, but you’ll undoubtedly be huffing and puffing by the time you arrive at the juncture with the trail to Mugu Peak.

This route heads left, up to a saddle where another trail to Mugu Peak branches off. Stay straight, and begin a slight descent into La Jolla Valley. Here, you get a payoff for your earlier efforts. La Jolla Valley is true example of a land that time forgot. When you’re walking through the wide meadow, it’s hard to believe you’re in So Cal. Rolling hills dominate the foreground, while Boney Mountain lurks off to the northeast. Other than some satellite equipment on the hills and an occasional aircraft overhead, there are virtually no signs of civilization.

At 1.1 miles, the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail (your return route) comes in from the right. Stay straight; pass through a grove of oaks and make your way northeast. Another path branches off to the right, but you stay straight and soon arrive at the La Jolla Valley Campground. Just before you get there, you’ll cross a footbridge that may look unstable, but the plywood surface is backed up by more
solid beams underneath.

The La Jolla Valley Campground has a few shaded picnic tables. This can be a nice place to stop for a break before continuing (2.5 miles from the start). Shortly past the campground, you’ll turn right on the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. (You can extend the trip by continuing northeast, where several other trails soon intersect.)

The La Jolla Valley Loop Trail heads south, through a canyon and past a small pond. Here you get the first real shade of the hike, mainly from tall chaparral, and a few oaks. After 1.2 miles (4 miles from the start), you’ll come to a split. The La Jolla Canyon Trail heads south toward Pacific Coast Highway, while our route heads west (right), cutting alongside the hill. You get a few glimpses of the ocean during this stretch (which is also part of the route to Mugu Peak described on this site.)

After 0.9 miles, the Mugu Peak trail branches off to the left (it’s a more challenging alternate to this route; it also eventually leads back to the Chumash Trail). Another trail heads right soon afterward, but we continue straight on the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. It crosses a small canyon which may have some water if there’s been rain, and re-enters La Jolla Valley. At 5.7 miles from the start, you complete the loop. Head left, up the hill and out of the valley, and back toward the Chumash Trail. This is a good place to take a break and admire the scenery; it’s best to make the steep descent with fresh legs.

The variety and quality of the scenery on this trip is more proof that while Point Mugu State Park might not be terribly convenient, it’s one of the best places to hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, and well worth the effort to get there.

Backbone Trail: Encinal Canyon Road to Etz Meloy Motorway

Posted on January 9, 2012 by dlockeretz

Moon over the Backbone Trail

Backbone Trail between Mulholland Highway and Etz Meloy Motorway

Backbone Trail: Encinal Canyon Road to Etz Meloy Motorway

Location: Northwestern Santa Monica Mountains on Encinal Canyon Road. From Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, 24.4 miles from the end of I-10, take Encinal Canyon Road for 5 miles. Turn right to stay on Encinal Canyon and go a mile to a dirt turnout on the left side of the road (across from the fire station). This is the parking lot for the Backbone Trail. From Highway 101, take the Kanan Road exit and head south on Kanan Road for 6.2 miles. Turn right on Mulholland Highway, go 0.9 miles and bear left on Encinal Canyon Road. The parking area will be on the right in 2.4 miles.
Agency: National Park Service
Distance: 7.2 miles
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG-13 (Distance)
Suggested time: 3.5 hours
Best season: October – June
USGS topo maps: Triunfo Pass; Point Dume
More information: here; Everytrail report here
Rating: 7

The 3.6 mile stretch of the Backbone Trail from Encinal Canyon Road to the Etz Meloy Motorway is one of the system’s newer segments. The lower stretch, from Encinal Canyon to Mulholland Highway, was completed in 2004; the upper stretch in 2007. As of now, parking is not available on Mulholland, but plans are in the works to change that.

This part of the trail is more popular with mountain bikers (be careful of them, because with many switchbacks, they can be hard to see) than hikers, so you’re not likely to have much company. The scenery isn’t quite as varied as it is on the Backbone sections in the nearby Point Mugu and Sandstone Peak areas, but it still takes in some nice views of the western Santa Monicas. Except for some intermittent traffic noise on the two roads, there are few sights or sounds of civilization.

From Encinal Canyon Road, the trail climbs gently to Mulholland Highway. After crossing Mulholland (there is no traffic light or cross walk, but traffic is usually light here), the Backbone passes through a meadow and starts climbing some more switchbacks. There is very little shade, although unless you are hiking at high noon, odds are the many ridges and hills in the area will block out the sun.

As you climb, the views get wider. To the east, you can see Castro Peak and the so-called “Mitten Mountain”. Finally, you reach the section’s end at the Etz Meloy motorway, where you get a nice 180-degree view to the south. This makes a good turnaround point (3.6 miles from Encinal Canyon Road).

To the right, the road heads downhill and soon reaches private property. You can, however, extend your trip by heading left (uphill). The Etz Meloy Motorway is accessible for another mile or so before reaching private land – one of the two parcels that is necessary for the National Park Service to acquire to achieve the long-held goal of creating a continuous Backbone Trail from Point Mugu to Will Rogers State Historic Park. For more information about the trail and its progress, click here.

