Zuma Canyon Trail

Although I didn’t get to finish all the hike, the sceneries is breath taking. Massive amount of green and fresh air. It was definitely not a trail for beginners but the work out was great!
Ps: there’s a lot of horse shit so watch your step!

This is a beautiful hike. I found it through
because I was looking for a location that allowed dogs and also had a low or no entrance/​parking fee. The website implied that this trail was easy with no really steep climbs. We started out on the Zuma Canyon trail and then hooked up to the Canyon View Loop and ended on the Ocean View Trail. The literature I read before the hike said it was about 2.8 miles but this definitely ended up being closer to 3 or 3.5.
The view was worth it.
The signs said to keep dogs leashed and we kept my lab on the leash for about 20 minutes. But since it was 3 in the afternoon on a Wednesday and we hadn’t met anyone else on the trail and there were no other cars in the parking lot, I let him roam free. Had there been more people there we would have kept him on the leash.
There was no parking or entrance fee. I will definitely go back soon!

«When your 2 – 3 mile trail turns into over a 10 mile one –_​_​_​_​-​«
Dude wtf. This time I don’t know what I did, but the jaunt that was supposed to be a few miles to get up to the coastal view turned into a over 10 miles. Whiiich I wouldn’t have minded, but we brought a small amount of water, had zero snacks, and my friend that I was with dropped the map on the way up like a douche. Your cool Paul.
Prior to heading up I did have breakfast, drank plenty of fluids, and munched a protein bar. The water I brought was mainly for my dog. I’m like a camel when it comes to water. I hydrate heavily prior and post. In between I can got at least 8 miles without a sip. The dog is a G too, but when the suns out I keep him heavily hydrated.
Everything in the beginning went according to my previous experience. Except this time we broke towards the ocean instead. Few miles in we had great views of the ocean and were able to get a nice view. We both decided to keep heading up. That’s when I thought I knew I where we were going because we didn’t have a map, but it turned out to be a negative. We went from 1 trail to the next and added an extra 8 miles on. Damn. If my friend and I weren’t in as good as shape we were in then we would have for sure passed out. The trail was challenging in the sun. Luckily the ocean breeze kept it not as hot as it may have been somewhere else.
We ended the trail on the opposite side of where we parked. Damn. Another 2 miles give or take back to the car. All I know is my Nike Fuel band set some records that day with a step count right around where it would be at the end of a half marathon. I have to give props to my dog and friend for doing it with less than a combined 36 oz of water.
Had it not been for the amazing views, cool climate, and good company this review would probably have not been updated.

It’s good for horse riding, but not a good place for hiking, too much dust and horse shit, though the view is quite open.

