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    Charmlee Wilderness Park

    4.6 (58 reviews)

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    the welcome area and restrooms.  new and improved.
    Roch B.

    IT'S BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER! Following the Woolsey Fire of 2018, the PTB (powers that be) ROCKED the reopening of this groovy little trail system with a lotta love and care going into it. Newer, better-marked trails abound. The parking and picnic areas are wonderful. Fresh, clean bathroom facilities and abundant trash/recycling receptacles at the welcome area. NO FEE FOR PARKING or PARK ENTRY. ALL TRAILS ARE OPEN. (despite being marked to the contrary) This is and always was a VERY EASY HIKE. It was so nice to be back on this loopy little Malibu Hills trail...to start, we headed South/East working the trail that direction all the way to the beach/PCH overlook. Then, we continued up (North/West) to the (now dried up) RESERVOIR - and finally to the CLYDE CYN LOOP - which eventually circles back around to the main entrance after about an hour and fifteen minute hike - without stopping. I can't say enough about this little gem. Thank the PTB for (the) TCB! LOVE IT.

    At the reservoir overlook
    Karen L.

    Such a great hidden gem. I came here with my parents, and like others have mentioned, it's a great hike/walk even for those who aren't normally the type to go hiking (like my parents). There are a bunch of different trails and paths for everyone. It's nice to get a breath of fresh air and the best part is that this place isn't overly crowded unlike other places. If you get here early enough, you'll have plenty of trails all to yourself without other people in sight. Given my parents aren't in the best shape to do miles of hiking, we kept it to something doable for them by walking down to the old "reservoir" towards the end of the trail where you can get a great view of both the ocean and Malibu in the distance. We went back out the same way, and only took an hour total at a very leisurely walking pace. Best part of all is that there are restrooms here that are very well maintained, with seat liners, toilet paper, soap and towels. Couldn't ask for more after a hike.

    2.6 miles round trip hike to see this view.
    Anna L.

    Beautiful park, as of today parking is free, gate open at 8 am on Sunday so don't come before that, clean flush toilet, dog friendly. There are different trails but not too difficult and the view at the top is incredible, total 8 miles of trails but you can do short 2.6 miles to get to the top, plenty of wild flowers right now, trails have no shade, saw two coyotes staring at us so be careful if you have dogs.

    Grace C.

    Love this hike, its super easy with beautiful views. It wasn't busy at all when I went and everyone who was there kept a safe distance from other hiking groups. The difficulty level is probably level one or two. It's more scenic but I absolutely loved it. Nice views, fresh air and there was plenty of parking for me. I took my dog and its dog friendly trails but I was told to be careful of coyotes roaming around. We didn't have an issue though! The trail does kind of a loop but the trail that goes towards the left to the reservoir has beautiful views of the ocean. But most of the trail itself has gorgeous ocean views! Great trail for scenic walk with family also as its easy for elderly and kids!

    Nearby PCH
    Yosmar J.

    I decided to drive down this highway/ park after many of my friends talking about its beautiful views. I was driving from SouthBay area so it took roughly about an hour and half to get there. Once driving down 23 freeway, you start noticing the vineyards around the park, the beautiful green mountains and clear sky's. There a couple of fruit stops where you can purchase fruits and sometimes wine from vineyards. I decided to stop and take a few picture of the shiny blue ocean in front of me. The views are breathtaking!!!! It was nice that parts of this park were open to get away from being stuff at home in a very safe way during quarantine. I strong recommend to do a picnic or just to show someone that may not be from California. Definitely recommend this place.

    Martha M.

