Guides
Rock scrambling and a great workout hike in the southwestern part of Malibu Creek State Park / Castro Crest.
Malibu Creek State Park sits in 10,000 acres of rugged terrain near the Malibu coast, protecting flowing creeks, man-made lakes, historic structures, and prominent cliffs. This route explores the southern and western areas of the park, far away from the creek that gives it its name. The landscape here is similar to other areas of the Santa Monica...
A moderate hike to a ruined mansion in the Santa Monica Mountains, complete with waterfall!
This is an incredibly picturesque, mostly shaded canyon hike in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Solstice Canyon Trail is a popular, well-maintained route with some spur-trail opportunities for more adventurous travelers. Some of the highlights include the oldest still-standing stone building in Malibu, a small waterfall and creek, and several ruins...
Great views all around! The LA basin, the San Fernando Valley, the ocean!
Saddle peak is the second highest in the Santa Monica mountains, after Sandstone peak. After a moderately difficult climb, you will reach the peak where you would enjoy great views of the LA basing and the surroundings. There are several ways to do this hike. The first time I went to Saddle Peak, I did a 10 mile hike where I started on the Topanga...
...and its FREE! The 2 mile loop takes you along wildlife trails at Cheseboro Canyon, just north of the 101 Freeway.
Cheeseboro (or Cheseboro or Chesebro) Park is one of the many National Park Sites within the SMMNRA (Santa Monica Nationa Recreation area) and is very popular with visitors due to its relatively level terrain. And it's great for kids and families! This guide is a one hour (two mile) hike, relatively flat, and has a great deal of wildlife all of...
Some of the highlights along Malibu Creek, in central Malibu Creek State Park.
Malibu Creek State Park is a sprawling 10,000 acre park that protects 25-mile long Malibu Creek, the largest watershed in the Santa Monica Mountains. The creek itself is somewhat unusual in that it has cut a path through hard volcanic rock instead of the softer sedimentary rocks north of the Goat Buttes, which makes for some spectacular scenery during...
A quick fix cardio workout!
The beauty of the 'Nag Loop' is that the trail itself is well defined and signposted so it's either a great intro for people starting to think about hiking as a pastime or for more experienced hikers needing to work on cardio but have limited time (although the trail isn't at all demanding, power walking this loop is a great workout for any level hiker). Who...
Trips
A shaded canyon hike to the ruins of a burned-down mansion. Full write up at
Modern Hiker.
Went for a hike in Malibu Creek Park to go find the area where they shot M*A*S*H.
This hike is different than the other versions seen on Every Trail--it goes into the canyon, and allows a bunch of bouldering and climbing of rocks. If you are an inexperienced hiker, or not used to edging around rocks (and climbing them), this hike may not be for you. I did it the last two weekends, and it was fun (pictures included from both trips). For me however, this is one of...
The Cold Creek Preserve protects the headwaters of Cold Creek, one of the few year-round streams in the Santa Monica Mountains. The extravagant lushness of the riparian vegetation growing in Cold Creek Canyon Preserve today is astonishing. In spite of the 1993 Malibu fire that burned virtually everything to a crisp, the gully-washing rains from the 1998 El Nino with its floods and mudslides, and recent earthquakes, the preserve has recovered. The...
Until the fire of October 9, 1982 (in Malibu Creek State Park), the Mendenhall Oak was a magnificent spreading live oak tree. Reportedly 700 years old, it was already ancient when the Spanish expeditions first came. When stagecoaches ran between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles it provided a shady rest stop on the line. Although the tree burned and collapsed in 1982, new growth and regeneration should provide us a clue to...
This was a short hike to the old filming MASH site.
Malibu Creek State Park is perhaps best known for having been the filming location for the mini-series MASH, filmed here during the 70's and early 80's. Relics from the old set can still be found here, enticing visitors to the park. In addition to the old mini-series, numerous other films and t.v. shows have been shot on location here.Getting to the old MASH set is relatively easy, following a fairly well marked...
Started at 8:00 andit was 37 degrees according to the truck themometer. When we were done it was up to 71 degrees.There were only 3 cars in the parking lot when we got there. There were a few more parked at Mulholand. Second trip in a row the deer came out to greet us. A buck and a doe.Great day for a hike!
Great hike through Malibu Canyon to M*A*S*H location site, Century Lake and the Rock pool. Lots to see. The visitors center was nice and sold much needed cold drinks!
