Parker Mesa - Santa Ynez - Los Liones Loop!

This hike will be a grand tour of the southwest region of Topanga State Park where we will knock off three "standard" hikes by creating one big loop. Our hike will begin at the entrance to Los Liones Canyon, but instead of heading up the canyon we will immediately head up the southern ridge to Parker Mesa. We then head over towards Trippet Ranch, head down Santa Ynez Canyon and then use a little-known trail to connect Santa Ynez Canyon to Los Liones Canyon for our return.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/b/a/2/event_100939362.jpeg

Perched high above the Palisades and Malibu, the vista from the Parker Mesa Overlook is stunning. You can see all of the LA basin laid out before you, the San Gabriel Mountains to the north, Catalina Island to the south, and the crescent shaped coastline of Santa Monica to the east.

http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/4/1/2/event_100941522.jpeg

Santa Ynez Canyon features chilly mountain pools, several beautiful waterfalls, and slim sandstone cliffs set in a cool oasis of lush oak and sycamore forests

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/e/6/c/event_100944172.jpeg

The Los Liones Trail weaves through a lush canyon just a mile from the Pacific Ocean. Slivers of big blue sea can be seen from much of the ivy and chaparral-lined canyon

Hike will be about 11.5 miles and strenuous

Directions

From Santa Monica or Malibu: Take the Pacific Coast Highway and turn on Sunset Boulevard. Go 0.3 miles on Sunset, take a left on Los Liones and drive half a mile to the end of the street. Park on the right side of the street in the lot across from the church.

There is plenty of free street parking, as well as two lots near picnic areas and restrooms.