This review is for the Cistern Trail To Lookout Trail. It's a short 1.4 mile round trip to get a…read morenice view of Malibu Creek and the interesting rock formation right next to it. Takes about 30 minutes or so to complete. Extremely hot during this period of time; no shades. Mostly a decline to the end of the trail and incline on the way back. There are other trails to go on further if you want more mileage. Free parking on the dirt road right at the entrance of the Cistern trailhead.

Pretty neat trail that is part of the Malibu Creek State Park. You can search Cistern Trail…read moreParking, which will take you to the start of the trail. The parking is basically off the road, so no payment is needed. For non hikers like me and my boyfriend, I would stay this trail is definitely doable and not crazy hard. However, it is quite hot with very minimal shade, and you do have to walk on an incline for some parts. We went to the Century Lake Dam, which is about 1 mile from the parking area. The dam was pretty cool but you can really only see the backside of it, since the entrance to the front side was blocked with a fence/barbed wire. My boyfriend had to sneak through to snag a pic of the front side of the dam (I don't recommend this since it is dangerous and you can fall into the water). Overall, the trail is a nice walk with a fairly cool landmark along the trail.

What an amazing trail to hike! I joined a hiking Meetup group and this was my first event with them…read moreand wow! They walked at a very fast pace and most of the trail going in is uphill. I have been doing sweat cycle for a couple months so I thought that I'm in better shape but I really had to slow it down and find my own pace and catch my breathe LOL. After the initial half of almost constant uphill then the trail lets out into an area that splits off and you can choose to go left which is easier and not as steep or you can go to the right which is what they said as 3 more steep inclines of 10 minutes each! All this climbing is worth it for the gorgeous views, and the fresh air. At the very top I felt exhilarated that I didn't give up! I hope that i can continue exploring and finding new parks and trails to increase my stamina, to then return to this location and test my endurance if I can go faster next time! Wear good hiking shoes with grip because there are loose rocks and narrow areas on the path and you need good grip for both the up and down hill. I didn't have a walking stick but everyone else had one and I think that would be beneficial for walking this path.

Great trail with fantastic view at the top! Trail starts at the very left from parking lot.read more

I love this place as I always enjoy a bike ride and a run. The sweat you can get from this trail is…read morenot only on point but well worth it. I also bring my dogs as well and they enjoy the workout, even if I have one in their backpack bag as they enjoy with their tongue flying out.

This review is for the dirt road on Mulholland. It goes on foreverrrrrrr!!!!!!! I begin this trail…read moreon Canoga avenue, where the paved road ends and the dirt road begins. I really like this trail because if you like to walk run or bike for long distances and incline this is the place for you. Ive only gone about 5 miles in but this road is the lead road to many shorter trails. You will see trucks and off road vehicles on this road as it is residential for half mile, but so far they have all been courteous of those working out. You will run into a lot of really nice people always saying hello, i like that. You will also see many people with dogs on leashes and off. Great road with lots of options, i heard this road goes to top of Reseda. I will make it there someday.

It's not widely known but phantoms are natural-born hikers with hoods that provide sun protection…read moreand a scythe that functions as a trekking pole. Phantom Trail is 2.8-mile scenic trail that takes you up and back down a ridge that overlooks Las Virgenes Rd. You can start from two locations; from the north at Liberty Canyon and Park Vista Dr, or from the south, off Mulholland Hwy across the street from the Cistern Trail, 1.8 miles from Las Virgenes Rd. In my opinion it's probably better to start from the northern trailhead since you can complete the more challenging 1.75-mile uphill section early when you have more energy. This also saves the scenic views of Malibu Creek State Park and Santa Monica Mountains for the grande finale. Starting from Liberty Canyon, walk a short distance past a black metal gate. The trailhead is located off to the right. You'll walk through a scenic grassland meadow before you ascend the ridge. Along the way you'll encounter a number of signs located at junctions that will ensure you stay on track. A good place to take a break and enjoy the scenery is at the survey marker located at the peak. From there you can enjoy views of Malibu Creek State Park's volcanic rock formation called Goat Buttes, as well as panoramic views of the surrounding peaks. Looking south, some of the more prominent peaks from left to right are Saddle Peak, Castro Peak, Sandstone Peak and Ladyface Mountain. This trail has somewhat of an anticlimactic ending at Mulholland Hwy. If you decide to turn around before the descent you won't be missing much.

This is a great trail. It's great for walking. This is my favorite trail that I have walked. Also…read morewatch out for ticks, rattlesnakes ( I have not seen rattlesnakes in this trail but had have a tick on me) I have been on this trail 3 times ( As of July 2022 ) All of the nice nature sounds go right into my ears. If you start the trail from Library Canyon Rd, at first it pretty much shade. Then, it becomes a normal trail with not that many ups and downs. If you start from Mulholland HWY, there is not much shade, and you will go up right away. Then again, it is nice and pretty smooth. All in all, this is a amazing trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. I highly recommend this trail.

*** GREAT Mountain Bike Trail ***…read more - Take the 405 freeway into the Sepulveda pass and get off on Mulholland. Take this west a mile or so and the pavement will suddenly turn to dirt. This road runs the spine of the southern Santa Monica mountains with views of the San Fernando valley on one side, and the beachfront west side on the other. - beautiful view - beginners-/Intermediate(if you decide to take the steeper trails) CONS: - no shade, so wear a LOT of sunscreen!

Bike & Hike for Miles-on-End with Mountain & Valley Views!…read more My Obsession! Dirt Mulholland is a wide dirt road with Killer Mountain Views looking out over the entire Valley. It goes on for at least 7 miles and maybe longer. Perfect for biking, hiking, running, and dog walking. It is truly a gift to those living near Woodland Hills or Topanga... I think it goes all the way to Tarzana and maybe further. If you haven't been to Dirt Mulholland, get off your butt and go enjoy it! I try to make it here at least twice a week. (I access it by going to the intersection of Topanga Canyon Rd. and Mulholland... then heading Southwest on Mullholland until it becomes a dirt road.)