At the request of many of my fellow Unilocal friends, this review is for you. :)
[tune to «Over the River, and through the Woods]
Over the boulders through the water
the leader knows the way to shows through the canyon
through the bushes and up the water fall.
Over the river, and boulders through the water,
up Zuma Canyon away!
Disclaimer-​This hike is not for beginners or most intermediate hikers, at least the way The Crew goes. We do not hike a trail, we make a trail by way of bush whacking through dense brush, tree limbs, and of course poison oak (PO). Requirements for this hike is both physical and psychological strength. Bouldering takes a lot of upper body strength, water crossings take balance, some rocks are covered in slipping moss and unstable rocks. Dredging through waste deep mucky and many times sticky water takes balance and excellent negotiating skills to avoid from taking a full body dip. Afraid of heights, yeah, don’t even consider this hike, for every boulder you climb up, you have to climb down. This hike is not a mileage hike, instead a physical endurance hike, which typically goes hand in hand with ones mental state of mind.
The Stats
Distance: 5.3 miles, Elevation Gain: 1400 feet, Level: 9 out of 10, scenery factor: priceless, The Trail: Single track, rock & boulder hopping, scrambling, trailblazing and some bushwhacking. PO avoidance. Time: 5 – 7 hours
This one way car shuttle hike where we start near PCH and end up about four miles north of PCH on Kanan Dume Road and hike through Lower Zuma Canyon, Upper Zuma Canyon, and Newton Canyon. There is PO everywhere in this canyon. This hike involves a lot of bushwhacking and mostly climbing over boulders. Good balance and rock climbing skills are necessary. Due to the recent rain, there was enough water to wade through for a good portion of the hike, several hikers even slipped on the moss covered rocks and took an unexpected dip.
The hike begins around open fields, sycamore trees and laurel sumac bushes. The canyon then narrows and there are oaks and eucalyptus trees along a creek. We stop for a lunch about about ²⁄₃ of the way into our route where Edison Rd intersects Zuma Creek. Although the hike is quite challenging up to this point, this is where the real fun begins. As we are that much closer to using a rope to scale a 10 foot shear rock wall, with a rope, of course. We are THAT crazy.
This was one of my first hikes with The Crews years ago. I had such a bad experience; I didn’t have the right clothing, essentials, or enough mental strength. I got through it, but not with, what I now call Honor Badges. Although I wore long sleeves and pants, I had some PO on my hands, arms, and legs. The back of the neck was covered in pea-​sized welts. PO is so annoying. Three days after the hike or so, my arms and legs were pretty much covered in bruises and I had several abrasions on my legs, not to mention, my I had my first encounter with a Tick. Thankfully a girl friend was experienced with removing them, because all the gents jumped back when I showed them I had a Tick. Tisk tisk!!! I swore I’d never go back. After four years later and many begging me to go back, I finally caved.
Due to the lack of rain in the area, there wasn’t much water so it was mostly a bushwhacking, PO avoidance, hiking up a dry creek bed hike, with a twist. The twist was the climb out of the canyon. In past years the climb out was up a loose dirt hillside on hands and knees for about 350 feet. January we went left at the fork which led us to a 10 foot sheer rock wall. Fortunately there were three «mountain goats» among us who free climbed up the wall. Once they reached the top, one wrapped a rope around himself and was our anchor, another grabbed the hand of each climber as they got within arms length by scaling up the wall using their upper body strength and the rope. The third video taped and took pictures of us climbing. Perhaps I’ll try to attach the video for visual stimulation purposes.
This time around, thanks to the rain, we had water. What do you get when you cross a sheer wall with rain? A much more enjoyable challenge. Yes, we scaled the 10 foot sheer wall with a running waterfall… the makings of a wet t-​shirt contest, only we always wear appropriate attire. We are smart and respectful that way.
My second attempt, January 19, 2014, as well as my third attempt, today, March 9, 2014, was much more successful than my first time. I still came out with Honor Badges, bruises and abrasions, but January the PO outbreak wasn’t nearly as bad and I didn’t have any encounters with Ticks. So far, the result of today’s hike is still forming, I do see some bruises and abrasions, but no Ticks. PO is still in question.
Hiking is not something that can be taken lightly. It can be life-​threatening as you see and hear on the news, people die or get lost all time. Please if you are going to hike, never go alone and prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

Great hiking trail. Great ocean view. Not crowded. Not too hard. Perfect to take your dog with you.
Grab a map and pay attention on the signs, it can be a little confusing on your first time.

Labor Day with Robert and Tucker. Easy parking, not that crowded. Tucker had a great time sniffing all along the trail and we had a nice walk late in the afternoon after lunch at Kristies Wood Oven Malibu. Nice easy trails for the human with the bad knees and enough cleared brush that we did not have to restrict Tucker to a short leash. Only problem was the horse poop which brought tons of flies to the trail.

The Zuma Canyon hike is a long hike. Part of it is outside in the sun without shade, but you can also cut through the middle, and it’s a bit of maneuvering, but it’s fun. The middle part is probably the best part. I think there was supposed to be a waterfall, but we didn’t see one. It’s good to do on a day that’s not too hot.

My buddy and I have been hiking a lot in less than two weeks. That is definitely a record in my books. Since my Dodgers were out of town, I wanted to enjoy another hike around the Malibu area. After Solstice Canyon, my friend found a place in Malibu near Zuma Beach called, Zuma Canyon Trail.
Zuma Canyon Trail is near the entrance of Zuma Beach. You’ll driving through expensive homes on Bonsall Drive and eventually get to a small narrow road. If you see a horse trailer there, you have found the right spot. I am not sure of the name of the company/​group (Malibu Riders) that provides the horseback riding, but the lady is very friendly from the beginning, middle, and end of our hike.
Our hike began around 1pm. The initial part of our hike led us to the other parking lot. I really thought our hike ended. My friend kept relying on the map and we kept going the wrong way. In my previous hikes, there have been no maps and I am still here today… For Now Anyways. Eventually, the hike started getting warmer as we were getting away from the ocean. Definitely bring water. I had already gone through my first bottle and it was only ¼ of the hike. The shade definitely helps you cool.
Throughout the hike, I had to pace because of the steep parts of the hill. To keep my mind off the heat and the frustration, I brought a baseball. If you find a baseball somewhere along the trail, that my mark that I have been there. While hiking, you may encounter the horseback riders. Definitely make way for the horses since they are big creatures. The view is not as great as Charmlee, but you do get a view of the ocean and the SMOG.
Like my other hikes, there is usually a tower of some kind: Water and/​or Electrical Tower. We did find one, but it was at the other parking lot. Not at the top of the mountain or anywhere on Canyon and Ocean View Trail. Whew… My lifespan is extended for awhile.
The one thing you have to make sure you don’t do during the hike… STEP ON HORSE DROPPINGS. My friend did at the end of the hike. Its all over the place, but my friend had to step on it. No one gets on my truck with feces. I am sure my friend is reading this. No Map… No Stepping on Feces.
Overall, its a good hike. Some would say its not for first time beginners. I’d say its for second time beginners. I believe our hike took us three hours to complete and it was definitely worth it. My feet hurt from the constant stopping by my buddy. I keep losing momentum to move forward. Gosh… Onwards to the next hike without stopping.
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My family and I hiked this trail last week. This is a great trail for beginning (i.e., not so great shape) hikers alike. We went on the shorter loop hike starting on Zuma Canyon Trail, up Canyon View Trail and back down the Ocean Trail. There is a bit of an uphill as you zigzag up the ridge, but the payoff in terms of the view is well worth it.
I echo another reviewer’s statement that this trail must be used by equestrians due to the large amount of horse poop on the trail. But that’s just a minor inconvenience.
The trailhead is a large dirt parking lot at the north end of Bonsall Drive. We went on a Tuesday and there were only two other cars in the lot at the time. There are well-​maintained porto-​potties and a water station for washing your hands. If you do the loop, I suggest going up the Canyon trail first, and coming down Ocean. That way you are facing the Pacific Ocean on your hike down.