El Matador Beach

Posted on September 7, 2011 by dlockeretz

Rocks and surf, El Matador Beach

Sea cave on El Matador Beach

El Matador Beach

Location: 32210 Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu. From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway for 24 miles. Turn left into the signed parking lot for El Matador Beach (just after Trancas Canyon Road and before Encinal Canyon Road.) Parking is $8 per car per day.
Agency: State of California
Distance: 0.8 miles
Elevation gain: 100 feet
Difficulty rating: PG
Suggested time: 1 hour
Best season: Year round (low tide – check here for more information)
USGS topo map: “Malibu Beach”
Recommended gear: swim suit; towel
More information: here; Yelp reviews here
Rating: 6

Past Zuma Beach and Point Dume on the way to the Ventura County line, there are several small, less-visited beaches in Malibu. One is El Matador, where swimmers–and hikers–can see some of the coastline’s most interesting geology, including some small sea caves and rugged bluffs.

From the parking area, head downhill on a steep, sometimes washed out path (families with small kids will want to take extra care here.) As you descend, you get dramatic aerial views of the beach almost immediately. The path becomes a metal staircase which takes you down to sea level. Head left (west), passing through a natural cut in the rocks. You pass a few small sea caves and eventually come to a steep wooden stepladder that leads to a private home. Beyond the ladder, a large rock outcropping blocks, for all practical purposes, any further progress. Past this, the coastline continues to La Piedra and El Pescador Beaches. The rock walls create a nice, secluded little cove where hikers can sit and watch the waves–and perhaps take a short swim–before heading back.

Text and photography copyright 2011 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. By reading this, you agree not to hold the author or publisher of the content on this web site responsible for any injuries or inconveniences that may result from hiking on this trail. Check the informational links provided for up to date trail condition information.

Zuma Canyon: Ocean View Loop

Posted on May 9, 2011 by dlockeretz

On the Ocean View Trail

Close quarters on the Canyon View Trail

Text and photography copyright 2011 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.

Zuma Canyon: Ocean View Loop

Location: Malibu, near Point Dume. From Pacific Coast Highway, head north on Bonsall Drive (a mile west of Kanan Dume). Follow the road a mile to its end and park in the dirt lot.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 3.2 miles
Elevation gain: 850 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 2 hours
Best season: All year (hot during the summer)
USGS topo map: ”Point Dume”
Recommended gear: sun hat; hiking poles
More information: here
Rating: 8

Plotted out on a map, this loop, which links the Canyon View and Ocean View trails in Zuma Canyon, might not look all that challenging or impressive, but in reality, it’s a good workout that also provides a lot of scenic rewards.

From the parking area, head into the canyon on the main trail. Soon, you pass the Ocean View trail on the right (your return route). In half a mile, head right on the Canyon View Trail. The early going is easy, but once the ascent starts, you’ll be catching your breath frequently. The good news is that each time you do, the views of the canyon, mountains and oceans become better and better.

After a mile or so on the Canyon View Trail, the grade finally levels out. You make your way around a huge stone outcrop, climb a little more and soon get the full panorama of the ocean in front of you. The trail descends to the Kanan Edison Fire Road. Bear right and soon (0.1 miles) take another right on the Ocean View Trail.

The Ocean View Trail certainly lives up to its name, giving you all the Pacific you could possibly want as it makes a steep descent back to the canyon. After a mile, you cross the canyon and shortly after you meet up with the original trail. Take a left and retrace your steps to the trail head.

Newton Canyon Falls (Lower and Upper)

Posted on February 28, 2011 by dlockeretz

Upper falls in Newton Canyon

Frost on the Backbone Trail in Newton Canyon

Text and photography copyright 2011 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.

Newton Canyon Falls (Lower and Upper)

Location: Santa Monica Mountains, near Malibu. From the Pacific Coast Highway, take Kanan Dume road north for 4.5 miles and park in the lot on the left (just past a footbridge) at mile marker 9.5. From Highway 101, take Kanan Road south for 7 miles (it becomes Kanan Dume) and look for the parking lot on the right, just before the bridge.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 800 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG-13 (Terrain, navigation)
Suggested time: 3 hours
Best season: December – May
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
Recommended gear: hiking poles
More information: Trip report here; trail map here; video of the lower falls here; upper falls here.
Rating: 9

Twenty four hours before writing this, I did not know about the amazing waterfall high in Newton Canyon, and if not for a couple of lucky breaks, I probably still wouldn’t. The original plan was to visit the more popular lower falls, which I knew would be very strong following heavy rains over the weekend. But at the trailhead, I saw on the map that this section of the Backbone extended all the way to Zuma Ridge Road, and that farther along was a seasonal waterfall. I grabbed more provisions from the car and decided to make the trip.

From the parking lot on Kanan Dume, the Backbone Trail switchbacks down into the canyon (if temperatures are unusually cold, as they were yesterday, look for frost on the ground). After half a mile, take a left onto the spur for the lower waterfall. The Backbone continues uphill to the right. On the spur, take the second left and begin switchbacking down to the waterfall. Be careful on the wet rocks. At the bottom of the hill, take a left and enter the canyon. After some easy scrambling, you arrive at the base of the waterfall, which cascades about 20 feet down the rocks, splitting in half as it goes.

Retrace your steps and continue along the Backbone Trail. Soon you enter an open area along the side of the hill, where you can see ocean views. The trail descends into a wooded area, crossing a footbridge, and makes another moderate climb. At about 1.5 miles from the trail head, you get your first glimpse of the big waterfall. The trail continues to head northwest, winding around the side of the hill. Several obscure trails branch off, but the main route stays straight.

