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This is going on my list for one of my favorite hikes ever. The drive there from PCH, the scenery is very nice. There are rocky hills that don't look like anything you've seen in CA. The hike itself was nice. You can park on the very lower level, past circle x, near the campground. At least we parked there and the park ranger looked at us, but didn't say anything and our car was still there after our hike. The hike had changing scenery. One minute you're in the mountain and another you're by a creek, then another you're on a flat plain with incredible views of the mountains. My 2 favorites were the wet rock wall on the way to the grotto and the grotto itself. My 5 year old daughter and 7 year old son both hiked to the grotto with a little help. They are really active and love climbing things. They climb the rock structures at different parks. I would not take a child who is not used to physical activity or climbing to the grotto. The hike to the rocks before the grotto is pretty nice too.
This was a fantastic moderate hike with beautiful views and several stunning waterfalls. There is basic scrambling involved and you will need ropes in one area before you reach the grotto. After the grotto the scrambles become more intense with a little bouldering involved. Definitely worth seeing! Watch out for rattle snakes as we saw several.
Today was my first time hiking this trail and it was a workout alright. I went as far as 3 miles ( I believe it's a lot longer than that). The views are spectacular!! Today the weather was about 65 degrees, so it wasn't too sunny and just the right amount of cold breeze from the ocean. I strongly recommend to take running shoes and a lot of water, it gets very rocky going down the mountain and it can get slippery as there's a small river through the hike. I saw a couple of families with their young children. I don't really recommend to take kids unless you're doing the start of the hike ( about a mile or so). I did see a couple of families struggle with their kids specially going downhill. There's isn't a safe pathway so you have to grip onto anything you see. Also, one nice thing is that there's plenty of shade so even if it's very hot, there's a couple stops you can make along the way. Parking: there's about three lays off parking, I recommend to get there early to insure that you get a good parking spot.
Awesome hike with a secret cave, be sure to bring extra water and snacks to fuel up and get the full experience of the beauty this trail has to offer! The waterfalls make it all worthwhile.
Parked at Circle X Ranch. Lots of parking spaces at 8:30am on a Sunday. And flushing restrooms are a plus! It's an easy 3 mile hike. Creeks/streams were bone dry (July 2017) but there's was water when your reach the Grotto. I will definitely try this again after a few days of rain, hopefully February next year might work out better because I'd like to see more water. It's a nice trail because it's not as crowded as others. The drive up here is, as many have said before, narrow and windy. Not only, is the road narrow, beware of the multiple bicyclists sharing the narrow road with you. We came on a Sunday and heard firearms going off in a distance. The heavy arsenal sound of bullets and rapid fire made it quite difficult to enjoy this place. I don't know if there's a target range a few miles away but it did damper the moment. I'll come back when it's cooler and after a rainy season, hoping we have rain.
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS TRAIL. The drive was a bit dangerous though. The lanes to get there are tight and sometimes cars coming up (probably residents) go FAST and aren't in the lanes so take the turns really slowly. I had a few cars that almost hit us because they drove over the lanes. When you get there, there are two places you can park at. The first place is at the top where the station is. If you need information about the trail, there's someone inside who can help you. They also have a flushing toilet if needed. The second place is a little ways down a dirt road off to the right hand side. Don't go all the way down the dirt road because the parking at the very bottom is for camping only and they usually have a lot of campers there. When you start the trail, it's mostly down hill until you hit a certain path. I wish there had been more signs indicating where the grotto was because we ended up heading in the wrong direction for a good 30 minutes before we hit a sign that said private property. Make sure you're ready to climb ropes and jump boulders because in order to get to the grotto you gotta jump boulders to get down to it. It was so worth though. Also make sure to bring towels or flip flops if you want to go into the water. The whole trail back and forth is about 3.8 miles so it's not bad, but do bring water because when you head back, most of it is uphill. I definitely recommend this trail for someone who's a bit more experienced with hiking.
Came here hiking with my girls & we were in for a sweet adventure. The great qualities about the grotto are the rock climbing, the cave, and all the shade. You park by Circle X Ranch and make your way down to the camp grounds which will also provide you signs leading to the grotto. Not necessarily the hardest hike or the longest but it stills gets your body working. The sights itself are pleasing, the air is fresh & the climbs provide a challenge. Unfortunately the waterfall in the cave at the end is very little because of the drought but there's still something flowing. You are also by other hikes along the drive so your options are open! Walking to the grotto is easier than walking back from it. But it's doable and relieving when you make it right back to the start.