    This little park is a hidden gem!! I'll be honest, I was a little concerned & focused on the signs that mentioned high counts of ticks (not in those exact words, but it's there).....Really you just have to exercise caution and wear long pants & tuck them in socks. I'd also bring bug repellent because there were quite a bugs, other than that....it was magnificent!!! Gorgeous ocean views, lots of trails to venture to and make it as longer or shorter as you want. Very clean and well kept. Some trails filled w/lots of shade and others out in the open, but still you right by the ocean and it's not as hot. There were some points of the trail that did get confusing, but doable. Parking (this being weekday) was plentiful, however there was mention of parking fee of $4, but didn't see the box where we are suppose to put it. Definitely look for it the next time, I don't have a problem paying, but a problem finding the box to insert cash. It's definitely worth paying to keeping the park well maintained and open. There's a picnic area, clean bathrooms & it's shaded in that area. Views again.....stunning, breathtaking & heck yeah...amazing!!! It's a little hidden & seems hard to get to but not really, just not knowing where your going. Do be cautious of wildlife...we heard rattlers & coyotes and saw leaves that where questionable wondering if poisonous. Again a great little treasure to go to in this area!!!

    So green.
    Paolo H.

    This place is simply beautiful; SoCal at its finest. It would be a great location to bring out-of-town guests. A much better choice over other crowded popular tourist locations. The trails are level and easily accessible for both old and young. Similarly, it would also be an ideal site for a marriage proposal. I can just envision at sunset, descending onto one knee, at the edge of the coastal bluff with the ocean view in the background; it doesn't get much better than that. The day I visited everything was green from recent rains. The long grassy meadow swayed in the wind, shimmering in the sunlight. There are 8 miles of intersecting hiking trails that let you customize your hike to fit your need. You can also climb rock formations and locate ruins of a Ranch House, an old well and a reservoir. The park is dog friendly. Parking is $4. There's a nature center that was unfortunately closed the day I visited. I also highly recommend visiting the nearby Malibu Café. It's a dog friendly place and a great place to grab a bite when you're done.

    Eliza R.

    This park and the hike with views it offers deserves way more than 5 stars. It's one of my very favorites. You have to drive over an hour on PCH to get here from LA, but do it, do it, do it! Also, bring a picnic basket with you. I did that once. A friend and I hiked for three hours on the trails, came back and sat at a picnic table, munching on cheese & crackers and fruit. It was glorious! Best time to come here is the spring when there are flowers, certainly. But even when I visited recently with a friend when it was dry out, it was still worth the drive and effort. The views of the ocean are stunning on a sunny day and we definitely got a workout. It's not at all a difficult hike or varied in terrain much, so don't expect waterfalls, caves, or even much shade. But there is a little forest you can pass through and again...views, views, views. Plus, it's well maintained and so incredibly peaceful. Bring one dollar bills for parking ($4). The lot is large but it did fill up by the time my friend and I left. Best to come early, which is true of any hike in southern California. I highly recommend Charmlee.

    Ryan M.

    This review is for 10/8/2011. It has been a couple months since my good buddy and I did a hike in Los Angeles County. With a lot of time on my hands, it was good reason to restart the hiking venture. The problem was where to go. The common place amongst our top 3 location was Malibu. We decided to head on over to Charmlee Wilderness Park. We had planned to go to Escondido Canyon Trails about a week before, but the one turnoff was the parking and the overcrowding. I have a big truck and parallel parking was not an option. Charmlee was never on our original list, but it had a big plus...It was quiet. We arrived at Charmlee Wilderness Park at 12:10pm. There is no Ranger or some booth to pay your fee, but don't bet you don't have to pay. There is a $4 Parking Fee on a sort of honor system. Once you park, you grab an envelope and place your money in and put your License Plate Number with the green ticket on your dashboard. It is better to be safe than sorry. I didn't pay initially, but when I returned after the hike, there was a purple notice saying to pay the $4 Fee. So, I paid just to be safe than to receive some fine from the City of Malibu. There are picnic tables and restrooms in the beginning of the lot. I suggest you use it before going on the hike. Some places these amenities aren't even offered. I picked up a map which is NOT TO SCALE, but its definitely helpful. I have uploaded the map for your reference. You have different routes to take, but its all wonderful routes depending on the intensity of how you took that route. There is one route you should avoid that is not on the map. Its hard to explain, but if you see construction trucks, then you are reaching a dead end and the fight to return back up is going to be a pain. The hike overall was about two hours with the constant stops and me panting so much that I ran for hours, but only ran out of gas up the hill. I can mark this off my books and say that I have hiked my third place in Los Angeles. I still got a lot of places to take off my bucket list. Any suggestions on where to hike next for a beginner? Please don't give me anything on EXPERT LEVEL...Not yet anyways. The Yelp Universe. Where are you traveling today?

