Newton Falls and Zuma Falls and lots of Wildflowers via the Backbone trail

TWO WATERFALLS IN THE CENTRAL SANTA MONICA MOUNTAINS, ABOUT 6 MILES WITH ABOUT 500 FEET LOSS AND GAIN ON THE HIKE

It's supposed to rain the day before, so maybe we'll get wet!

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/8/b/c/event_109586812.jpeg

Newton Falls--above. Zuma falls--below

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/9/3/e/event_109586942.jpeg

We'll be following the Backbone trail from where it crosses Latigo Canyon Road (which is just south of the intersection with Mulholland Highway). To get there, Take Kanan-Dume Road and turn east going uphill on Latigo Canyon Road for 1 1/2 miles; it is twisty so take your time... There is a dirt parking lot on the east side of the road.

THE TRAIL GOES DOWN HILL, INTO NEWTON CANYON FOR A BIT, THEN WE BACKTRACK AND CROSS LATIGO ROAD AND HEAD DOWN TO NEWTON FALLS. THEN THE TRAIL LEVELS OUT IN ZUMA CANYON, THEN WE GO BACK UPHILL THE WAY WE CAME.

CLICK HERE FOR A PRINTABLE TRAILS MAP: http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/c/4/e/highres_109751342.jpeg

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/c/4/e/event_109751342.jpeg

For those with GPS, here are the coordinates: N 34.07829 W 118.79366

Here is a street map showing the trailhead as "A". Newton Falls is "B" and Zuma Falls is "C":

http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.08153,-118.80040&z=14&t=M&marker0=34.07806%2C-118.79373%2C4.3%20km%20SxSW%20of%20Cornell%20CA&marker1=34.07707%2C-118.81581%2C5.5%20km%20SW%20of%20Cornell%20CA&marker2=34.08857%2C-118.83418%2C6.0%20km%20WxSW%20of%20Cornell%20CA

DINNER AFTERWARD: chow at the Coral Beach Cantina, at 29350 Pacific Coast Highway, a little west of Kanan Dume Road

http://www.coralbeachcantina.net/