I was assuming that I’d have to settle for admiring the waterfall from afar, and had I not noticed a trail branching off as the main route makes a hairpin turn at about the two mile mark, that’s what would have happened. The trail appears to get as close as it ever will to the waterfall before bending sharply to the left and heading uphill, where it makes a half-mile ascent to meet Zuma Ridge just south of Encinal Canyon Road. If you have time and energy, this last section is certainly worth a visit (you even pass by a third waterfall, perhaps fifteen feet tall, which can be accessed by scrambling down a short hillside). But if you want to get a look at what can be one of So-Cal’s best waterfalls, take a right and head downhill through some bushes.

The going is a little rough, but after a short descent, you arrive at a floodplain, where a path heads to the left, toward the waterfall. Note this location for your return. The trail gets a little obscure in places, but overall shouldn’t be to difficult to follow. At the stream, you begin your scrambling. There’s no one best route to take; the climbing is rigorous but not too extreme (comparable to the boulders at the top of Sandstone Peak). Just be careful on the wet rocks. The higher you climb, the trickier it gets, but without too much effort, you can reach the base of the waterfall’s lower tier, which falls about 15 feet. You can see the upper level, which is at least twice as large. More rock climbing – beyond the ability of the author – is required to get there.

After admiring the cascade, head back down, and pick up the trail you took, making sure you remember your point to ascend the hillside to rejoin the Backbone. It’s now just an easy two mile trip back to the car.

Paramount Ranch

Posted on December 18, 2010 by dlockeretz

Oak tree shadow at Paramount Ranch

Western Town at Paramount Ranch

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.

Paramount Ranch

Location: 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura Hills. From highway 101, take the Kanan Road exit and head south for 0.2 miles. Take a left on Cornell Way, which becomes Cornell Road. Look for the park entrance on your right at 2 miles. From P.C.H., take Kanan Dume road north for 9.2 miles. Turn right on Sierra Creek Road, and in 0.3 miles turn left on Mulholland Highway. After 2.3 miles turn right on Cornell Road. The park is on your left after 0.2 miles.
Agency: National Park Service
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty Rating: G
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Best season: Year-round
USGS topo map: Point Dume
Recommended guidebook: Afoot & Afield Los Angeles
More information: here
Rating: 6

Paramount Ranch is a place where you can get a little history with your fresh air and exercise. Before being deeded to the National Park Service in 1980, the area was used by Paramount for filming, and in the “Western Town” section of the park, hikers can explore some of the old sets.

There are quite a few trails at Paramount Ranch, and the loop described here takes in a good sampling of the park’s scenery and landscapes. From the parking area, cross a footbridge to get to Western Town. After checking out the old sets, follow the main fire road and pick up the Coyote Canyon Trail in your left. This trail heads uphill in to a pleasantly secluded area, and then turns back around, heading toward the park (stay right at the junction). As you continue on the Coyote Canyon Trail, you can make a detour to take a break at a picnic area.

The Coyote Canyon trail eventually makes it back to Western Town, but the route here extends things along the Hacienda Trail. Take a left at the junction and head through an oak woodland. Stay left at the next few junctions and eventually you meet up with the Medicine Woman trail (in the 90s, a few episodes of “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” were filmed here). Take a left and head through an area known as Witches Wood, and take a quick right onto the Backdrop Trail.

The Backdrop Trail winds around the northern edge of park, giving panoramic views of the nearby mountains. After a mile or so (ignore other trails that branch off) the Backdrop Trail terminates at the Bwana Trail, which is named for the movie “Bwana Devil”, the first 3-D film commercially released in the U.S. (1952).

Take a hard right on the Bawana Trail, and after half a mile, take a left at the next junction. This trail brings you to a fire road. Take a left and follow the fire road back to Western Town.

Escondido Falls

Posted on December 9, 2010 by dlockeretz

On the way to Escondido Falls

Crossing Escondido Creek

Escondido Falls

Location: Malibu. From Santa Monica, take Pacific Coast Highway west for 18 miles. Take a right on East Winding Way (the last major street before East Winding Way is Latigo Canyon Road.) Park in the lot immediately on your left. From Thousand Oaks, take the 101 freeway to Kanan Road, and head south for 12 miles to Pacific Coast Highway (Kanan becomes Kanan Dume along the way). Turn left on Pacific Coast Highway and go 1.4 miles to East Winding Way. Turn left and park in the lot.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Distance: 4 miles
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 2 hours
Best season: December – July
USGS topo map: Point Dume
More information: here
Rating: 7

Like the Private Joker character in the film “Full Metal Jacket”, the hike to Escondido Falls seems to be suggesting something about the duality of man. This is really two short hikes for the price of one: a steep climb up a paved road with great ocean views, and a secluded walk through a serene canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Oh yeah, there’s a waterfall, too. The flow is usually strong only after recent rains, but the scenic variety of this trip makes it enjoyable almost any time of year.

From the parking area, head up Winding Way, passing by some opulent homes. The initial ascent is steep, but less than a mile in, the road dips and meets up with the single-track trail that leads to the waterfall. Here, you descend into the quiet of the Santa Monica Mountains. After crossing the stream, the trail heads left again (there are several small intersections, but they all basically lead toward the left, or northwest, so it’s pretty hard to get lost.)

The single-track leads along the creek, crossing it several times, and after half a mile, the waterfall’s upper tier comes into view. Finally, you arrive at the base of the 50-foot lower tier, set in the back of a small grotto.

