Topanga Ridge, Saddle Peak and Cold Creek Loop

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.

We will get to Saddle Peak along a genuine mountaineer's route (class 2.5): Topanga Ridge, an undulating, brushy knife-edge ridge, buttressed by tilted sandstone slabs and fins. People with a fear of heights may want to avoid this. There is a 200' sandstone slab that serves as an optional shortcut for the heartier hiker with some derring-do.

At 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 (on a clear day) 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 through gated and locked section of The Cold Creek Preserve. The Preserve protects the headwaters of Cold Creek, one of the few year-round streams in the Santa Monica Mountains. The extravagant lushness of the riparian vegetation growing in Cold Creek Canyon Preserve today is astonishing. In spite of the 1993 Malibu fire that burned virtually everything to a crisp, the gully-washing rains from the 1998 El Nino with its floods and mudslides, and recent earthquakes, the preserve has recovered.

Nestled steeply behind Saddle Peak (El. 2805’), its north-facing slopes are cool and shady. The headwaters of Cold Creek spring out of the ground year-round providing a reliable source of cool, fresh water for the animal populations. During winter months you will see swarms of ladybugs wintering-over en masse waiting for the first warm winds of spring to disperse them to their feeding and egg-laying grounds. Spring comes late to north-facing slopes and there is often a fascinating display of flowers blooming well into October.

One of the more fascinating landmarks found is the "boulder house" built out of sandstone bolders with a tin roof by German immigrant Herman Hethke. Hethke settled here in 1900 and grew celery which he sold in Calabasas.

Hike is about 8 miles with 2000 ft total ascent

Directions to trailhead:

*From the 405/101 Freeway...

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

*From the 101 Freeway west of Calabasas:

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 (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

Tame:

Head north 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.

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