First Day Hike 2025

California State Parks has asked me to lead a hike for their annual First Day Hikes. So join us for a picturesque loop hike into movie & TV history in the heart of Malibu Creek State Park.

Our first stop is Ronald Reagan's Yearling Row Ranch, now part of MCSP. During the 1950s, when Ronald Reagan hosted TV’s “Death Valley Days,” he wanted a more rural retreat than his home in Pacific Palisades. So he bought a 305-acre ranch in the hills of Malibu as a place to raise thoroughbred horses and dubbed it “Yearling Row.” We will be hiking on trails that Reagan himself built.

Our next stop will be Century Lake, the location of the cliff-diving scene from the movie Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid and many other movies and TV shows. We'll take a snack break there before heading into the site of Ape City, depicted in the 1968 classic Planet of the Apes.

After some monkeying around we’ll head back to the ranch passing Reagan’s pit BBQ where he entertained his Hollywood friends.

Hike will be about 5.5 miles with 1,000 feet total ascent and is rated MEDIUM. See the HWD Hike Ratings Guide -

DIRECTIONS

Free parking. The Old Reagan Ranch parking lot is on the Southeast corner of Cornell Rd and Mulholland Hwy

IMPORTANT

Trail statistics are approximate. For safety purposes always assume they are underestimated. But don’t be disappointed if they are overestimated. Bring more water and snacks than you think you’ll need.

Trail descriptions are based on previous hikes. Current conditions are unknown until arrival. Expect the unexpected and plan accordingly.

The Organizers and members in this group are not professional leaders, guides, or mountaineers. The function of the member or organizer is only to organize the trip. Each person who shows up for a trip/meetup (and their guest or guests) is responsible for his or her own safety. By attending a hike, or any other event organized by this group, you are acknowledging that you and any guests that you bring are aware of the risks, dangers and hazards associated with the activity and freely accept and fully assume all such risks, dangers and hazards, and further agree to release and discharge the Organizers, Members of the Hiking With Dean Meetup Group from and against any and all liability arising from your participation in the group activities per the ASSUMPTION OF RISK AND LIABILITY WAIVER