Distance (round-trip)
8 mi
Time
3.5 hrs
Elevation Gain
224 ft
Season
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
Weather
–
An 8 mile in-and-out, exploring the lower canyon sections of Malibu Creek State Park. Lots of stream-side scenery, a few man-made lakes, spectacular Santa Monica Mountains scenery, and lots of side-trails make this an excellent area for a day hike or overnight. This has been and continues to be a popular place to shoot TV and movies — there are still a few remnants of the old M*A*S*H set here — and the creekside pools and rock formations are popular places for swimming and rock-climbing.
Malibu Creek State Park is a sprawling chunk of parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains, hugging the Malibu Creek as it flows into the ocean, while also stretching east along the Backbone Trail. There are several distinct sections of the park, and this write-up roughly covers the “lower canyon” area, along the trails that follow Malibu Creek through a striking section of the mountains known as the Goat Buttes.
After driving up Malibu Canyon Road, pay your parking admission ($10 at the time of writing), and park in the southernmost lot you can. You’ll see a small information kiosk, some horse-posts, and a bathroom. Cross the road heading west and you’ll see a well-marked paved road headed toward the backcountry trail system.
Once you’re back on the fire road, you’ll cross Malibu Creek on a bridge, just north of Century Lake. Here, the landscape is more like a wetland, and during the spring months there are many migratory birds that make a stop in this area of the canyon. Although sadly, I think I hiked it too early to see much green in the area:
Continue hiking along Crags Road. At 2.7 miles, you’ll reach a junction with Bulldog Road, which switchbacks and climbs up to a ridge on the southern border of the State Park. You can reach a fire road that will take you to Castro Peak (el. 2824), adding about 9.2 miles and 2100 feet of gain, round trip. If you don’t feel like turning this into a monster hike, you can veer right at the junction and continue on Crags Road as it turns north, following Malibu Creek. At the 3 mile mark, veer right again to follow the Creek at the junction with another fire road. You’ll notice the water level rise among a pool of giant boulders, which can provide a nice backdrop to a lunching spot or just a quick break.
At this point, turn around and head back to the trailhead, or you can explore a few of the shorter, picturesque side trails. At the 4.7 mile mark on the way back, you’ll reach the Forest Trail junction again. It isn’t marked with a sign like many of the other side trails, but it’s a very clear path cut through the grass, just before you cross the bridge over the Creek.
The Forest Trail is a short stretch of track that hugs the southern banks of Century Lake, another artificial lake formed by a dam. The trail here is shady and cool, the result of some non-native trees planted here some time ago.
Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Modern Hiker, Author of "Day Hiking Los Angeles," Walking Meditator, Native Plant Enthusiast.
Camping
Historical Interest
Kid-Friendly
Multi-Use Trail
Potable Water
Water Features
Trail Conditions
Very good. Most of the trails are well traveled and very well marked, although a few trails are not marked. You can pick up a trail map for $1 at the ranger stations or visitor center. It may be worthwhile if you plan on doing some side-trail exploration.
How to get there
If you're headed from the South, turn onto Malibu Canyon Road off the PCH and continue 6.1 miles. Turn left into the entrance station. From the North, take the Las Virgenes Road exit from the CA-101 in Calabasas. Continue south on Las Virgenes Road for 3.4 miles and turn right into the entrance station. Parking fee required.
19 Comments
Big Storm on Feb 17th, 2017 Washed out 80% of Crags Road, we went on Sunday I think my wife and I were prob the first people or second people to have done the hike since the storm. It was definitely a lot harder to do.
Leave a Reply to t3chfaith Cancel reply
would you know how to get to rindge dam? and if the water is shallow or deep around this time of year? thanks for any help!
Leave a Reply to trailmix Cancel reply
There is a sign on Mullholland no dogs on the "backcountry trail"but also on the web it says you can have dogs on the campground and the day hike areas and allowed on the Anne Skagar trail, anyone has more info on that? and where is the Ann Skagar trail? please email me at
[email protected]
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[...] arbitrary, although you can continue another 1.4 miles down the Bulldog Road to the M*A*S*H site along Malibu Creek. When you’re done, return back to the trailhead the way you came in … and take your [...]
