Malibu Creek State Park

California, United States
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 (7 votes, 8 reviews)
Rapid, dramatic geologic changes created the spectacular landscape of Malibu Creek State Park. Its jagged mountains, rock outcroppings, cliff-like slopes and deep gorges were formed over two million years by severe climate changes, earthquakes, erosion and tectonic plate collisions. These forces continue to shape the landscape today.

In the early days of the film industry, rugged terrain that could double for far-off locations was difficult to find near Hollywood. Filmmakers transformed this area into exotic locales such as old Mexico, outer space, and an army hospital in Korea. Movies and television shows filmed here include M*A*S*H, The Planet of the Apes, Pleasantville and How Green Was My Valley. The Angeles District Headquarters building here served as the “dream house” in the 1948 classic, Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House.

Just 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the park features hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding opportunities.

There are 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands on chaparral covered slopes.

23-mile Malibu Creek in the park is the principal watercourse of the Santa Monica Mountains, from Boney Mountain to Malibu Lagoon.

The park is open from dawn until dusk. A visitor center is open on weekends only.
Getting There
The park is located four miles south of Highway 101 on Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road.

The Day Use Annual Pass is accepted at this park.
Camping
Make Campground Reservations
Native History
This land was home to the Chumash people for thousands of years. Grasslands, chaparral (drought resistant, fire-adapted shrubs), oak woodlands, and riparian woodlands (stream areas) provided abundant resources. Early Spanish explorers found a Chumash culture of settled villages, established class structures and extensive trade systems. The Chumash were known for their extraordinary craftsmanship, oral traditions, music and rich religious life. Archaeologists have uncovered the site of a small village once known as Talepop in the northeast section of the park. European immigration and exploration changed the lives of the Chumash people forever.

Their descendants still carry on many of their traditions today. The Sepulveda Adobe, at the corner of Las Virgenes and Mulholland, housed a homesteading family in the 1860s.
Tips & Rules
• Check-out time is noon.
• Quiet hours are 10pm to 6am
• Generators may be operated only between 10am and 8pm
• All bicycle riders under age 18 must wear a helmet.
• The maximum speed limit in the park is 15 mph.
• Dogs must be on a six-foot maximum leash at all times and must be inside a tent or RV at night. Dogs are not permitted on trails or dirt fire roads.
• Campfires are permitted only in the metal fire rings provided. Wood may be used during low fire danger conditions, and charcoal during medium fire conditions. No fires are permitted when fire risk is high.
• Please check at entrance station for fire conditions.
• Alcohol consumption is permitted in the camping and picnic areas only, and only by those 21 years of age or older.
• Minors, when camping or visiting alone, must have written permission from a parent or guardian, including contact phone number, to enter the park.
• Park only in the campsite for which you have been registered. Limit of 2 vehicles limit per site. All vehicles must remain on the pavement.
• Please do not occupy any campsite until you have registered and paid for it.
Accessible Features
Camping
Some sites are usable. Assistance may be needed with access to fire rings, water spigots or trash. Restrooms with showers: Toilets are generally accessible with adjacent accessible parking. Shower facilities are usable.

Make Campground Reservations

Picnic Area
Some accessibly designed tables are available. Restrooms are usable.

Trails
Las Virgenes Connector Trail is a multi-use trail 0.40 mile long through a rural setting. The trailhead, parking and restroom are located at the southern end of De Anza City Park, adjacent to Malibu Creek SP.

Visual Impaired Trail is a 0.40-mile interpretive trail in a meadow setting that leads to a usable picnic area. The trailhead is about 200 feet from the lower (main) parking lot. Accessible parking and restroom are nearby.

Trails

Summary
Difficulty
Distance
Solstice Canyon
A moderate hike to a ruined mansion in the Santa Monica Mountains, complete with waterfall!
Moderate
5.9 mi/
9.5 km
Bulldog Road / Castro Crest
Rock scrambling and a great workout hike in the southwestern part of Malibu Creek State Park / Castro Crest.
Moderate
7.6 mi/
12.2 km
Malibu Creek
Some of the highlights along Malibu Creek, in central Malibu Creek State Park.
Moderate
7.9 mi/
12.7 km

Malibu Lagoon State Beach

Summary
Difficulty
Distance
The Malibu Lagoon State Beach
A walk along the coast of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, including Malibu Pier and the historic Adamson House.
n/a
2.0 mi/
3.2 km
Guides
Bulldog Road / Castro Crest
Bulldog Road / Castro Crest
Malibu Creek State Park, California, United States
 
Moderate: 7.6 miles, Half day
Rock scrambling and a great workout hike in the southwestern part of Malibu Creek State Park / Castro Crest.
Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek
Malibu Creek State Park, California, United States
 
Moderate: 7.9 miles, Half day
Some of the highlights along Malibu Creek, in central Malibu Creek State Park.
The Malibu Lagoon State Beach
The Malibu Lagoon State Beach
Malibu Creek State Park, California, United States
 
