Malibu Creek State Park Hike

Meetup at the campsite at 10am for yoga pre-stretch. We will start hike at 10:15am. Precise location of campsite will be made available to those who RSVP.

Difficulty: Moderate
Length: 7.9 miles / 12.7 km
Duration: Half day

"Overview: Malibu Creek State Park is a sprawling 10,000 acre park that protects 25-mile long Malibu Creek, the largest watershed in the Santa Monica Mountains. The creek itself is somewhat unusual in that it has cut a path through hard volcanic rock instead of the softer sedimentary rocks north of the Goat Buttes, which makes for some spectacular scenery during any time of the year.

More than 30 miles of trails and fire roads are available throughout the park for hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians. There are also a few areas to swim and fish, and many rock climbers also practice their craft here.

The area used to be a country club, and some of the buildings and landscaping from that era remains to this day - including the Visitor Center and Century Lake - originally built as a recreational lake and now a unique freshwater marsh that provides a stop-over for migratory birds in the winter.

The park has also been home to filmmakers over the years. Movies like "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," "The Planet of the Apes," and the television show "MASH" were all shot here - and several setpieces from MASH are still here.

This route follows the namesake of the park as it meanders through several areas of spectacular scenery. This is an outstanding example of Southern California terrain that's definitely not to be missed. Tips: This park is probably most comfortable in the winter and spring, when temperatures are reasonable. It can get pretty hot in the summer here, and there are long stretches where there isn't any shade to cool you off.

Be aware of ticks during the warm months, especially if you're hiking in the grassy areas in the northern sections of the park." - http://www.everytrail.com/guide/malibu-creek