A great adventure from start to finish. I was really excited to come here. If you do make the trip out here I promise you it will be worth it. Like most others that have already done their reviews I also recommend parking at Circle X Ranch. There are handy and helpful maps as well as a restroom. We noticed there is a camping ground as well. The trail is to your left of the parking area going downward. It's a well maintain trail that has trail signs. It was very easy to continue on the downward trail to head to the Grotto which was our hiking mission. The first pond you encounter to your left is the signal that you are headed in the right direction towards the boulders you will have to climb. Once the boulders begin they start off as little rocks and gradually get bigger, bigger, bigger until they become enormous. We were so lucky to still find water under one of the boulders that takes you to the grotto. The grotto had a very minuet stream and pool. We got to see frogs goes swimming in the pond inside the grotto/cave. It was nice and cool inside. The hard part in my opinion is the way back out of trail as you will have to hike back up. In the end I felt that I had found a peaceful beautiful place that is worth coming too! Until we meet again grotto. I hope your waters flow again soon!
This is generally an easy trail to a beautiful destination that takes about an hour and a half to complete (3 miles round trip). There are tons of opportunities to just dust off your bouldering skills and discover small talus caves covering a small creek down the mountain. This trail is family friendly! =D To get here, park your vehicle at Circle X Ranch and walk down the road to a small group campsite where you will see a sign to the Grotto that descends into a pathway down the canyon!
I wanted to try a new spot for hiking this past weekend. Weather was perfect for a hike so we tried this place and where not disappointed. Mind you, it's a small hike ( about 3 miles?). But it's so pretty and clean. Even in drought we were able to find some water at the grotto. The path is easy to follow, the background mountains are beautiful and the sky is just sublime. Easy to find if you follow directions. From the 1 south, turn left into Yerba Buena Rd. ( Neptune's Net seafood is at the corner) then go up a windy road, Ranch X will be easily seen to your right. No fee to park. Clean bathrooms at the campground and the visitor's center ( ranch X). Do take water and be careful on your footing going down, some loose rocks are a foot- hahaha, I'm so lame. Also, we found what my kids think was poison oak and we saw some cool lizards too.
First time hiking the Malibu Trail.. Be prepared with proper shoes, hiking sticks & gloves. Lots of boulders to climb as well as rock climbing to get to the grotto.
I LOVED this hike!! it was very beautiful and enjoyable. The hike down is pretty easy, and very scenic. But the hike up is a killer lol. My whole body was on fire after the 6 mile hike. There are some super inclined parts of the trail. Just a super rocky and rough incline coming back up. Overall it was beautiful, fun, peaceful, and super wet! Enjoy!
3 years ago
Wow what a BEAUTIFUL hike! There's a bit of everything on this hike. PARKING: off YERBA BUENA, look for CIRCLE X RANCH , it comes up quick so be ready! Windy road for those with motion sickness issues be aware. Parking is free, there's a toilet and water fountain to fill bottles as well. There's 2 ways you can go, this hike is a loop. We started off going west down hill past the little lodge with the pay phone. Once you get to picnic tables down the trail you'll see a fence, go past the fence and down continue on the trail. You'll get to boulders and there is the grotto! This trail is pretty toddler friendly however, we did not take our toddler down to the grotto Due to the fact that there is bouldering involved, and at one point, there's a rope that you need to be able to "climb"to get down into the grotto area. The friends we went with were able to go, and they said that it was very cool down there and definitely worth the hike. Some people said that they spotted rattlesnakes we didn't see any however. read more
3 years ago
Five stars with a caution‼ The writers of the reviews here must be totally fit My husband and I were dying on the trail coming back from the grotto area. It was almost all incline, like no joke. Our dog was so tired (She's young and only two.) she quit walking at one point refusing to move! Another disappointment was that we weren't even able to get to the grotto area, which involved some rock climbing, because we had our dog. With that said, however, the view was spectacular, and it was a great hike (going to the grotto, not on our way back!). I loved the streams and watching the tadpoles! (I don't remember the last time I'd seen tadpoles,) It was wonderful to experience such beautiful nature not so far from the middle of the city. To sum it all up; the full hike is highly recommended for people who are fit. But, I'd say to the people who aren't that fit (like us!), just to enjoy the hike up to the first stream and waterfall then turn back. You'd not enjoy the hike coming back from the grotto! read more
This is a great hike with changing scenery from ponds to views. It's a beautiful but easy hike with some rock climbing. Most of the hike is downhill and you will pass several ponds as you continue. The scenery is beautiful and definitely worth it. read more