A walk along the coast of Malibu Lagoon State Beach, including Malibu Pier and the historic Adamson House.
Solstice Canyon
Solstice Canyon
Malibu, California, United States
 
Moderate: 5.9 miles, 1-3 hours
A moderate hike to a ruined mansion in the Santa Monica Mountains, complete with waterfall!
Community Trips
Solstice Cyn Trails 001 (El Nido, California, United States) Photo
Solstice Cyn Trails 007 (Malibu Hills, California, United States) Photo
Solstice Cyn Trails 016 (Malibu Hills, California, United States) Photo
Solstice Cyn Trails 027 (Malibu Hills, California, United States) Photo
Solstice Canyon
by modernhiker on Sep 03, 2007
Malibu Hills, California, United States
5.9 miles
A shaded canyon hike to the ruins of a burned-down mansion. Full write up at Modern Hiker.
highres_7391802 (Topanga Park, California, United States) Photo
highres_7391804 (Topanga Park, California, United States) Photo
highres_7391805 (Topanga Park, California, United States) Photo
highres_7391806 (Topanga Park, California, United States) Photo
Cold Creek Preserve - Big Loop
by LocalHiker on Feb 19, 2009
Topanga Park, California, United States
8.2 miles
Hiking With DeanThe 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...
Escondido Falls Photo
Escondido Falls Photo
Escondido Falls Photo
Escondido Falls Photo
Escondido falls
by rodi01 on Nov 07, 2009
Paradise Cove Mobile Home Park, California, United States
3.1 miles
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Malibu Creek State Park
by greynlds on Sep 04, 2010
Calabasas, California, United States
6.5 miles
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...
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Malibu Creek State Park
by relfrank007 on Apr 24, 2010
Monte Nido, California, United States
5.5 miles
Went for a hike in Malibu Creek Park to go find the area where they shot M*A*S*H.
highres_7206127.jpg (Monte Nido, California, United States) Photo
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In Search of the Mendenhall Oak
by LocalHiker on Feb 05, 2009
Monte Nido, California, United States
7.6 miles
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...
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Talepop
by Ben Batchelor on Dec 10, 2011
Brents Junction, California, United States
4.1 miles
IMG_0858.JPG (Malibu Hills, California, United States) Photo
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Solstice canyon
by Firqby on Oct 18, 2009
Malibu Hills, California, United States
2.9 miles
Description
Paramount Ranch Photo
Century Lake Photo
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Malibu Creek SP
by HorsingRound on Jul 25, 2010
Agoura Hills, California, United States
7.9 miles
An easy ride through the park.
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Malibu Canyon Climbing, 5/3/08
by climbhighvt on May 03, 2008
Monte Nido, California, United States
Climbing | 1.2 miles

Reviews
nicholashoo
I had the chance to go to malibu creek with a few people for the rock climbing. There was a mellow hike on the way to the water hole, and a bit of a scramble on the rocks to get to the climbing site.

The views were gorgeous and the temperature was perfect. We didn't encounter other climbers on the rock, though there were a few people playing in the water.

Visited on Jun 05, 2012

by nicholashoo on Jun 19, 2012
aravinda24
Easy hike... cool volcanic rock formations. minimal or no elevation gain, so for hikers looking for some oomph this might not be the place... otherwise many things to see, like the MASH site!
Visited on Oct 17, 2010

by aravinda24 on Feb 11, 2011
1badsup
If you like to bike or hike, this is a place for you. There are so many trails and the view of the city and the nice houses is spectacular. The trail is perfect for mountain biking and hiking at night. It was a full moon when I went so I can see the trail without a light and I biked for hours well into the night. The trails nearby are Calabasas Peak Motorway, Grassland Trail, Crags Road, Backcountry Trail and I'm sure there are more. I just didn't have time to go there. It's only 30 minutes away from the city but it feels like you are camping in the woods. There are also deers running around the trail.
Visited on Oct 04, 2010

by 1badsup on Nov 21, 2010
PaintedRed
bring plenty of water because it was so hot.
Visited on Jul 31, 2010

by PaintedRed on Feb 25, 2011
relfrank007
It was a great hike, not to difficult, great views!
Visited on Apr 24, 2010

by relfrank007 on Apr 11, 2011
ryanearll
Great place for group camping and hiking!
Visited on Nov 20, 2003

by ryanearll on Jan 09, 2012
WilliamDrecker
Went up the creek sans paddle.
Visited on Nov 30, 1989

by WilliamDrecker on Sep 07, 2011
joshua.wirsching
Great for the quick day hike or spend the day in the water hole! Does get a bit crowded on the weekends, but don't be afraid to hike back further in to the park. Some amazing views for a lil bit of work.

by joshua.wirsching on Oct 09, 2011

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What people are saying...

day hike, Kanan Rd, rocks, Santa Monica Mountains, Juan Bautista de Anza, Crags Road, waterfalls, Malibu, MASH, Long Walk, Hash, Solstice Canyon, Malibu Creek State park, Malibu Creek, Juan Bautista de Anza Field Trip Malibu Creek State Park, creek, Beach, Tide pools, los angeles, h3

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