Date: September 12, 2010
Time: 9:00 am
Near: Calabasas, CA
Distance: 8 miles round trip
Elevation: 300 ft
Hike Time: 3 1/2 hours followed by lunch
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate
Trail Type: Well maintained trail
Hike Type: Out and Back
Highlights: Volcanic Walls, reflecting pools, picturesque lake
 

Before land for Malibu Creek State Park was acquired in 1974, it was divided into three parcels belonging to Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, and 20th Century Fox. Although the park is still used for moviemaking, it’s primarily a haven for day hikers and picnickers.

Malibu Creek State Park is a sprawling chunk of parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains, hugging the Malibu Creek as it flows into the ocean, while also stretching east along the Backbone Trail. There are several distinct sections of the park, and we will hike the “lower canyon” area, along the trails that follow Malibu Creek through a striking section of the mountains known as the Goat Buttes.

Century Lake: We will start the hike with a leisurely stroll through the Grassland trail and meet up with Crags road. We will see a prominent concrete bridge crossing the creek that leads to the visitor center. We will veer right, keeping on Crags Road, and will cross Malibu Creek on another bridge, just north of Century Lake. Here, the landscape is more like a wetland, and during the spring months there are many migratory birds that make a stop in this area of the canyon. After crossing the creek, the road narrows considerably, and eventually turns into a single-track trail over some very rocky terrain.

M*A*S*H Movie site: The trail continues in this shaded section between the Goat Buttes, then comes upon the site of the M*A*S*H set.  There's not a lot left from the show, but there are two rusted but fairly well preserved vehicles.  We will have a nice view of the prominent Goat Buttes that tower above the site and were featured in the opening shot of each episode.

The Forest Trail is a short stretch of track that hugs the southern banks of Century Lake, another artificial lake formed by a dam. The trail here is shady and cool, the result of some non-native trees such as Redwoods that were planted here some time ago. The trail is only a half-mile to the edge of the dam, where we will have to turn around and hike back the way we came. But the views from the dam and the reflections on the lake water are worth the short side-trip.

Rock Pool:  One last stop before we head out is Rock Pool — a popular area for swimming and rock climbing. The “Swiss Family Robinson” television series and some Tarzan movies were filmed here. We may see a few climbers on the rock walls along the way.  The trail ends at the aptly named Rock Pool. This is a very popular hangout. Relax, take a dip, or try your hand at climbing a bit? We will then return back to the Grassland Trail.

Lunch: After a long beautiful hike, we have probably built up quite an appetite and the highlight of this outing is lunch at the fabulous Itzik Hagadol Grill, a genuine Israeli restaurant in Encino, so genuine you will think you are in Tel Aviv.  There is a choice of more than 20 Middle Eastern salads, grilled eggplant, skewers of various meats as well as grilled entrees such as beef, lamb and fish.  Most lunches range from $12-18.  Our gracious Israeli friend and co-host, Oren Raz will make the cousin experience more special and interesting.  This is a dining experience not to be missed.

If you decide not to join us for lunch, bring snacks/food that you can eat during our breaks.