Big Sycamore and Serrano Canyon Loop in Point Mugu State Park

Posted on November 3, 2010 by dlockeretz

On the Big Sycamore Canyon trail in Point Mugu State Park

Ocean view from Serrano Valley in Point Mugu State Park

Big Sycamore and Serrano Canyon Loop in Point Mugu State Park

Location: Point Mugu State Park between Malibu and Oxnard. From Oxnard, take highway 1 south for 17 miles. The Sycamore Canyon trailhead is on the left (if you reach the Sycamore Canyon Campground, you’ve come too far.) The daily parking fee is $12. From Santa Monica, take highway 1 north for 32 miles. The Sycamore trailhead will be on the right, about a mile and a half past Deer Creek Road. From the San Fernando Valley, take highway 101 to highway 23 and head south to P.C.H.
Agency: Point Mugu State Park
Distance: 9.8 miles
Elevation gain: 1,250 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG-13 (distance)
Suggested time: 5 hours
Best season: October – June
Recommended gear: sun hat ; sunblock ; hiking poles
USGS topo maps: “Point Mugu”; “Triunfo Pass”
More information: here; trip report (8-mile round trip to Serrano Valley) here.
Rating: 8

This big, looping hike through Point Mugu State Park is really like six little hikes one after another. Even if you don’t have the time or energy for the whole thing, there is a lot to see by just going part way.

From the parking lot, take the Big Sycamore Canyon trail, which is a fire-road heading north into the valley. The first mile-plus is virtually flat, making it a great warm-up. You get nice views of the hills and of the huge sycamore trees that give the canyon its name.

After a little over a mile, look for the Serrano Trail branching off to the right. The progress becomes a little more challenging here, as the trail is over-grown in places and dips in and out of Serrano Canyon. There is a lot of interesting geology here, and the area is lightly traveled.

At about three miles from the start, the trail rises to a big meadow, with great views of the western end of Boney Mountain. Stay left at each of the junctures you come to as you make your way across the meadow. At the second split, look for some abandoned farm equipment.

There are a couple of steep ascents, followed by flat stretches, and eventually you end up on a ridge where you get nice ocean views to the south and can see Thousand Oaks and farther up the coast toward Ventura. From here, you start heading down hill, passing an intersection with the Backbone Trail. A small grove of trees makes a nice stop for a picnic. The trail descends rapidly, hooking up with Big Sycamore Canyon a several miles north of where you left it. On the way down, you get great aerial views of the park’s northern valleys.

When you finally get to the dirt road, the hard part is over, and you can coast down the last 3.5 miles back to the trail head. As with the lower part of the road, look for some great sycamore trees that will give you some shade. If the route sounds a little complicated, just think of it kind of like a giant “P”, and remember to stay left at each junction (except the first). Point Mugu State Park is, granted, the farthest (from everywhere except Ventura) part of the Santa Monica Mountains, but there’s a reason people make the extra effort to get there.

The Grotto Trail

Posted on October 19, 2010 by dlockeretz

Oak woodland on the way to the Grotto

Mist in the Grotto

The Grotto Trail

Location: Western Santa Monica Mountains northwest of Malibu. From Pacific Coast Highway just past the Ventura County line, head north on Yerba Buena Road for 5.4 miles. The Circle X parking lot will be on your right. From the Valley, take highway 101 to Kanan Road. Head south on Kanan Road for 6.2 miles, turn right on Mulholland Highway and stay straight to connect with Encinal Canyon Road. Follow Encinal Canyon for 3.4 miles, take a right on Lechuza and another quick right on Decker Canyon. After 0.8 miles, take a hard left on Mulholland, go 0.4 miles and take a right on Little Sycamore. Little Sycamore becomes Yerba Buena, and after 4.6 total miles from Mulholland, the Circle X Ranch will be on your left.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area/Circle X Ranch
Distance: 3 miles
Elevation gain: 650 feet
Difficulty rating: PG
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Best season: Year round
USGS topo map: “Triunfo Pass”
Recommended gear: hiking poles
Recommended guidebook: Afoot & Afield Los Angeles
More information: here; trip report here
Rating: 8

I first hiked the Grotto trail after doing one of my all-time favorite hikes, Sandstone Peak. The Grotto trailhead is located about a mile south of Sandstone on Yerba Buena Road, and while I was worried that it would be a letdown after Sandstone, I found it to be very enjoyable. That being said, I didn’t make it back for quite some time, usually calling it a day after one of my six (as of this writing) repeat visits to Sandstone Peak.

However, I decided to revisit the Grotto and give it some love, and as with the first time I hiked it, it delivered. While it might not have the ocean and mountain views of Sandstone Peak, the short hike to and from the Grotto has a lot of the scenic variety of its northern neighbor trail. The Grotto is a rocky canyon deep in the Santa Monica Mountains, where the sense of isolation is strong. On a Saturday, when Sandstone can be very crowded, I only saw a handful of people on this trail. One group was in violation of the trail’s no dogs policy (although the canine in question did have his off-leash privileges revoked when he tried to jump on me).

From the day use area, head down a dirt road to a campground where you pick up the Grotto Trail. You head into a wooded canyon and soon pass the turnoff to the Canyon Trail, which leads to Yerba Buena Road across from the Sandstone trail head. Head right, past the edge of a cliff (and seasonal waterfall), and head up briefly before arriving at a meadow. On the other side of the meadow, the trail dips into the mysterious inner sanctum of the Arroyo Sequit’s west fork. The oaks are thick with convoluted branches that block out the sun (especially if the coastal fog rolls in). At the bottom, you cross the stream bed and soon arrive at the Grotto.