This is going on my list for one of my favorite hikes ever. The drive there from PCH, the scenery is very nice. There are rocky hills that don't look like anything you've seen in CA. The hike itself was nice. You can park on the very lower level, past circle x, near the campground. At least we parked there and the park ranger looked at us, but didn't say anything and our car was still there after our hike. The hike had changing scenery. One minute you're in the mountain and another you're by a creek, then another you're on a flat plain with incredible views of the mountains. My 2 favorites were the wet rock wall on the way to the grotto and the grotto itself. My 5 year old daughter and 7 year old son both hiked to the grotto with a little help. They are really active and love climbing things. They climb the rock structures at different parks. I would not take a child who is not used to physical activity or climbing to the grotto. The hike to the rocks before the grotto is pretty nice too. read more
3 years ago
This was a fantastic moderate hike with beautiful views and several stunning waterfalls. There is basic scrambling involved and you will need ropes in one area before you reach the grotto. After the grotto the scrambles become more intense with a little bouldering involved. Definitely worth seeing! Watch out for rattle snakes as we saw several. read more
Today was my first time hiking this trail and it was a workout alright. I went as far as 3 miles ( I believe it's a lot longer than that). The views are spectacular!! Today the weather was about 65 degrees, so it wasn't too sunny and just the right amount of cold breeze from the ocean. I strongly recommend to take running shoes and a lot of water, it gets very rocky going down the mountain and it can get slippery as there's a small river through the hike. I saw a couple of families with their young children. I don't really recommend to take kids unless you're doing the start of the hike ( about a mile or so). I did see a couple of families struggle with their kids specially going downhill. There's isn't a safe pathway so you have to grip onto anything you see. Also, one nice thing is that there's plenty of shade so even if it's very hot, there's a couple stops you can make along the way. Parking: there's about three lays off parking, I recommend to get there early to insure that you get a good parking spot. read more
5 years ago
2 years ago
3 years ago
Awesome hike with a secret cave, be sure to bring extra water and snacks to fuel up and get the full experience of the beauty this trail has to offer! The waterfalls make it all worthwhile. read more
Parked at Circle X Ranch. Lots of parking spaces at 8:30am on a Sunday. And flushing restrooms are a plus! It's an easy 3 mile hike. Creeks/streams were bone dry (July 2017) but there's was water when your reach the Grotto. I will definitely try this again after a few days of rain, hopefully February next year might work out better because I'd like to see more water. It's a nice trail because it's not as crowded as others. The drive up here is, as many have said before, narrow and windy. Not only, is the road narrow, beware of the multiple bicyclists sharing the narrow road with you. We came on a Sunday and heard firearms going off in a distance. The heavy arsenal sound of bullets and rapid fire made it quite difficult to enjoy this place. I don't know if there's a target range a few miles away but it did damper the moment. I'll come back when it's cooler and after a rainy season, hoping we have rain. read more
I AM IN LOVE WITH THIS TRAIL. The drive was a bit dangerous though. The lanes to get there are tight and sometimes cars coming up (probably residents) go FAST and aren't in the lanes so take the turns really slowly. I had a few cars that almost hit us because they drove over the lanes. When you get there, there are two places you can park at. The first place is at the top where the station is. If you need information about the trail, there's someone inside who can help you. They also have a flushing toilet if needed. The second place is a little ways down a dirt road off to the right hand side. Don't go all the way down the dirt road because the parking at the very bottom is for camping only and they usually have a lot of campers there. When you start the trail, it's mostly down hill until you hit a certain path. I wish there had been more signs indicating where the grotto was because we ended up heading in the wrong direction for a good 30 minutes before we hit a sign that said private property. Make sure you're ready to climb ropes and jump boulders because in order to get to the grotto you gotta jump boulders to get down to it. It was so worth though. Also make sure to bring towels or flip flops if you want to go into the water. The whole trail back and forth is about 3.8 miles so it's not bad, but do bring water because when you head back, most of it is uphill. I definitely recommend this trail for someone who's a bit more experienced with hiking. read more
10 years ago
