Corral Canyon Road Malibu
Hiking Distance: 3.6-Mile Loop Hiking Time: 2 Hours
Configuration: Loop
Elevation Gain: 400 Feet
Difficulty: Easy To Moderate
Exposure: Exposed Hills And Shaded Canyon
Dogs: Allowed
Maps: U.S.G.S. Point Dume And Malibu Beach N.P.S. Solstice Canyon Map Tom Harrison Maps: Malibu Creek State Park Trail Map
Solstice Canyon Park Is A 550-Acre Park Located Along A Coastal Watershed Between Malibu Canyon And Point Dume. Solstice Creek, A Perennial Stream, Forms On The Southern Slope Of Castro Crest To The North And Flows Down The Coastal Canyon, Emptying Into The Ocean At Dan Blocker State Beach. A Dense Canopy Of Live Oaks, White Alders, California Bay, Walnut, Giant Sycamores, And A Few Rare Coast Redwoods Shade The Pastoral Canyon.
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The Solstice Canyon Trail Follows The Canyon Floor Along Solstice Creek To Tropical Terrace, The Site Of A 1950s Ranch-Style Home That Was Destroyed By Fire In 1982. Tropical Terrace Is Set Along The Creek In A Jungle-Like Setting By A Lush Rock Grotto. Within The Grotto Are Cascades That Tumble Over Huge Sandstone Boulders, Rock-Lined Pools, And Waterfalls. The House Foundation, Stone Courtyard, Giant Fireplace, Flagstone Steps, And Stone Terraces Still Remain, Surrounded By An Exotic Garden With Palms, Bamboo, Philodendrons, Birds-Of-Paradise, Ivy-Laced Pines, Banana Trees, And Maidenhair Ferns.
This Hike Heads Up To Tropical Terrace On The East Wall Of Solstice Canyon Along The Rising Sun Trail, An Undulating Path That Overlooks The Lush Canyon And The Ocean. The Hike Returns Along The Canyon Floor Parallel To Solstice Creek Through The Shade Of The Forest. En Route, The Trail Passes Grassy Meadows, Picnic Areas, And The Matthew Keller House, A River-Rock Structure That Is Claimed To Be The Oldest Stone House In Malibu.
To The Trailhead
From Santa Monica, Drive 14.3 Miles Northbound On The Pacific Coast Highway/Highway 1 To Corral Canyon Road And Turn Right. (Corral Canyon Road Is Located 2.5 Miles West Of Malibu Canyon Road And 3.5 Miles East Of Kanan Dume Road.) Continue 0.2 Miles To The Gated Entrance On The Left.
Turn Left, Entering The Park, And Drive 0.3 Miles To The Parking Lot At Road’S End.
The Hike
Hike North Up The Steps Past The Trw Trailhead Sign. Wind Up The Hillside To A Service Road. Take The Road Uphill To The Right To The Trw Buildings, Now Home Of The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The Rising Sun Trail Begins To The Right Of The Second Building. Long, Wide Switchbacks Lead Up To The East Ridge Of Solstice Canyon. Follow The Ridge North Towards The Back Of The Canyon, And Descend Through Lush Vegetation. At The Canyon Floor, Cross The Creek To The Ruins. Take The Path Upstream To The Waterfalls And Pools That Are Just Past The Terrace.
After Exploring, Return On The Service Road Parallel To Solstice Creek. A Half Mile Down Canyon Is The Keller House, A Stone Cottage Built In 1865.
Bear Left At A Road Split, Cross A Wooden Bridge, And Return To The Trailhead.
Corral Canyon Road Malibu
Hiking Distance: 6.2 Miles Round Trip Hiking Time: 3 Hours Configuration: Out-And-Back With Loop Elevation Gain: 1,100 Feet Difficulty: Moderate
Exposure: Shaded Canyon And Exposed Hills Dogs: Allowed
Maps: U.S.G.S. Point Dume N.P.S. Solstice Canyon Map Tom Harrison Maps: Malibu Creek State Park Trail Map
Solstice Canyon Park, Formerly The 550-Acre Roberts Ranch, Was Purchased By The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy And Transformed Into Public Parkland. It Was Opened On June 21, 1988 The Summer Solstice. Five Hiking, Biking, And Equestrian Trails Weave Through The Canyon Park. This Hike, The Sostomo-Deer Valley Loop, Ascends The West Wall Of Solstice Canyon To A 1,200-Foot Grassy Ridge At The Preserve’S North End. Sweeping Vistas From The Grassy Flat Above Point Dume Extend Across Santa Monica Bay. En Route To The Flat, The Trail Winds Through Chaparral And Coastal Sage, With Stream Crossings, Oak Woodlands, And Grassy Meadows. The Sostomo-Deer Valley Loop Is Accessed By The Solstice Canyon Trail (Hike 109), Which Follows Solstice Creek Along The Canyon Floor Through Meadows, Picnic Areas, And Groves Of Oak And Walnut. The Trail Leads Past The Historic Keller House, A Stone Building Dating Back To 1865.
To The Trailhead
From Santa Monica, Drive 14.3 Miles Northbound On The Pacific Coast Highway/Highway 1 To Corral Canyon Road And Turn Right. (Corral Canyon Road Is Located 2.5 Miles West Of Malibu Canyon Road And 3.5 Miles East Of Kanan Dume Road.) Continue 0.2 Miles To The Gated Entrance On The Left. Turn Left, Entering The Park, And Drive 0.3 Miles To The Parking Lot At Road’S End.
Take The Posted Solstice Canyon Trail, And Follow The Paved Road Under Sycamore Trees Alongside The Creek. Cross A Wood Bridge To The West Side Of The Creek At 0.2 Miles. Continue Up Canyon Past The Historic Keller House. Just Beyond The House Is A Trail Split. The Right Fork Leaves The Main Road And Meanders Through An Oak Grove, Crossing The Creek Twice Before Rejoining The Road. At 1.2 Miles, Just Shy Of Tropical Terrace, Is The Posted Sostomo Trail.
Bear Left On The Footpath And Begin Ascending The West Canyon Wall. Climb At A Moderate Grade To Magnificent Views Of Solstice Canyon. Rock Hop Over The Creek In A Narrow Gorge. Wind Up The Canyon Wall, Passing The Remnants Of A Home And Chimney. At The Head Of The Canyon Is A Towering Sedimentary Rock Monolith. The Trail Skirts The Park Boundary And Curves Left Before Reaching The Spectacular Outcropping. Cross The Creek Again, Passing The Shell Of A Sturdy Rock House. Climb To A Junction With The Deer Valley Loop. Begin The Loop To The Right, Leading To An Open, Grassy Flat Where The Trail Levels Off. At An Unpaved Road, Bear Left For 50 Yards And Return To The Footpath On The Left. The Sweeping Coastal Views Extend Across Santa Monica Bay, Including A Bird’S-Eye View Of Point Dume. Switchback Sharply Left At The Trail Sign, And Return On The Lower Loop. The Rising Sun Trail (Hike 109) Can Be Seen Across The Canyon. Complete The Loop And Return By Re Tracing Your Steps.
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