Malibu Creek

After parking , head to the western end of the parking lot and look for the High Road Trail - a dirt path heading into the park. The path is relatively wide and level, and is located near the restrooms.

Stay on the now dirt-path High Road and ignore the Grasslands Trail, which veers sharply to the right.

In the spring, after winter rains, the grassland here will become a lush, verdant green. For most of the rest of the year, though, it's a rough, dried-out beige.

If you'd like, you can take a short side-trip onto this trail to get a taste of the grassland. Keep left at the trail junctions, and you'll come back to High Road. As in all such trails in the warm months, be sure to be tick-safe - tuck in your pants and be sure to check for ticks during your hike and after you exit the grassy areas.

Ignore the side road that crosses Malibu Creek and continue on the High Road on the north side of the creek.

As you continue on High Road, enjoy this rare stretch of shade, provided by sycamore and oak trees. This area also provides some first-rate views of the Santa Monica Mountains to your south. The combination of jagged mountains and rough, grassy meadows are exquisite SoCal scenery.

At the junction, keep right to stay on the High Road to the north of Malibu Creek.

Here, the road makes a sharp turn toward the north and takes a moderate incline before continuing to the west, where you will soon have views of the remnants of Century Lake.

If you'd like to, take a short side trip across the bridge to the visitor's center, housed in a building originally built in 1926 to house residents of the Crags Country Club. The center is staffed by docents and offers information, video screenings, and a small bookstore.

Ignore the Lookout Trail on your right and continue on what is now called Crags Road.

Here, the trail descends from the small pass and enters a long flat valley. This area was formerly Century Lake - an artificial lake built by the owners of the Crags Country Club for fishing, duck hunting, and casual sailing. Over time, the lake silted up, and now it's more of a small pond with a long marsh, which is now home to migratory birds in the winter months. You don't really get a good view of the marsh from the north side, but the trail will take you closer on the return trip.

For an additional bit of distance and elevation gain, you can take a side trip on the Lookout Trail here instead. The trail climbs north toward the Mulholland Highway through the rolling grasslands, then turns back down southward as the Cage Creek Trail - POI 7 on the map. This trail is pretty exposed, and should probably be passed over on hot, sunny days.

If you've taken the side trip up the Lookout Trail, you'll come back to Crags Road here. Otherwise, ignore the trail on your right and continue on Crags Road heading west.

After passing the junction with the Forest Trail, the Crags Road trail narrows and becomes much rockier as it makes a turn toward the southwest. Here, you're hiking through a narrow canyon in an area of volcanic rock known as the Goat Buttes. The jagged rocks provide one of the most beautiful views along the entire trail.

Ignore the short side trip on the Lost Cabin Trail here. It's a short, overgrown, flat trail ... and the real highlight of the area is just down the Crags Road ...

Here there are several remnants of the M*A*S*H set - the popular Korean War dramedy that taped here in the 70's and 80's. You can still see the remnants of a military jeep and old ambulance - burned in a brush fire in 1982 that was actually written into the show's finale.

The two car husks and a flattened area that served as the camp's helicopter pad are all that really remain of the set, but if you're a fan of the show it will likely bring back memories.

Most people turn around here, but there are some nice, shaded spots for lunch just down the road near Malibu Lake. Either turn around here and advance to POI 13 or continue west on Crags Road.

Bulldog Road is a winding, meandering fire road that will take you from the Malibu Creek canyon up into the more mountainous landscape in the southern part of the park. It's a 4.2 mile (one-way) trip from Crags Road to the Castro Peak Fire Road, where you can tackle the summit of 2824' Castro Peak if you're up for a more strenuous hike.

If all you're looking for is a nice spot to have a picnic, continue on Crags Road.

Keep right at the 3-way junction to continue on Crags Road toward Malibu Lake.

Here, the trail ends at the southern shores of Malibu Lake - another artificial body of water formed by a dam.

The park's boundaries end here, and the land is fenced off. While you cannot reach the lake's shores, the creekside has several very nice spots for a picnic lunch. Relax, then head back east on Crags Road.

On your way back out, keep right at the 3-way junction with the Forest Trail.

This trail is a lightly-traveled path on the south shores of Century Lake. It's a lovely shaded route that features several seemingly out-of-place coast redwood trees planted by the Country Club.

The Forest Trail ends at the old dam at Century Lake. While it may be tempting to climb across to get to the other side - don't. The drop is very, very steep on the other side. Just enjoy the view, don't hurt yourself.

Return back on the Forest Trail and take a right at the junction with Crags Road to head back out of the park.

At POI 5, veer right to cross the bridge to the Rock Pool.

The Rock Pool is an easily accessible area swimming hole that also doubles as a popular climbing area.

While diving and jumping are prohibited here, you'll often find a large number of people swimming or fishing. Water levels can vary, and the swimming hole is most impressive after a rain. During a dry summer, the pools can completely dry up.

When you're done, return back to the parking area the way you came in.