Came here hiking with my girls & we were in for a sweet adventure. The great qualities about the grotto are the rock climbing, the cave, and all the shade. You park by Circle X Ranch and make your way down to the camp grounds which will also provide you signs leading to the grotto. Not necessarily the hardest hike or the longest but it stills gets your body working. The sights itself are pleasing, the air is fresh & the climbs provide a challenge. Unfortunately the waterfall in the cave at the end is very little because of the drought but there's still something flowing. You are also by other hikes along the drive so your options are open! Walking to the grotto is easier than walking back from it. But it's doable and relieving when you make it right back to the start. read more
A great adventure from start to finish. I was really excited to come here. If you do make the trip out here I promise you it will be worth it. Like most others that have already done their reviews I also recommend parking at Circle X Ranch. There are handy and helpful maps as well as a restroom. We noticed there is a camping ground as well. The trail is to your left of the parking area going downward. It's a well maintain trail that has trail signs. It was very easy to continue on the downward trail to head to the Grotto which was our hiking mission. The first pond you encounter to your left is the signal that you are headed in the right direction towards the boulders you will have to climb. Once the boulders begin they start off as little rocks and gradually get bigger, bigger, bigger until they become enormous. We were so lucky to still find water under one of the boulders that takes you to the grotto. The grotto had a very minuet stream and pool. We got to see frogs goes swimming in the pond inside the grotto/cave. It was nice and cool inside. The hard part in my opinion is the way back out of trail as you will have to hike back up. In the end I felt that I had found a peaceful beautiful place that is worth coming too! Until we meet again grotto. I hope your waters flow again soon! read more
This is generally an easy trail to a beautiful destination that takes about an hour and a half to complete (3 miles round trip). There are tons of opportunities to just dust off your bouldering skills and discover small talus caves covering a small creek down the mountain. This trail is family friendly! =D To get here, park your vehicle at Circle X Ranch and walk down the road to a small group campsite where you will see a sign to the Grotto that descends into a pathway down the canyon! read more
I wanted to try a new spot for hiking this past weekend. Weather was perfect for a hike so we tried this place and where not disappointed. Mind you, it's a small hike ( about 3 miles?). But it's so pretty and clean. Even in drought we were able to find some water at the grotto. The path is easy to follow, the background mountains are beautiful and the sky is just sublime. Easy to find if you follow directions. From the 1 south, turn left into Yerba Buena Rd. ( Neptune's Net seafood is at the corner) then go up a windy road, Ranch X will be easily seen to your right. No fee to park. Clean bathrooms at the campground and the visitor's center ( ranch X). Do take water and be careful on your footing going down, some loose rocks are a foot- hahaha, I'm so lame. Also, we found what my kids think was poison oak and we saw some cool lizards too. read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
First time hiking the Malibu Trail.. Be prepared with proper shoes, hiking sticks & gloves. Lots of boulders to climb as well as rock climbing to get to the grotto. read more
4 years ago
This hike was so great! It's def a challenge to get to the actual cave pool but it was nice cold refreshing water! My 5 year old was able to rock climb a bit with the help of me and his dad and we did it in 45 mins there and 45 mins back! read more
4 years ago
9 years ago
I LOVED this hike!! it was very beautiful and enjoyable. The hike down is pretty easy, and very scenic. But the hike up is a killer lol. My whole body was on fire after the 6 mile hike. There are some super inclined parts of the trail. Just a super rocky and rough incline coming back up. Overall it was beautiful, fun, peaceful, and super wet! Enjoy! read more
My 100th review! *The crowd goes wild* I thoroughly enjoyed this hike on a beautiful Friday afternoon! It was not terribly difficult to find or complete. Coming from Downey we pretty much just took PCH down (for awhile) until we hit Yerba Buena. Then you just take that road until you see the Circle X Ranch sign. Simple. Yes, the road can get narrow at parts and is winding but if you don't speed you'll be fine. Once in the Circle X Ranch you can choose to park (free) there or take your car down the road where the sign directs you to additional parking (also free) closer to the trailhead. We left our car at the top and I kind of regretted it when I passed the bottom lot on my return back from the hike, but the distance between the two is nothing major. At the trailhead it reads about 1.3 miles to the Grotto. The trail is well-maintained and fairly easy. Going down to the Grotto was definitely easier than going up. The trail ends at a bunch of big rocks. I could hear the water but saw nothing. I was very disappointed and decided to eat lunch with my buddies while listening to the soothing sound of the water on the big rocks. That's when a bunch of prisoners in their orange jumpsuits started