    M Jason B.

    Sandstone Outcroppings, Majestic Oaks, Fields of Thigh-High Grass and Wildlife . . . lot's of it, all framed by the Pacific Ocean. This is rustic, golden, sage-scented California at it's best. I like to take the Botany Trail to the Fire Ecology Trail and then back through the meadow because of the diversity of plants and animals. Most trails are under a mile and almost every trail you take leads you to sweeping views of Malibu and the coast. We take our five year-old daughter here, and she loves it! Plenty of well established trails that are relatively easy on young and old feet alike. No ticks, mountain lions or rattlesnakes yet, but with out a doubt . . . they are here! Wear protective clothing and always stay on the trails. At 2 PM on a recent Sunday in June, there was only one other vehicle in the parking lot. Charmlee has several picnic areas close to the entrance and Malibu is a short drive down to either cool your feet off in the ocean, or grab a bite to eat. The park also offers full moon hikes, twilight marshmallow hikes, wildflower hikes, etc. Maps are available, and parking is $4.00

    The View From Main Trail
    Ashley B.

    I've hiked all over Malibu, West L.A. and Hollywood and by far still love Charmlee best. It's a great hike for all levels and the vistas are incredible. There is tons of wildlife from rabbits to deer. The trails go from fire roads to foot paths. Great for picnics followed by a hike or the other way around. The blossoms in the spring are second to none. I promise, you'll love Charmlee for your next hike. See their website at: http://www.ci.malibu.ca.us/index.cfm/fuseaction/DetailGroup/CID/3801/NavID/174/ You can also download a trail map, see pictures of the picnic area, ampitheater, and find out more about their Full Moon Night Hikes, the wildlife, and docent-led hikes.

    Minh-An C.

    My friends and I made our way out to Malibu this past weekend (MLK holiday) to explore Charmlee Wilderness Park. It took us about an hour or more to find the place because Google Map lead us to a private road that was chained up so we had to find another route to get to the park's parking lot. There is a sign that said "Charmlee Wilderness Park" on Encinal Canyon Rd. Just turn into that driveway and you will eventually find a small parking lot (which I learned afterwards that you have to pay $4) This park has a lot of trails so be an explorer and be adventurous. Keep in mind, if you pick all the downhill trails, you're going to eventually have to hike uphill on the way back (when you're more tired...) That's what happened to my group. There are occasional people riding their horses or walking their dogs so keep an eye out for them. The view towards the ocean was pretty but it wasn't breathtaking in my opinion. It was just nice to get some (sorta) fresh air and burn some calories.

    A lot of grass has grown with the recent rains. Some of the burnt trees can be seen in the background.
    Raquel D.

    I love these trails, they are very beautiful, but a couple of things to note from my latest visit on 3/23/19. The park was officially closed with the gates to the parking area locked. A few cars had parked in front of the gates and walked in apparently, so me and my friends did the same. With the recent rains there was grass and wildflowers everywhere, but also a lot of burn damage from the recent fires. Many of the trees were burnt down to almost nothing and the picnic area looks like many of the tables were burnt as well and not yet replaced. The trails themselves have debris from fallen burnt trees and branches and some of the trails look like the rain has washed away some of the dirt, making them uneven. Still, it was beautiful. Not sure if it was officially closed because of the fire destruction or because of recent rains, but either way, I would go cautiously, especially if it has rained recently.

    The only shade area we encountered so had to take a picture of this beautiful scene !

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    Beautiful area with fantastic views. The recent rains brought a lot of vegetative growth--so must visit before the heat settles in again!

