Summit to Summit Motorway

Summit to Summit Motorway

• Location: Top of Topanga Overlook, Topanga Canyon.  From Highway 101, take Topanga Canyon Blvd/Highway 27 south for 3.3 miles to the turnout (on the left) for the Top of Topanga Overlook.  Carefully make a U-turn and pull into the lot.  From Pacific Coast Highway, take Topanga Canyon Blvd/Highway 27 north for 9.2 miles and park in the lot on the right side of the road.  You can also start the hike at the southwestern end, from Old Topanga Canyon Blvd.
• Agency:  Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• Distance: 6.2 miles
• Elevation gain:  850 feet
• Difficulty Rating: PG
• Suggested time:  2 hours
• Best season: October – June
• USGS topo map: Calabasas; Malibu Beach; Topanga; Canoga Park
• Recommended gear: hiking poles; sun hat
• Recommended guidebook: Day Hikes In the Santa Monica Mountains
• More information: Photo gallery here; article about the SMMNRA’s acquisition of the motorway here; Everytrail report here
• Rating: 6

The Summit to Summit Motorway links the Top of Topanga Overlook with Old Topanga Canyon Road.  While it doesn’t have the geological or botanical variety of nearby Topanga State Park or Malibu Creek, it does offer some good views of those two parks and the surrounding residential neighborhoods. There are many small up and down stretches which add up to about 850 total feet of elevation gain. The two ends of the hike are approximately the same altitude. The Topanga Overlook trailhead is more easily accessible, but some hikers may find that by starting on Old Topanga Canyon Road, the view from the overlook is more of a payoff for the end of the hike. This route can also be done point-to-point with not too much difficulty.

Assuming you start at the overlook on the northeastern end of the hike, carefully cross Topanga Canyon Boulevard (there’s no traffic light or crosswalk and heading back across the street from the west side is particularly treacherous as the curves in the road create a blind spot for cars). Pass by a metal gate and begin an ascent along the Summit to Summit Motorway. You’ll pass by a water tank and the road becomes dirt.

You descend to a junction by another water tank (0.6 miles) where you’ll turn left.  Follow the road along the ridge, passing by a few scattered oaks and willows. You’ll get a good view of Calabasas Peak to the southwest and in the distance, the Goat Buttes of Malibu Creek State Park and Castro Peak beyond. At 1.4 miles, you merge with a paved road (watch out for cars) and head left, passing by a private home and arriving at a five-way junction; the approximate halfway point of the hike.

From here, continue on the motorway by taking a hard right. You pass a few more private homes and several spurs heading off the main route. The trail reaches a high point at about 2 miles from the start and makes a gradual descent over the next mile. Just before it reaches Old Topanga Canyon Road, there’s a spot where you get a nice panorama of Calabasas. If you still have gas in the tank, you can cross Old Topanga Canyon Road and continue another 2.1 miles to Calabasas Peak.

Text and photography copyright 2014 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.