Turn right onto Bonsall and go as far as you can. Eventually you’ll run into a narrow (one car at a time) dirt road which opens up into a «parking lot». Upon parking you’ll find the trails towards the far end of what you drove in.
There are a couple of trails here. They are largely not too difficult up to see pretty nice views of the canyon and ocean. I went on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn’t crowded at all =)
We did the ocean view into the canyon trails. It was about 2.5 miles which we covered in about 2 hrs.
The only thing that really detracted from it being a 4 star rating from me is the massive amount of horse poo everywhere. Yuck. Then again, if you’re going for horseback riding, it’s quite nice.
Otherwise, nice easy hike w/​good views.

Where’s the trail head? Come on Unilocal,have a GPS link to the trail head (s)!

Can I live here please?

Great hike!

This is not your average «run of the mill», lollygagging around kind of hike. Well at least the route we took, so let’s start with that.
We parked our car on Bonsall Rd. If you get there early enough you’ll parking. We got there around 8:30am yesteryday (Sunday) and only found 1 vehicle and a lady walking her dog.
Our hike up Zuma Canyon trail was not bad at all. it was actually a cakewalk. We got the chance to enjoy the scenery and the dirt was soft enough that it will not put a lot of impact on your feet and knees. Just mind the horse poop because they are everywhere. Zuma Canyon Trail ends abruptly once you hit the creek. So this is where THIS review begins.
It’s dry enough so we decided to go north on Zuma Canyon Creek. I suggest that if you decide to hike up the creek bed (please DO NOT do this during the winter, spring or during/​after rain) that you are somewhat in shape because it is a strenuous hike. Much boulder hopping through stagnant pools of water requires a lot of balance and very very good hiking boots. Falling in the water is 1) potential hypothermia 2) wet socks=blisters=pain…you get the idea. Depending on your stamina and speed it could take you a few hours to get through Zuma Creek. Not only that but a lot of bushwhacking is involved too.
REMEMBER to bring insect repellants: ticks, ants, beetles, dragonflies and some winged creatures i’ve never even seen LIVE here. Even though it’s hot, I suggest you wear sleeve/​long sleeved shirts and spray the openings of your shirt and where bottom of your pants meet the boots with deet/​insect repellants. You will do a lot of bushwhacking and in the summer, it can get so hot and humid that you WILL feel muggy. All of those inhibitions go out the window as you trek through the boulders and the thick brush where your mentality is «f**ck it» I am going to get through this. No raising the pinky for girls here!
— You will end up touching bird poop in exchange of balance
— You might have to crawl through a couple of huge tight boulders to
get further up
— You will itch
— You will feel uncomfortable
BUT…
You WILL HAVE THE EXPERIENCE OF A LIFETIME BECAUSE NOT EVERYONE CAN DO WHAT YOU JUST DID! (Or at least have the guts to)
HAPPY TRAILS!

I hiked the 12 mil. route, thinking how hard could it be?
Oh silly me… silly silly me.
I am the average guy, and had not trained for this particular hike.
That was a mistake.
The view was gorgeous, the overall experice was worth it but this is not for a first time hiker.
The first thing you should know is that this is challenging because of the incline.
Make sure you have good hiking shoes and make the investment into a hiking pole, my life would have been much better should i had known of said hiking pole.
The climb is challenging but if this is your first time hiking there, and you are by yourself make sure to take along one of the trail maps as you may get lost should you not know where you are going.
The third and most important thing you should know, is this and this would have saved me much grief as well…
There are four stages climb, decent and then climb again… you need to save some juice for the second climb up. In fact the second climb was a mental as well as physical challenge… Take hiking partners for encouragement, The people i went on this hike with made me not give up and push myself to meet the challenge.
The fourth thing you should know is that after you come down the final climb you will not have gone in a perfect loop leaving you back in the parking lot… oh no my friends that would have been too simple.
Instead there is a about a mile hike back to the parking lot.
The whole experience is worth it, for the company, the view, and the challenge.