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    Sweet flowers and grasses in the spring. A short and flat hike to see the water, emerging on the cliffs above Malibu.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Charmlee Wilderness Park

    How does the park look now in December? Does it look brown or dead, or has it begun it's transition from rainy winter into the beautiful flowy fields of green that will follow.

    Has this Park reopened since the fires mentioned on the comments from 7 months ago?

    As of December 2020 when I went there, the park is open now (meaning the gated entrance is open during the day and you can park at the lots).

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    Review Highlights - Charmlee Wilderness Park

    You can also climb rock formations and locate ruins of a Ranch House, an old well and a reservoir.

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    Corral Canyon Park - view from midpoint ~you can see malibu seafood down below

    Corral Canyon Park

    4.3(74 reviews)
    8.4 mi

    Beautiful hike! You can't beat the views!…read more I wanted to check Corral Canyon for a while in Malibu and went recently for my birthday. We parked on the PCH passed Malibu Seafood (watch where you park, cops are serious in this area, they were hunting to give tickets to people when we went!). We walked into Malibu Seafood parking lot, there is a sign and you start a hike. You can check various trails, we stayed on the main path, which is tight and there is vegetation on both sides, so long pants are important as is sunscreen and water due to lack of shade. There weren't too many people, the views are incredible, the Pacific ocean shines in the horizon and Malibu coastline is gorgeous. We saw a few hawks flying above. We stayed on the trail, the chimney comes up fast, then kept going for a while and we did take a left at the fork and the views got better and better! Whatever trail you take, you won't get lost since this is a loop. Around 2 miles hike, not easy, but not strenuous, I'd call it moderate, good exercise, but not too hard. I can't take the images of the view out of my head. I'd do the hike it again in a heartbeat! It was a great way to spend my birthday! And of coursed we rewarded ourselves at Malibu Seafood with a nice meal since this b-day girl deserved it with the hike and all!

    Amazing hike. Been doing this one for a few years now. Only did the full loop once because we lazy…read more Parking is paid with Porto potties. Or you can park on pch right next to the Malibu seafood place for free. If you come before 9 you should be ok. Make sure you have a front license plate!! We got a ticket once for not having one.. crazy. Very dog friendly hike, lots of hills so it's not easy, well marked trails. We like going right for everything. There's a small stream crossing due to all the rain so it's possible your feet may get wet and the dogs will be filthy. Make sure you give them flea and tick medicine! We went on February thinking it was ok, cold rainy... came home and there was a tick on my dogs ear!! Fun hike overall! Trail just keeps going up so you don't get that gratification until you make it to the tip for the whole loop

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    El Matador State Beach - Sunset through the rocks

    El Matador State Beach

    4.4(514 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    So be warned that parking is limited and also expensive, even if you want a quick little stop. We…read morewent super early on a week day so there was no one else there. Also the porta potty had no toilet paper. So not sure what the parking fees are upkeeping. Anyway, the beach itself is really pretty. The walk down is a little touch with stand on a steep slope so you have to be careful. But it's worth it for the views. It's a very romantic spot.

    El Matador Beach is truly one of the most beautiful spots along the California coast, and it never…read morefails to impress. Walking along the sandy beach, surrounded by dramatic rocky cliffs and sea caves, feels like stepping into a postcard. The ocean views are breathtaking, the sound of the waves is calming, and there are so many little hidden nooks to explore. It is also an amazing location for a photo shoot if you have a permit, with the cliffs, natural arches, and golden sunsets providing endless opportunities for beautiful shots. The only reasons I gave it three stars are practical. Parking is expensive, which can be frustrating when all you want to do is enjoy the natural beauty. If you want to do professional photography, you also need a paid permit, which adds to the cost. On top of that, there are lots of stairs to get down to the beach, so it can be challenging for anyone with mobility issues or small children. Despite these drawbacks, I keep coming back because the scenery here is truly unmatched. Whether it's strolling along the sand, exploring the rock formations, or just sitting and enjoying the view, El Matador Beach captures the essence of California's coastline. It's a stunning, iconic location that I would recommend visiting at least once, just be prepared for the stairs and parking fees.

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    Charmlee Wilderness Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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