This is a surreal area where gigantic boulders fill the gorge and oaks and sycamores tower above. There is a waterfall that can be accessed by (carefully) climbing down the boulders, but most hikers will probably be happy to hang out here in the peaceful quiet before returning back to the Circle X ranch.

Point Dume to Paradise Cove

Posted on October 18, 2010 by dlockeretz

Coastline at Point Dume, Malibu

Point Dume to Paradise Cove

Location: Malibu. From Pacific Coast Highway (20 miles north of Santa Monica), take a left on Westward Beach Road and follow it to the end. Parking is $6 per car on week days and $8 on weekends; after 4pm it is $3. The automated machines don’t give change but do take debit/credit cards.
Agency:
Distance: 4.2 miles
Elevation gain: 400 feet
Difficulty rating: PG
Suggested time: 3 hours
Best season: Year round (Low tide)
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
More information: here; Point Dume conditions here.
Rating: 6

Point Dume is a peninsula that can be seen from most of the coastal Santa Monica mountains, and it has a lot of history as a navigational landmark and a sacred spot for the Chumash tribe. Today it is a popular area for surfing, swimming, whale-watching and hiking. This route is a good introduction to beach-hiking, which can be harder than it sounds.

From the parking area, head up toward the bluffs on a fenced-in trail. You rise quickly above the beach, and after turning right twice, you access a boardwalk that takes you to the edge of the bluff, with dramatic views of the ocean below. The scene is similar to the cliffs of Anacapa Island. Soon, you come to another split, where the main route heads to the right. Straight ahead is another parking area, and to the left is an optional spur to the very top of the bluff (elevation 203 feet), where there is a monument describing the area’s history.

You have one more right turn to make, which will take you back down toward the beach. Descend a steep staircase (be careful!) and head left. There is some fascinating geology on the way to Paradise Cove, and you will also likely see a variety of shorebirds.

Walking along the beach can be tiring, but if the tide is low (see the link above), travel should be pretty simple. There is one short stretch that requires some boulder scrambling and wave-dodging, but if you are careful, you should come through with dry feet.

Shortly after this, the pier at Paradise Cove comes into view, and you arrive after 2.1 miles from the parking lot. There are a bunch of chairs to sit and watch the surf, and if you like you can walk out onto the pier or grab a bite at the restaurant before heading back. This hike is also popular as a point-to-point trip, an option for groups of hikers with more than one vehicle.

Peter Strauss Trail

Posted on October 17, 2010 by dlockeretz

Hole in an oak on the Peter Strauss Trail

Peter Strauss Trail

Location: Santa Monica Mountains, north of Malibu. From highway 101, take the Kanan Road exit and head south for 3.1 miles. Take a left on Troutdale Drive. Follow it to its end at Mulholland Highway (0.3 miles) and go left. The park is on your right, almost immediately. From Pacific Coast Highway, head north on Malibu Canyon Road, which becomes Las Virgenes Road. After 6.3 miles, head left on Mulholland and go 5.1 miles to the park, which will be on the left.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 1 mile
Elevation gain: 200 feet
Difficulty Rating: G
Suggested time: 30 minutes
Best season: Year-round
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
More information: here
Rating: 4

If you are stuck in traffic on highway 101, you may be interested to know that there’s a short and enjoyable hiking trail only a few miles away. The Peter Strauss trail is one of many quick little hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains that might not be on many top ten lists, but is still well worth a visit if you’re in the area. It is named for the actor who was the estate’s last private owner before the area was taken over by the National Park Service in the 1980s.

From the parking lot, look for a short trail heading back toward Mulholland Highway. After crossing a bridge over Triunfo Creek, take a left into the parking lot of the Peter Strauss ranch. Pass the cactus garden and the picnic area at the far end of the lot, and pick up the trail. After a short stretch, take a hairpin right turn (another trail heads straight) and negotiate a few switchbacks. The vegetation includes sycamores and oaks, including one with a hole in the middle.

After some moderate climbing, the trail levels out before heading back down on a few more switchbacks. You pass a stone ampitheater and an aviary before returning to the parking lot.

Arroyo Sequit Park

Posted on October 15, 2010 by dlockeretz

Dusk in Arroyo Sequit Park

Toyon berries in Arroyo Sequit Park

Arroyo Sequit Park

Location: Western Santa Monica Mountains, northwest of Malibu. From Pacific Coast Highway, just before the Ventura County line, take Mulholland Highway northeast for 5.6 miles and turn right into the park. From the Valley, take the Kanan Road exit off highway 101 and head south for 6.2 miles and go right on Mulholland. After a mile, stay straight to go onto Encinal Canyon Road. After 3.4 miles, take a right on Lachusa, then a quick right onto Decker Canyon Road. After 0.8 miles, take a hard left on Mulholland, and the park will be on your left in 1.8 miles.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: 400 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Best season: Year-round (hot during the summer)
USGS topo map: “Triunfo Pass”
More information: here; trip reports here.
Rating: 6

Tucked into a remote corner of the Santa Monica Mountains, this short loop is a surprisingly good workout, with several ups and downs along its course. From the parking lot, follow the paved road about a quarter of a mile to a junction where a white house is on your right and a few out-buildings are scattered on your left. Head left, past the signed Santa Monica College Astronomical Observatory building and under a grove of trees. This brings you to the head of the 1.5 mile Nature Trail. The trail winds in and out of a few small canyons, crossing the Arroyo Sequit several times. On the western-facing slope, you get great views of the nearby mountains, including Sandstone Peak, the highest in the range. There are a few tricky stream crossings along the way. After 1.5 miles you arrive at a junction. Head right, up a winding slope, and soon you will arrive at a grassy clearing. Cross the clearing to the white house and take the paved road back to the parking lot.

