Highlights: Great picnic area, beautiful ocean and mountain/canyon views
Distance: 6 miles roundtrip
Elevation Gain: 800 ft
Hike Time: 2 - 3 hours depending on your hiking experience.
Diffuculty: Moderate if you are an experienced hiker – grueling the first few tries. Difficult during hot weather.
Trail Condition: The trail is wide and well kept. Watch out for bikers on the downhill who will sometimes zoom past you with very little warning, and snakes during warm weather.
Trail Head: From Topanga Canyon Boulevard, turn east on Entrada Road; that's to the left if you are coming from the San Fernando Valley. Follow Entrada Road by turning left at every opportunity until you arrive at Topanga State Park. The trailhead is at the end of the parking lot. (Lat:34.0928 Lon:-118.58707)
Summary: This is a great year round hike. You start the hike from Trippet Ranch in Topanga State Park to the Overlook. The first section of the hike takes you through a lush grove of trees. This is your last chance for shade, so wear a hat and plenty of sunscreen. When you reach the first altitude you’ll see the trails between Topanga and Santa Ynez Canyons. The scenery is beautiful, mostly comprised of the green mountains and giant sandstones. You’ll notice the change in color of the sandstones. They range from beige to mossy green to a purplish pink. There’s a bench about 1 mile into the hike. Save sitting on this bench for the end.
The second part of the hike is a steady climb, and may be painful for first timers but by this point you’ll be hiking with a gorgeous ocean view, so don’t give up. Before you reach the Overlook, the incline is higher and can be challenging to a first time hiker.
By the time you get to the intersection of the Overlook, you’ll feel like a true Canyon Nymph and the .5 miles to the overlook are my favorite on this hike. You’ve already done the most difficult climbs. This last bit of trail to the overlook is narrower than the trail you were on but it’s still very well kept and the shrubs do not get in your way.
Finally, you reach the overlook. There are two benches and a flat rock on the ground for you to sit on and enjoy the ocean and city view. On a clear day you can see Catalina Island and past downtown LA.
If you want to make this hike more challenging, when you get to the intersection, instead of going to the Overlook, you can head over to Paseo Miramar – if you skip the overlook and go down to Paseo Miramar and back to Topanga it’s about a 9 mile hike.
Ranger Contact: California State Parks, (818) 880-0350
Disclaimer: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site.
Take A Hike,
Lucy
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