Topanga SP: Goat Peak and the Nazi site; & no-poison oak return trip

Approximately 10 mile loop hike, with a short out and back section to the Nazi site

Hard in sections, (a rocky staircase just before Goat Peak) and a mix of sun and shade

3 uphill sections

1100 feet elevation gain from Chautaqua Blvd. to Goat Peak, then ups and downs to lunch spot at the big oak tree

Then we drop down to Rustic Canyon (drop of 600 feet) to see the abandoned buildings of Murphy Ranch and the (spooky) old Nazi building. (FOR More history: http://www.hikespeak.com/trails/rustic-canyon-murphy-ranch-nazi-ruins/ )

From here we will NOT take the scenic but poison-oak filled lower Rustic Canyon trail back to the polo field at Will Rogers. Instead....

We take the trail back up to the ridge, (going uphill by 600 feet) and drop down to Will Rogers State Park and the polo field and return via Rivas Canyon to our cars (another 250 feet elevation gain).

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AFTER HIKE TOMFOOLERY: AT REEL INN, located at Topanga Canyon Blvd and Pacific Coast Highway. Park on PCH or Topanga Canyon for free parking.

DIRECTIONS TO TRAILHEAD:

Pacific Coast Highway to Chautaqua, follow it up the hill to Sunset Blvd. and turn left. Turn right at first street called Hartzell. Then turn right at Drummond Street, and go two blocks and turn left onto Chautaqua again. Go right at the fork of Kagawa and Chautaqua, and follow Chautaqua until it ends.