to climb up from below. I was intrigued. First, because I didn't know prisoners got to go hiking and second, because the guy in charge of them recommended we go down. We finished up our lunch and maneuvered our way down. If you take a good look around it's pretty easy to see which rocks and places are good to step on. If a group of 30 prisoners can do it, you can do it too. I even saw children and dogs. Once we were down there I was very happy to see a beautiful grotto as promised and to think, I didn't even have to visit the Playboy Mansion! :) I took my shoes off and dipped my toes in the water closest to the fall. It was freezing! Next time I want to bring a light boat or raft so that I can paddle my way around the grotto without getting wet haha, but definitely climb down! The Grotto is just lovely and a nice place to relax before the slightly tougher hike back up to the trailhead. It took us about 2.5 hours but we had lunch and relaxed for quite a bit. Happy hiking! read more
Just recently completed this hike which is one of the 6 Circle X trails. I don't think prior reviews emphasized enough how the grotto portion of the trail can be fairly challenging and even a little bit dangerous. In order to actually view the grotto you will have to climb down a number of huge freaking boulders! Towards the end of the hike you'll encounter a calm pond off to the left and then you will reach a boulder-lined dead end. At this point it is not entirely obvious which direction to take. You'll wonder, should I go strait down the boulders or do I follow the path left up the mountain? Definitely don't go left up the mountain. It will lead you to a precarious cliff. After you climb down the first few boulders you'll hear some water tinkling. At that point you'll realize that you are on the roof of the grotto and you'll think to yourself, how the heck do I get down there. Proceed up the mountain on the right, between the thick root passageway. You'll eventually find your way to the ground level. The end result will seem awe inspiring, like you've just discovered the fountain of youth. The reality is that it's really just a small dirty pond enclosed by some large boulders. It just seems more impressive because you've just risked life and limb to get there. The trek back is fairly strenuous, mainly because you are not used to the return trip most being the most challenging part of the hike. Overall, I'm definitely glad that I did this trail. It was fun and gave me a great workout. Unfortunately, I think this will be a one time challenge for me. read more
11 years ago
BEST TRAIL EVER! How to find the entrance: From PCH, get on Yerba Buena Rd. You'll drive up a few miles and think you're lost but keep going. The road gets narrow so just be safe. Some parts of the drive was kinda iffy and dangerous but just slow down. I suggest drive an SUV or a new car with a good engine :-). I think we passed around 3-4 Ranches before we got to Circle X. Park at Circle X. Parking: When you see the Circle X sign, you can park in that area or you can go inside and down the dirt road. There's more parking down the road, before the entrance to the trail. Restroom: There's one restroom to the right of the building when you arrive at the Circle X sign. You're not at a hotel so the bathroom is decent enough. There's 2 outhouses (boys & girls) before you enter the trail. Outhouse = just a toilet where your #1 & #2 goes straight down a hole = no sink. Bring your own hand sanitizer or wipes :-) The trail: Omg! Such a good trail to hike. I'm a beginner/intermediate hiker. I thought it was decent. Lots of rocks and inclines. It was fun making sure I don't slip and fall. The other reviews are correct. There's LOTS of climbing up and down. To the grotto: Once you get to this clearing with a big tree, go LEFT. Once you go left, you will see A LOT OF ROCKS. You will get to a point where when you look down, you think you will fall. Don't try going straight down. Don't go to your left. GO TO YOUR RIGHT SIDE (stay to your right)!! You will need to climb down the rocks, then climb UP this super narrow and steep area, so you can climb down. The grotto: As of 6/13/15, there's not a lot of water. It's still a pretty place to take pictures. Past the grotto: It's up to you if you want to keep going past the grotto. We did and it was SO FUN! Seriously LOTS OF MORE ROCK CLIMBING! I think we went for an hour more but we realized that it'll just keep going, so we turned back. Suggestion: Do not climb on a hot day. The rocks might get hot and you might not be able to climb it. Climbing was very relaxing when we went on a cloudy day. I climbed up at the top of this rock and just sat there with the rain falling on my face. It was so peaceful! read more
14 years ago
The Grotto, Malibu The Grotto trail is a short, but fun 3 1/2 mile round-trip hike to see a 20 foot waterfall that flows into a hidden cave. The trail features a few other smaller waterfalls and a beautiful open meadow that is filled with wildflowers in the spring. As you approach the waterfall on the grotto trail, the canyon narrows and the last 14 mile of the trail can be a bit tricky. To reach the base of the falls and the hidden cave, you'll have to navigate around, over, and through a maze of house-sized boulders. Grandma and your fat uncle Phil will have to wait at the top of the falls while everyone else does some exploring. You probably won't be able to spend the entire day at the Grotto, but you might consider heading over to nearby Temescal Canyon in Santa Monica afterwards. To reach the Grotto trailhead from Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, turn onto Yerba Buena Road and follow it 5 1/2 miles to the Circle X Ranch Ranger Station. There are a ton of other good hikes nearby to check out. Ive got a bunch mapped out on my blog if anyone is interested http://southcaladventures.blogspot.com/ read more
