FOSSIL RIDGE / TOP OF TOPANGA / BBQ at FROGGIES / DESSERT at INN of the 7TH RAY

9 miles round trip and the best view this side of Timbuktu

(parking is sometimes an issue... so carpool if possible)

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1. HIKE FOSSIL RIDGE

follows a small creek and is MOSTLY SHADED under a dense growth of TREES.... up and back (not a loop)

so if you only wanna go a couple miles and turn back, you just retrace your steps and go AT YOUR OWN PACE!!!!

2. HIKE to TOP OF TOPANGA (also called Topanga Lookout) has a view of the entire planet! ( bring a snacky thing ) return to cars via fossil ridge

3. drive to FROGGIES ( it reopened!!! ) BBQ on SUNDAYS

4. (optional) drive to INN of the 7th Ray for dessert

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( there's a GREAT meditation-rock at the beginning that would be PERFECT to just chill-out for a while if you don't wanna do the entire distance )

ELEVATION GAIN 1,800 FEET; at a RELAXED pace and a break at the top for a snack it should take around 5 hours. OH... and there's FOSSILS towards the top.

SORRY.... NO DOGS :-(

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CLICK HERE FOR MAP OF THE HIKE: (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101689764096842350298.00048dfd1ba6fa28b5bd4&ll=34.08899,-118.619385&spn=0.033871,0.066047&t=h&z=15)

CLICK HERE FOR THE MAP TO THE PARKING LOT: (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101689764096842350298.00048dfd1ba6fa28b5bd4&ll=34.092082,-118.604&spn=0.016935,0.033023&z=16)

CLICK HERE FOR THE PHOTOS: (http://picasaweb.google.com/hikingla/FOSSILRIDGE#slideshow/5408285180512754066)

CLICK HERE FOR THE .kmz FILE: (http://files.meetup.com/596486/Backbone.Fossilridge.kmz)

( download it to desktop... click on it... and it will open up in Google Earth) (http://files.meetup.com/596486/Backbone.Fossilridge.kmz)

TO GET TO THE HIKE:

HEAD up PCH from Santa Monica to Topanga Canyon (about 4 1/2 miles from the California Incline or 5 1/2 miles from the PIER) Turn RIGHT onto Topanga Canyon and go approx 4 1/2 miles and make a LEFT on OLD TOPANGA CANYON road. Approx .4 miles (four tenths) from the turn is the parking area on the left. There's LOTS of additional parking along the road if that lot is full.

TO GET TO FROGGIES:

DRIVE DOWN TO TOPANGA BLVD, make a LEFT...

FROGGIES is approx 1 1/2 - 2 miles up the hill ON the LEFT

TO GET TO INN of the 7th Ray

drive downhill to OLD Topanga road, ( 1 1/2 - 2 miles ) make a right, INN of the 7th Ray is 50 yards on the right