This was a great hike! The route that we took was from the Bonsall parking lot to Ocean View Trail, Kanan-​Edison Road, Zuma Canyon Connector Trail, Zuma Edison Road, Zuma Ridge Trail then to the Ridge-​Canyon Access Trail back to the parking lot. If you look at the map, it is basically a large loop. My gps tracked that we were at about 2000 feet at the highest point and the distance was around 12 miles. I liked that they provide trail maps at the trailhead which made navigating a whole lot easier. Most of what we did was on a fire road so pretty well maintained. The only downside to this hike are the enormous piles of horse poop everywhere. I guess horses need to get their exercise too … not discriminating … just something to watch out for while you’re walking. Overall, this is a great place to hike, not strenous as there are a lot of ups and downs, but a moderate hike for sure. Next time I want to try the Zuma Ridge Trail all the way up to Encinal Canyon Road.

I look back at this hike with much love and fond memories that were made here this weekend. I brought my «Take a Hike» group of Unilocalers, scratch that, friends, to embark on our 5^th adventure together.
The night before the big hike involved packing the essentials: A compass, trekking poles, map, college sweatshirt, fruits, energy bars, food, a backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen and a camelbak. From that point, I was ready to take on the trail.
Saturday morning (before the crack of dawn) was excruciatingly painful, because after a 4 hour sleep, who wants to go on a hike? I DO! Remember, I’m a masochist. That’s how I roll. I grabbed the essentials and made my way to the beautiful city of Malibu. The drive was absolutely breathtaking as I let PCH take me away to a whole other world.
Once you turn on Bonsall Drive, you must drive all the way down (1 mile) to a dirt parking lot and find a spot at the trail head. Luckily, I managed to snag a prime pick and grabbed a trail map while I was at it.
We decided to take several trails, which was about 12 miles long. I won’t tell you which ones because I’d like you to choose your own adventure. That’s the beauty of hiking.
Magnificent views of the pristine ocean were granted, lovely lush mountains surrounded us the entire way. On top of that, I got a killer butt workout. Hell to the Yes! Some of my friends did not like me when we were heading up hill for a good hour, but they were not complaining when the reward of those memorable views came into play.
Note: If you are a smart, serious hiker and don’t have the greatest knees, I highly suggest investing in trekking poles. They are amazing and well worth the money, especially when you’re going downhill. I let one of my buddies use them and have now converted him to a trekking pole hiker.
Once we made it to our destination, we enjoyed a lunch, well somewhat of a lunch, it was 10 a.m. but we had an early morning start, and chatted till we were ready to finish the multiple trails. We went up and down that mountain side like nobodies business. Laughs were shared along the way and pictures which attempted to capture that very moment of happiness I yearn for in nature.
Happy trails to you.

At this moment, my knees are saying «F*** you, what were you thinking?» All because of my little hike with Ben G early this morning at Zuma Canyon. I wanted to get more into hiking, and we thought today would be a great day because a) the weather has been cooler and cloudy in the morning, and b) we knew we would be stuffing ourselves with calorie-​laden sweets at the afternoon Elite event. So off we went! Unfortunately, we ran into some traffic and complications on PCH, due to the triathlon going on this morning. But with a little help from the GPS, we made it to the canyon.
It was so peaceful and pretty. I saw a mama and baby deer, so cute! We took the trail that is described as the «Ocean View» trail. What a workout! It was steep as hell at certain points and wound and twisted up a mountain, until you finally have a beautiful view of the ocean. Watch out for horse poop! The dirt/​sand is also loose and slippery, especially on the way back down. We were only able to do 45 minutes out before we had to turn around, to make it back in time for our event. But it was good climb, and I hope to eventually do more of the mountain range. Perhaps not the best hike if you are a beginner and not used to such steep trails, but I’m proud of myself for sticking it out and burning those calories!

They say that whatever you are doing on New Year’s Eve/​Day … will be what you do for the rest of the year. And by they, I mean me. So, we had to get in a workout of some kind after consuming the bacon-​wrapped dog at the Rose Parade and the lobster risotto the night before at The Ivy.
So we headed off to Malibu for a hike. This is the trail we usually do on horseback (Malibu Riders) … but this time we did it on foot. It was a great hike, took us about 1.5 hours and featured ocean views and canyon views. It is a little poopy though, like Runyon Canyon poopy except with horses …
It is called nature though, so what do you expect. I hit Equinox for poopy-​less fitness ventures.