Mountaineer's Route to Saddle Peak and Topanga Lookout - Cold Creek Loop

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High above central Malibu is Saddle Peak, just east of Malibu Canyon, one of the highest points in the Santa Monica Mountains at 2,805 feet. Up here you are literally in the sky, often above the clouds over Malibu. On a clear day, facing south, you can see a vast stretch of the Pacific coast, Catalina and Channel Islands miles out in the water. If facing north, you can see the inland valleys of the Malibu Creek watershed or east toward Calabasas and the San Fernando Valley. On a cloudy day, you look down on the cloud tops as if in an airplane.

http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/3/7/2/event_104861842.jpegTopanga Ridge will be the toughest part. It is a knife-edge ridge that will require some minor bouldering/scrambling (0.5 - 1.0). There is a steep 200' sandstone slab that serves as an optional shortcut for the heartier hiker with some derring-do.

http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/a/d/5/4/event_104864372.jpegAt the top of the ridge, and 1200 ft higher than the parking lot, is the old and abondoned Topanga Fire Lookout. We will take a short break here and enjoy the stupefying views of the San Fernando Valley, LA Basin, Santa Monica Bay and even San Gorgonio Pass 100 miles away. From here we will connect up with the Backbone Trail and hike up to Saddle Peak.

We will complete the loop by descending Saddle Peak via upper Stunt High trail.

Hike is about 8 miles with 2000 ft total ascent

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Optional post-hike lunch will be at Sagebrush Cantina (http://www.sagebrushcantina.com/)

Directions to trailhead:

*From the 101 Freeway/Valley...

Exit Mulholland Dr /Valley Circle Blvd and go south on Mulholland Dr 0.5 mi
Turn Right on Valmar St 1.2 mi
Valmar will become Old Topanga
Turn right on Mulholland Hwy 3.8 mi
Left on Stunt Rd 1.0 mi
Park at turnout on right

*From the 101 Freeway/Calabasas & TO:

101 East, exit on Las Virgenes Road and head south for 3 miles to Mulholland Highway. Turn left and continue 4 miles to Stunt Road. Turn right and drive one mile to the pullout on the right.

From PCH/West-North Malibu

Turn on Malibu Canyon. Turn right on Mulholland and continue 4 miles to Stunt Road. Turn right and drive one mile to the pullout on the right

*From PCH/West LA (

Twisty but the shortest:

Turn north at Las Flores Canyon Rd 3.4 mi
Turn right at Rambla Pacifico St 0.6 mi
Take the 2nd right onto Schueren Rd 1.8 mi
Turn left at Stunt Rd 2.9 mi
Turnout will be on left

Less twisty

Head north on Topanga Canyon 4.3 mi
Turn left onto Old Topanga Canyon Rd 5.3 mi
Turn left onto Mulholland Hwy 3.6 mi
Turn left onto Stunt Rd 1 mi

View Stunt High Trailhead Parking (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=207555731389199127459.0004bc544780def67f99c&msa=0&hl=en&ie=UTF8&t=h&ll=34.094952,-118.649418&spn=0.0004,0.003803&source=embed) in a larger map

Bring 2 Qt water, lugsoles, camera snacks, sunscreen..