9 years ago
Half of the fun was just driving up through the winding road! There's seemingly plenty of free parking in their private lot. You'll jot down to their campground where the trail head starts and begin a quick pay off for a short 2.7 miles in and out trail. Hiking this was very easy, the highest elevation you will reach is 630 ft. Trail is well defined and simple to traverse. There were a few parts where the high vegetation were overgrown, but nothing too scary. Poison oak grow very close to the trail, if you bring kids keep an eye on them. Unfortunately I was not able to experience the seasonal waterfall, but the way down is still scenic and spectacular. Having done this early morning while everything was still freshly damp I found that the trickiest part for me was keeping a grip on the slick rocks. Once you get to the grotto, you'll find that it actually faces away from you and will require some rock scrambling to get to the other side. This part is the extent of the trail's difficulty. I'd imagine some would turn around, but if kids can do it you can too! There's no graffiti or trash on the way down, but I found beer cans and liquor bottles at the destination so that kinda sucked. People drink and pack your stuff out! read more
11 years ago
This was a seriously fun hike! Parking: Keep driving... it seems like forever and that you're in the middle of nowhere... well, you are! Park at the Circle X Ranch. You won't miss it. Stop and take a restroom break before heading down. Trail: To the left of the parking area, the signs lead you down to a campground and continue on to the trail. The trail is well marked, so you won't get lost. The only tricky part is the very end when you reach the boulders (This is also the fun part)! At one point, the rocks are too high to climb down, so you will see a path on the right that looks a little steep, well I took it and it leads you down to the grotto! Enjoy: Once at the grotto, relax because its beautiful! We went two weeks ago and the water was quite stagnant and there wasn't much but we still found respite there. Once you're done, just hike back to where you came from. I need to come here after it rains to see the grotto in all it's glory. To me, the best part is when you have to climb over the boulders.. the scenery is so beautiful there and very peaceful! read more
12 years ago
This trail is awesome! It has the drive, well for me anyways, the scenery and a good 3-5 mile hike. It has small rock caves, camping and bouldering areas along the way. It also allows for you to bring your dog which is perfect for me, since she is my hiking buddy. So, the first part of the trail is the easiest, its a light walk or run if you'd like but I walked knowing what was coming ahead. A good mile in you start to hit the rock climbing area. I would suggest shoes with great traction.. you're going to need it! There are nothing but rocks to climb at this point and have to find your own way through. WARNING: you can get lost, because it all starts to look the same and without a trail you can get confused. I always bring my phone, for pictures of course, but because it has a compass and can help me remember where I came from. I love this hike because there is more than one trail, you can go off the normal trail and find new hidden caves gorgeous outlooks. There also isn't a lot of foot traffic which is a nice change from Runyon Canyon. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a bit of an outdoor workout! Clothing: It's going to depend on the weather, though each time I've gone, I've been glad I've brought a light sweater because it gets colder on the west side of LA. read more
10 years ago
This was a long drive from the SFV but it was a gorgeous day in late February. As many have said, just park at Circle X Ranch and make your way down the dirt road to the start of the trail. The trail has some nice steep inclines and declines so your calves will be burning. It had some lovely views and it was nice that there was a lot of tree canopy coverage. When you finally start to hear the drip, drip, drip of the grotto, you'll be wondering how you'll get the eff down to it. I had gone by myself so had visions of broken legs and being stranded in the woods until someone came along. I picked my way down a little ways and was trembling in my sneakers and about to turn around when I saw two people down below. They pointed out the easiest way and cheered me on til I got down. The sound of the water is enchanting and I saw a garden snake swimming around in there. The climb out was easier than going down and I was glad I decided not to chicken out. read more
10 years ago
