Pets allowed
Allowed with Restrictions
Elevation Gain
4,207.00 ft (1,282.29 m)
Trail type
Loop
Distance
16.70 mi (26.88 km)
Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure here.

The 16.7-mile Malibu Creek Loop passes through Malibu Creek Canyon and circumnavigates Malibu Creek State Park in the Santa Monica Mountains. Located just 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the area features picturesque landscapes including peaceful streams, large cottonwood trees, deep canyons, steep slopes, and beautiful vistas with views of the Pacific Ocean. Malibu Creek Loop combines singletrack trails, scenic dirt roads and is a popular destination for trail running, hiking, backpacking, camping, swimming, biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing. 

This location has been used for a number of television shows and movies, and the Malibu Creek Loop passes right by the site of the old MASH set!

COMMON VEGETATION

Malibu Creek State Park, and the surrounding area is an oak savannah with grasslands, oak trees, shrubs, and chaparral. 

MILES AND DESCRIPTIONS
00.00 - Park at the Liberty Canyon parking area.
00.30 - Cross Mulholland Highway and get on the Grasslands Trail.
00.90 - Stay straight and continue northeast.
01.40 - Take Crags Road.
03.40 - Turn left on Bulldog Motorway.
06.80 - Turn right on Castro Motorway.
07.50 - Corral Canyon Road, Backbone Trailhead. Take Backbone Trail / Mesa Peak Fire Road
13.00 - Piuma Connector Trail
14.00 - Tapia Spur Trail

LIBERTY CANYON TRAILHEAD
Large dirt parking area. 

MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK CAMPGROUND

Malibu Creek State Park Campground is open year round and features RV and tent sites as well as shower and laundry facilities. For more information please visit https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

National Park Service - Santa Monica Mountains: https://www.nps.gov/samo/index.htm

 

Logistics + Planning

Preferable season(s)

Spring
Winter
Fall

Congestion

Moderate

Parking Pass

None

Open Year-round

Yes

Pros

Scenic vistas. Picnic areas. Santa Monica Mountains.

Cons

Can get crowded.

Trailhead Elevation

618.00 ft (188.37 m)

Highest point

2,439.00 ft (743.41 m)

Features

Near lake or river
Backcountry camping
Wildlife
Big vistas
Wildflowers

Typically multi-day

No

Suitable for

Biking
Horseback

Permit required

No

Location

Nearby Adventures

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