While the Arroyo Sequit loop may be a little short as a destination hike, considering its relatively remote location, it can be done in about an hour and thus easily combined with other hikes in the area, such as Sandstone Peak, Zuma Canyon or the Grotto.

Rising Sun & Sostomo Loop (Solstice Canyon)

Posted on October 13, 2010 by dlockeretz

Point Dume from the Deer Valley Trail

Crossing Solstice Canyon on the Sostomo Trail

Rising Sun & Sostomo Loop (Solstice Canyon)

Location: North of Malibu off Pacific Coast Highway. From Santa Monica, take P.C.H. for 15 miles. Take a right onto Corral Canyon (just past Pepperdine University, at the 76 gas station), and almost immediately take a left into Solstice Canyon Park. Drive to the main parking lot (parking is free). The trail to the Tropical Terrace leaves from the north side of the parking lot.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area/Solstice Canyon Park
Distance: 7.1 miles
Elevation gain: 2,000 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG13 (Distance, elevation gain, steepness)
Suggested time: 3.5 hours
Best season: October – May
USGS topo map: ”Malibu Beach”
Recommended gear: hiking poles
Recommended guidebook: Afoot & Afield Los Angeles
More information: here; trip report here
Rating: 9

If you enjoyed the short trip through lower Solstice Canyon to the Tropical Terrace and are up for a little more of a challenge, this excellent hike is well worth doing, especially now that the weather is cooler. Basically, it’s a 2.8 mile loop connected to a 1.3 mile loop with a 1.5 mile stretch in between (totalling 7.1 miles). Either loop can be hiked in either direction, but on the route described here, the first will be done counter-clockwise and the second clockwise.

From the parking lot, pick up the TRW trail, named for the futuristic looking buildings perched on top of the hillside. Many have pointed out the resemblance between the buildings and Darth Vader; these installations actually predate the Star Wars arch-villain, as they were completed in 1973. The trail wastes no time in ascending, but your efforts are quickly rewarded with nice views of the ocean as you switchback up the hill.

After climbing 400 feet, pick up the Rising Sun trail, which heads north on the ridge above the canyon. There is some interesting geology here, including “Lisa’s Rock”, a tall, skinny outcrop. (No, I don’t know who Lisa was). Soon, the trail switchbacks down into the canyon, providing nice aerial views of the Tropical Terrace ruins. A new interpretive plaque shows pictures of the original house and describes the 1982 fire that consumed it.

After visiting the Tropical Terrace, head south along the Solstice Canyon Trail, and almost immediately take a right onto the Sostomo Trail. This trail rises steeply, gaining about 800 feet in a mile and a half. On the way back up the hill, look for a tall chimney standing by itself in the middle of a field and the ruins of a small stone house. Shortly after crossing Solstice Canyon (a great place for a picnic, with shade and a trickling stream), you reach the Deer Valley loop trail. This can be done in either direction, but this description will have you head to the left. You get great aerial views of the coastline and Point Dume before heading back to rejoin the Sostomo Trail.

Follow the Sostomo back down into the canyon and take a right on the Solstice Canyon trail, and walk the last mile back to the parking lot. Enjoyable any time of year (even the summer given a cooler than average day and an early start), this trail is especially good in the spring, when the wildflowers are in bloom. There aren’t many trails that can give you mountain views, ocean views, creeks, trees and even ruined buildings, but that’s just what this grand tour of Solstice Canyon does.

Rocky Oaks Park

Posted on August 26, 2010 by dlockeretz

Cattle pond at Rocky Oaks Park

How Rocky Oaks Park gets its name.

Rocky Oaks Park

Location: Santa Monica Mountains near Agoura Hills. From the 101 freeway, take Kanan Road south for 5.5 miles to Mulholland. Take a right on Mulholland and turn right into the park almost immediately. From Malibu, take Kanan Dume Road north for 6.2 miles and take a left on Mulholland.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 1.2 miles
Elevation gain: 150 feet
Difficulty Rating: G
Suggested time: 30 minutes
Best season: Year round
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
More information: here; blog trip report here.
Rating: 5

Rocky Oaks Park is good to know about, whether you are looking for a quick escape from the heat of the San Fernando Valley or a nice little warmup hike before doing a bigger trek in the Santa Monica Mountains. The only drag about this hike is that its close location to two major streets means it never really escapes the noise of the cars, but for a small (200 acres) park, Rocky Oaks offers a lot of variety.

The basic layout of the park is built around a pond, the size of which depends on the time of year and the amount of recent rainfall. The Rocky Oaks Loop trail takes in all of the sights of the park, although I recommend taking a short stretch of the Pond Trail to get closer to the water’s surface and farther from the roads. Take the loop trail north out of the parking lot (the trail on the lot’s east side is your return route). Head left at the first junction, passing through a stand of oaks, and stay straight as you cross a fire road. The Rocky Oaks Loop trail switchbacks up a ridge, providing nice views of the pond and the big homes on the nearby hills, before dipping down to Kanan Road.

