Memorial Day Hike - Zuma Canyon Loop (10.5 miles)

Zuma Canyon is distinguished for being one of the deepest gorges in the Santa Monica Mountains and unlike Topanga or Malibu Canyons has never suffered incursion by a major road.

We'll start at Lower Zuma Canyon and take the Zuma Loop trail west to the Zuma Ridge trail. The views improve as the trail climbs, and there are several great lookouts of Zuma Beach, Point Dume, and the ocean beyond. Turning north and climbing further will provide views of Trancas Canyon and Upper Zuma Canyon. This part of the hike will be somewhat strenuous with a 1500' gain during the first 2.5 miles.

After a brief rest we turn east onto Edison Road dropping down (2000 ft descent) into Zuma Canyon and climbing up the opposite ridge (another 1500 ft ascent). We continue on the Edison Road for a few miles turn south on the Zuma Canyon Connection trail, take this to Ocean View Trail and descend to the Bonsall Trailhead and our starting point.

We'll proceed at a pace that will allow us to enjoy the scenery

Let's plan to have our (optional) post-hike lunch at the usual spot -- Malibu Seafood Patio. But there are a couple of restaurants at Kanan and PCH that I am curious about......we'll discuss on the trail.

Bring 2 qt water, snacks, hat, sunscreen, camera. Shorts OK.

Directions to trail head: Take 101 and exit Kanan Rd. Head south toward beaches and turn right on PCH. After about 1/4 mile turn right on Bonsall Dr. Proceed 1 mile up Bonsall until it ends and continue into dirt parking lot.