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Love Malibu Creek. $12 is too much. It is a fact of economics that if you make the price too high your revenue will not increase, it will drop. Considering there is so much access where there is free parking, they should drop the price back to $8. I bet their revenue would stay the same or increase.
Leave a Reply to SD Cancel reply
can someone please help me find rindge dam, i know its somewhere around malibu creek
Leave a Reply to stonefree Cancel reply
Technically you can, although you will be short-changing our already underfunded State Park system by doing so. I know it's expensive and it sucks to pay so much to park (You can park for a YEAR in three National Forests for $30), but if you can afford it, you should leave some cash.
Leave a Reply to Modern Hiker Cancel reply
Can you just park adjacent to the park and walk in without paying the $12 "developed parking" fee? $12 seems excessive considering it's only $8 for the Antelope Valley CA Poppy State Natural Reserve, and that park was well staffed and included a pamplet.
Leave a Reply to Zebra24601 Cancel reply
Frankie -- I was there yesterday and it's definitely no dogs allowed on the trail, I'm afraid -- there's a notice at the unmanned gate explaining the policy. I did, however, meet dogs on the trails of the Paramount Ranch state park, just a couple of miles up the road.
I enjoyed my visit and I didn't mind paying the twelve dollars, but given that both the gate and the visitor center were unattended I'd have appreciated some kind of a map or leaflet for the money. I met a couple of people who were lost -- one had photographed the map in the parking lot on his phone, and was trying to navigate from that.
I covered about seven miles in all, and at one point followed what looked like a well-trodden trail but had to turn around and make an unsafe descent when that turned out not to be the case. I know I saw the rock pool. I think I may have seen the MASH site but even now I can't be sure. It was an overgrown flattened area at the end of the Crag Road, surrounded by spectacular and familiar-looking hills. Beyond it the trail narrowed to a rocky footpath.
Leave a Reply to Stephen Cancel reply
I am a native to the San Fernando Valley and had never been to Malibu Creek State Park -- just driven by on the way to the beach! On Sat. Feb 13, 2010, a group from the Leukemia/Lyphoma Society Team-in-Training hiked from the entrance to the MASH Camp. It was just a gorgeous, sun-shiney, Southern California day following the recent rains. The beauty of the lush, green meadow that Vanessa mentioned also drew out No Fear coyote and deer to introduce us to our hike. Of particular interest was that the recent rains had left large puddles on the trail, creating the need for detour trails through the rockier terrain. Made for a slower, more challenging hike -- especially with the runners and bicyclers on our heals! It was interesting also to see how VERY high the Creek had risen from past rainy seasons. Altho 42 degrees when we arrived at 0800, it was 82 when I left at noon! So, remember to layer, wear a hat, and use sun screen -- even in February. Have a great hike...
Leave a Reply to Pam "SlowPoke" Cancel reply
I seem to find conflicting information about dogs being allowed. Are they allowed on this trail?
Leave a Reply to frankie Cancel reply
On the way back, I took the Cage Creek Trail to Lookout Trail back to Crags Rd. Roughly 300 feet elevation gain. Nice trail; wonderful views of the surrounding area. I think it might be a bit more than 0.6 mi though, but worth it.
Leave a Reply to Solaria Cancel reply
On Sunday we did parts of this hike, but the heat kept us in the creek more than on the trails. We did find a short cut to the dam (you can access the northern side directly from Crags Rd) . The dam turned out to be an excellent swimming hole... you can jump off the dam (into the very deep water of the lake upstream), and if you're lucky some rock climbers might even rig up a rope swing. There were 5-20 other people swimming/lounging at the dam at any given time, but there were over a hundred people at the rock pool, many of whom were loud, obnoxious litterbugs. It was too bad, but I hope to make it back sometime when it's less crowded.
Leave a Reply to Katharine Cancel reply
I just did this hike for the first time on Saturday. The hike is very pleasant and quite easy. I thought the most beautiful scenery was at the beginning of the hike in the flat grassland valley where the visitor's center is located. The valley has a number of gorgeous coast live oak trees. Someone on the trail told me that this is one of the southernmost locations where the live oaks grow. They are truly beautiful trees.
Leave a Reply to Vanessa Cancel reply
[...] This has been and continues to be a popular place to shoot TV and movies — there are still a few remnants of the old M*A*S*H set here — and the creekside pools and rock formations are popular places for swimming and …Read More [...]