Just before reaching Kanan, take a hairpin turn to the right and head back toward the pond. Take a left to stay on the loop trail, and then a right for the Pond Trail. After passing by the pond, bear left and stay straight as you cross the Rocky Oaks Loop trail again. You now enter a picnic area under some large oaks, and you meet the Glade Trail. Take a right and head back to the parking lot.

If the layout seems at all confusing, make sure you pick up a free map at the trailhead. It may seem longer, but the route I described really is just over a mile.

Charmlee Natural Area

Posted on August 24, 2010 by dlockeretz

Ocean view from Charmlee Natural Area

Oak woodland in Charmlee Natural Area

Charmlee Natural Area

Location: Western Malibu, at 2577 S. Encinal Canyon Road. From Pacific Coast Highway, take Encinal Canyon Road (24 miles north of Santa Monica) north for 4 miles. The entrance to the park will be on your left. Drive down the dirt road for about half a mile to the parking lot. Charmlee can also be reached from the San Fernando Valley: take highway 101 to Kanan Dume Road, go south for 5.7 miles, head right on Mulholland Highway, go a mile and bear left on Encinal Canyon and the park will be on your right at 3.4 miles. There is a $4 parking fee. The park is open from 8am to sunset (double check the precise hour with the park).
Agency: Charmlee Natural Area (City of Malibu); call 310-457-7247 for more information.
Distance: 2.5 miles
Elevation gain: 500 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Best season: All year
USGS topo map: “Truinfo Pass”
More information: here
Rating: 7

If the words that come to mind when someone says Malibu include “spas”, “salons”, “restaurants”, “galleries”, “beaches” and “celebrities”, you might want to give the Charmlee Natural Area a look. Granted, you will probably see “beaches” from Ocean Vista Point, and you might even see a “celebrity” or two, and you can certainly go to a “restaurant” for a snack afterward. Heck, you can even visit a “salon”, “spa” or “gallery.” But don’t forget about Malibu’s natural side.

Charmlee’s best season is probably the springtime, with its wildflowers, but its location–right next to the ocean but 1,000 feet above–and several nice groves of trees for shade–make it a good hike even on a hot day. It is isolated enough that you will probably have the park more or less to yourself if you visit on a week day, yet it is still not that much of a drive from the Valley or Santa Monica.

The only problem with the park is that the trail signage is a little confusing. I got lost on my first visit, didn’t make it back to my car until well after dark and got a warning from a ranger. However, the basic layout of Charmlee is pretty simple: Most of the trails border a large meadow, similar to that at nearby Nicholas Flat, and a few lead down to an overlook where one gets particularly good views of the ocean. You can follow the exact route described here, but as long as you head toward the ocean until you get to the view and head back, you will get the basic Charmlee experience. (Pick up a map at the bulletin board on the opposite side of the restrooms from the parking lot).

Pencils ready?

From the parking lot, head north on a fire road. This initial ascent will get your blood pumping, but it is probably the steepest stretch of trail you’ll encounter. At the top, make a hairpin left turn and continue climbing on Potrero Road, taking in nice views of the ocean. At the next fork, the left road heads toward a water tank and the right road, your route, starts to descend to a T-junction. Head right, and take a quick left on the Kouba Trail. After working its way around the side of a steep ridge, the Kouba trail enters a beautiful oak grove, and soon comes out into the meadow. Go right (south) on the West Meadow Trail. Keep left at the next two junctions (the second of which is at the Old Well), and continue south. At the next split, go right and pass the ruins of an old reservoir, in which someone has made a giant “Peace” symbol out of rocks. You get nice views of the ocean here, but the better ones are farther south. Pick up the trail on the opposite side of the reservoir and take a sharp right and continue down to the Ocean Overlook (keep right at the next junction).

From the overlook, you get great views of the ocean straight ahead, Santa Monica and Malibu to the left and Point Mugu to the right. There are few places where you can get such a close view of the ocean from this altitude (1,150 feet) and even fewer that don’t have to be reached just by climbing.

When you’re done taking in the scene, head north, passing by several junctions (stay right; you can take a side trip or two into the oak grove at the east side of the meadow). After passing the meadow, look for the Botany Trail (it’s easy to miss), and continue your ascent. The Botany trail features posts marked with descending numbers (starting with 7) that head back to the parking lot. There will be a juncture that is signed to make it look as if you head left, but head right, into another oak grove, past a picnic area and to a fire road. Take a right on the fire road and return to the lot.

It’s actually pretty simple when you have the map. Really, it is.

By the way Charmlee also offers guided hikes and nature programs, including monthly moonlight hikes. Call 310-317-1364 for more information.

Backbone Trail: Latigo Canyon Road to Newton Motorway

Posted on August 22, 2010 by dlockeretz

Sunset from the Backbone Trail

Backbone Trail: Latigo Canyon Road to Newton Motorway

Location: Santa Monica Mountains, near Malibu. From P.C.H., take Kanan Dume Road north for 5.6 miles and turn right on Latigo Canyon Road and go south for about 2.7 miles and park in an unofficial-looking, easy to miss (I speak from personal experience) parking lot on the left side of the road. From the Valley, go south on Kanan Road, which becomes Kanan Dume Road after it crosses Mulholland, and at 6.7 miles, go left on Latigo Canyon Road. Note that this part of the Backbone Trail does not start exactly across the street from the Newton Canyon portion. According to a poster on www.localhikes.com, the parking lot’s official address is 1738 Latigo Canyon Road in Malibu.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 2.4 miles
Elevation gain: 700 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 1.5 hours
Best season: Year round
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
More information: trip reports here; Backbone Trail segment descriptions here.
Rating: 6

This hike covers the section of the Backbone Trail between two other segments I’ve already described: from Corral Canyon Road to the Newton Motorway and from Kanan Dume Road to Latigo Canyon Road (through Newton Canyon). The three sections, of course, can be combined, for a one-way distance of almost 7 miles, but if you want a short hike that can usually be done in little over an hour, this is a nice part of the trail to explore. It provides more solitude and noise isolation than the Newton Canyon section and ultimately has the same ocean views as the eastern approach to the Newton Motorway (from Corral).