The most difficult part of this hike- was the drive there! Man, those roads always give me a headache. Haha. I wouldn't necessarily say this is a hard hike, but if you want to see The Grotto you do have to get a little dirty while doing some rock climbing. The giant rocks can be a bit intimidating but clearly not impossible (cause shoot, if I can do it- so can you!) It was fun exploring around this trail- there's lots of great scenery and it is very peaceful. You will feel the work out in your legs as you head back afterwords. (Since heading back it's all up hill- for a really nice work out you can jog it) Highly suggest this hike! read more
10 years ago
This was a great and fun hike. It was relatively easy however, be prepared to do some rock climbing. The grotto was pretty cool and going inside was certainly worth the 1.5 mile downhill trip. Note that as you get closer to the grotto it gets very rocky so a good pair of hiking shoes is a must. The hike back is slightly challenging as it is mostly uphill. Loved this hike and I'm thankful to have been able to see this place. read more
12 years ago
I LOVED this hike!! The hike down is pretty easy, BE WARNED THO: the hike up is a doozy. Like ya glutes will be burnin! Just a super insane incline. And also be warned that there is some serious rock scrambling you do once you get down to the actual Grotto. So make sure you don't bring anything you need to hold because you NEED both hands. Over all though it's a very beautiful enjoyable experiment and makes for GREAT pictures! Keep in mind I'm a pretty novice hiker, so if this is something you do often it will be a breeze :) read more
Lets start off by saying that the address provided here is not the correct address! It will take you to the Santa Monica Peaks! NO FEAR, if you get to the Santa Monica Mountains, go back! You missed it by a few minutes. My suggestion is put this address in your GPS and keep your eyes peeled for the CIRCLE RANCH! You will park here and the trail starts here as well! This location is located on your right hand side when you are driving in. Parking is free here as well! This quickly became my favorite trail in Malibu and overall! Be aware, you must aware shoes with good grip. Some hiking boots, do not wear chucks! You will eat sh*t. I do not recommend this hiking location for children or strollers. The trails are pretty narrow and steep. As you go in further there is a bit of boulder climbing. It's not hard but I think it may be dangerous for children. If you continue to go on past these boulders, there is a small waterfall underneath the boulder and there is more to hike! This location has many trails and it is absolutely beautiful! Isn't trashed like some locations. Also bring lots of water because this trail can be quite tiring. I'd say it's moderate level. It does involve a lot of uphill. read more
12 years ago
A friend and I are hiking as many trails as possible. With that said, we feel we're doing really well and are totally hooked on hiking. We pick a different place to hike every time. Since we both had the day off we thought we'd go to Malibu. She chose The Grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu. I looked quickly and saw that it was rated 4.5 stars, that was enough for me! Little did I know what we were in for! Getting there is time consuming In itself. The hike started and we were excited. We got through the easy part which is the actual trail. Once you get closer to the actual Grotto it gets quite confusing. We did end up going the wrong way because we couldn't figure out how to get all the way down beyond the huge rocks and boulders that you have to climb. We thought it was a detour to the left. This is NOT the case. That steep dirt climb takes you to a large rock which overlooks the entire area. Don't get me wrong, it's a gorgeous sight to see but totally unnecessary! There's actually a small trail to the right of the boulders just above the Grotto water. That's what you take to get down to the opening of the Grotto. It's very confusing and we did a lot more hiking than necessary. Live & learn I guess! Because we hiked so much unnecessary terrain, hiking back out and back up to the parking area was exhausting! It's definitely not for the inexperienced hiker. Proper shoes and clothing is must! Don't take this hike lightly! But so glad we did it! read more
9 years ago
Best to go spring time to see actual water running. I do not recommend taking a dog due to the huge boulder climbing, cracks, not safe for a 4 legged friend. Trail was easy. Restrooms avail in beginning of trail and info at Circle x Ranch. Check out my photos! read more
8 years ago
4 years ago
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More info about The Grotto
12896 Yerba Buena Rd
Malibu, CA 90265
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(805) 370-2301
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Visit Website
http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm
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Ask the Community - The Grotto
Are you able to get in the water because I wouldn't mind after a hike?
Yes! Just go in the stream, or climb down the rope to get to the grotto with the waterfall inside. Water goes up to your hip if you are a 5'3" person.
Review Highlights - The Grotto
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10 years ago
The Grotto - hiking - Updated August 2026
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