Leo Carrillo Beach to Nicholas Pond, in west Malibu

It's Lilac smelling time...a hike from the beach to Nicholas Pond

OK, this hike is between 7 and 8 miles, with 1700 feet of uphill in the first 2 miles, to the 20 acre pond at the top of Nicholas Canyon. Therefore, the hike is medium to hard level of difficulty, depending on your own skill level.

A few weeks ago, I was here. The sweet smelling lilac was flowering and the weird birds were making the strangest sounds at the pond.

FOR A VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBEDQh4DMBA&feature=bf_prev&list=UUj1XUpChxJzcEhRqsEzzQqA&lf=plcp

The Ocean views from the rocks were spectacular. I didn't get to the north side of the Nicholas Flats, which usually has excellent spring wildflower displays, but we will get there on this hike.

We're starting at the beach, where we'll check out the tidepools and sea-cave. Then we start the all-uphill climb up the ridge and drop down to Nicholas Pond. Next, we loop around the pond, sit on the rocks along the pond, then head back down.

BRING: 3 LITERS OF WATER, A HAT, COMFORTABLE SHOES, SUNSCREEN, SNACKS

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/4/e/c/event_91449452.jpeg

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/3/8/0/6/event_91454342.jpeg

PHOTOS OF THE HIKE:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Rare.Earth.fotos/NicholasFlatsAndPondLeoCarrilloStateParkSMMountains

DINNER AFTERWARD:

Neptune's Net, located a bit west of the park at PCH and Yerba Buena Road, or

Coral Beach Cantina--29350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu,located east of the hike on PCH.

http://www.coralbeachcantina.net/

We will decide during the hike.

DIRECTIONS: Follow Pacific Coast Highway west of Malibu all the way to the intersection with Mulholland Highway. We will meet at the park entrance driveway on the north side of PCH which is 1000 feet east of the intersection with Mulholland highway.

PARKING: You can either pay a lot to park at the State Park lots or park for free along PCH.

MAP TO WHERE WE MEET: see the arrow marked "A" on the map

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.04645,-118.93214&z=18&t=S&marker0=34.04645%2C-118.93214%2C1.9%20km%20ExSE%20of%20Solromar%20CA

PRINTABLE TRAILS AND TOPO MAP:

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/e/4/0/highres_91460032.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/b/1/4/event_91446932.jpeg

LEGAL STUFF: finally, by going on this hike, you agree to assume all risks of this hike, and that no one at Meetup including the organizer is responsible for your safety. See the Meetup terms of service especially paragraph 6.2:

https://www.meetup.com/terms/

------------------------------------------

YOUR HIKE LEADER: is somewhat of an expert on local history, environmental battles and native plants, (so if you are looking for advice on drought tolerant native plants and wildflowers, or suing developers to save open spaces, come on this hike)!

You can see my blog at http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com (http://rare-earth-news.blogspot.com/) for stories on new parkland purchases and other environmental battles.

-------------------------------------------

ARE YOU GETTING TOO MANY MEETUP HIKE EMAILS: Subscribe to my free summary of Meetup hikes in the L.A. area: http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com (http://lameetuphikes.blogspot.com/)

You get one summary email a week.