From the dirt parking lot, head down into canyon. At the bottom, you cross a stream and remain in the cover of oaks, alders, willows and other trees before beginning a fairly steep switchbacking ascent to meet up with the Newton Motorway. From the Newton Motorway, you can sit and enjoy the views from the saddle, or take a left and continue up the fire road to the infamous gate that prevents further access. Heading back to Latigo, you will get some nice views of the western Santa Monicas.

Mugu Peak

Posted on August 18, 2010 by dlockeretz

As seen in the Nobody Hikes in L.A. Guidebook!

Ocean view from Mugu Peak

On the way to Mugu Peak

Mugu Peak

Location: Point Mugu State Park between Malibu and Oxnard. From Oxnard, take highway 1 south for 15 miles. The Miller trailhead is on the left (if you reach the Sycamore Canyon Campground, you’ve come too far.) The daily parking fee is$8. From Santa Monica, take highway 1 north for 34 miles. The Miller trailhead will be on the right, about two miles past the Sycamore Canyon campground. From the San Fernando Valley, take highway 101 to highway 23 and head south to P.C.H.
Agency: Point Mugu State Park
Distance: 6 miles
Elevation gain: 1,300 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG-13 (Distance, elevation gain)
Best season: September to June
USGS topo maps: “Point Mugu”
More information: here; map and photos here
Rating: 7

Mugu is derived from Muwu, the Chumash word for “Beach.” Point Mugu State Park may be a little tough to get to from the L.A. area, but if you have the time, it’s well worth a visit. Mugu Peak, the westernmost summit in the park, can be reached from the steep Chumash Trail to the west, or via a longer looping route. The trip described here is a six-mile out and back from the La Jolla Valley parking area.

Point Mugu State Park’s best season is probably the spring, when it is one of the few places on the mainland to see the giant yellow coreopsis flowers, but Mugu Peak is so close to the ocean that it usually doesn’t get very hot even during the summer. Much of this hike goes through La Jolla Canyon, which will provide a lot of shade if you get an early enough start.

From the parking lot, follow the La Jolla Canyon trail north, past a seasonal waterfall. The trail climbs through the canyon, and even if the flowers aren’t in bloom, the geology here gives you plenty of eye candy. After a little over a mile and almost 600 feet of elevation, reach a junction where the main trail continues toward the campground. Take a left on a single-track trail that hugs the north slope of the canyon, taking in nice ocean views, and heads through a valley before coming to another junction with the Mugu Peak trail. Take another left here and head south, getting more ocean views as you ascend. This trail curves around the flank of Mugu Peak, heading west to a saddle where a short spur takes you to the summit.

Mugu Peak is less than a mile from the coastline as the crow flies, and the views are awesome. Anacapa and Santa Cruz Island are visible to the southwest, and on clear days, Santa Barbara Island and Catalina can also be seen. To the north, you get nice views of the rest of Point Mugu State Park, including La Jolla Valley and Boney Mountain. The vistas are all the more rewarding for having been earned by literally climbing from sea level.

Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Road to Newton Motorway

Posted on August 17, 2010 by dlockeretz

Coastline view from the Newton Motorway

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.

Backbone Trail: Newton Canyon

Posted on August 9, 2010 by dlockeretz

Greenery in Newton Canyon

Backbone Trail: Newton Canyon

Location: Santa Monica Mountains, near Malibu. From the Pacific Coast Highway, take Kanan Dume road north for 4.5 miles and park in the lot on the left (just past a footbridge) at mile marker 9.5. From Highway 101, take Kanan Road south for 7 miles (it becomes Kanan Dume) and look for the parking lot on the right, just before the bridge.
Agency: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
Distance: 5 miles
Elevation gain: 1,000 feet
Difficulty Rating: PG
Suggested time: 2.5 hours
Best season: Year round
USGS topo map: “Point Dume”
More information: here
Rating: 6

This hike tackles a nice, secluded part of the Backbone Trail (the beginning part of what is referred to as “segment 5″ in the link above. There is no one major ascent or descent, but all of the medium-sized ups and downs add up to a significant workout.

The first ascent is right out of the parking lot, south to a bridge that crosses Kanan Dume Road. Take a left, cross the bridge and continue into the woods. The trail follows the north side of a ridge, giving nice views of Newton Canyon, and the shade of oaks and chaparral keep it pleasantly cool almost all the time. After a few minutes, the noise from Kanan Dume Road fades, and except for a few remote houses, there are few signs of civilization.

At about two miles, the trail crosses a creek bed, makes an S-curve and begins its final ascent to Latigo Canyon Road. If you want to extend your hike, the Backbone Trail continues toward Castro Crest a little ways north, or you can return to the parking lot and make the short hike toward Newton Canyon Falls.

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