This is short 2 mile hike. There is no restroom in the area and it's free parking. Just follow…read morethe ridge going up to Ladyface Mountain as this is a one way in and back out trail. In the beginning, there is a split, make sure to go left up the ridge. Not quite sure where the trail going right takes you. There is a bit of rock scrambling but I did not have any difficulties getting past it. As you near the top, there is a rock where the American Flag use to be located. This does require some climbing, so be careful. If you don't want to try that, hike past the rock and continue on the small trail to Ladyface Mountain. Both location offers 360 views. When done, hike back down. There is no shades on this hike, so pack accordingly to the weather and have fun.

This unofficial trail is a short and exhilarating. The trail ascends a steep ridgeline that, from a…read moredistance, supposedly resembles a silhouette profile of a lady's face. If you didn't already know this information then I apologize in advance since, from this point forward, you will forever attempt to make-out the ridgeline facial image whenever you drive by. The trailhead can be a little hard to locate since it is unmarked. The best landmark is the sign pointing towards Silver Creek Rd. Park along the side of the road on the dirt. I recommend wearing really good hiking shoes since the steep grade, combined with the loose dirt, makes the trail real slippery especially as you head down the mountain. The 2-mile out and back trail can be somewhat intimidating, especially if you are afraid of heights. It's really not that dangerous. There are some areas where the trail becomes narrow along the steep hillside. I surprisingly saw a number of families with young kids and pets. I suspect they didn't make it all the way to the end. The jagged volcanic rock outcrops make you feel as if you are walking along the spine of the mountain. I made it 0.6-miles before I decided to turn back. It was a little too steep for my liking. There was an American flag was waving to me in the distance encouraging me to continue on but I had to decline. I read that the final portion involves some rock climbing. If you're feeling less adventurous, and if you are interested in more of lower altitude adventure, then you may want to try the lower trail located one mile down the road. It curves around the backside of Ladyface Mountain. It's also 2 miles out and back. You will see signage in front of a metal gate. After a short distance you'll come across a monument commemorating David Balch who once owned and later donated this property to the state for preservation. Bear left at the junction with the monument. The trail takes you down into a canyon and then back up a mountain to the rear area of Ladyface Mountain. There are interesting rock outcroppings covered with brightly colored lichen. It's fun to explore all of the different rock formations. You'll feel like you have been transported to another county. Chances are you will also be the only one there to enjoy it which is a bonus

Cheseboro & Palo Comado Canyon Trail & Loop has amazing views that are absolutely stunning & scenic…read moreto hike especially during spring and is easily accessible. Hills are covered with greenery & lots of yellow & purple wild flowers can be seen blooming. We can hear birds chirping & can see colorful butterflies all along the trail. Lots of mountain bikers & horseback riders can be seen. Restrooms are clean & well maintained. Had a wonderful time & a Nice Place to Hike!!

This open space area recently took a big hit from the Woolsey Fire. Walking north along Cheeseboro…read moreCanyon Trail is like walking through a battlefield aftermath. The recent rains have transformed the charred rolling hillsides into a vibrant green color which shows us that, with time, the trees and vegetation will eventually rebound. Sadly, the historic Morison Ranch House, once occupied by Jim Morrison and his family in 1904, is gone forever and can never be replaced. What is left is a hole in the ground, an old rusted bathtub, and scraps of metal and nails. Fortunately, a number of other ranch artifacts, such as cisterns and corrals, still remain. They are a reminders of the past where, for 150 years, this land was used by ranchers for cattle grazing. There is a large network of over 20 different, well-maintained, trails that traverse the entire open space area. Some of the trails have quirky names like Suicide Trail and Dead Cow Trail. The trailheads are hidden throughout residential neighborhoods. This is one of those sites that require multiple visits, from different locations, in order to see it all. It was interesting to learn that this open space area also serves as a wildlife corridor connecting the Santa Susana Mountains with the Santa Monica Mountain ranges. This might explain the abundance of wildlife that I witnessed when I visited. I saw a number of deer, squirrels and beautifully colored birds everywhere. There are also interesting natural landmarks. The Baleen Wall is a geologic formation located along a cliff that resembles a Baleen Whale. You can view, and smell, the pools of Sulpher Springs. The terrain is versatile to suit your needs. If you are interested in cardio then you can climb to Simi Peak. If you are looking for a causal reflective walk, then you can stroll along the canyon floor that follows the creek and just appreciate the natural surroundings. It's a complete package and definitely worth a revisit.

You cannot go wrong hiking in Cali....especially when you are in Malibu! This trail can be super…read morebusy, especially on early morning weekends! A nice time to visit in the summer is about 6pm on a weekday! Besides our group, we did not see a single person on the trail nor did we have to fight for a parking spot. Note there are two small parking lots both off highway before the tunnel if coming from 101. From the trail there are beautiful views of the mountains and the canyons. you can even see views of the ocean in malibu. when there is a wet winter season, you can see loads of waterfalls. my fellow hiker said she saw 18 falls. Worth visiting during the wet season. Just be careful. also note there is poisonous oak along the trail. Unfortunately in July the falls were all dry. There was some water in the creeks. As for amenities: there is a toilet at the start of the trail.

This is not for the beginner hiker. You'll need hiking poles and lots of water. Other than that,…read moreit's a great trail! The hardest part is the first mile. If you can get thru that, everything else will be a breeze. At mile 2-3 you'll reach the fire lookout point. It takes about 3-4 hours to finish this trail depending on how fast you're going.