When its hot in the Valley and smoggy in the Basin, what's a Canine Angeleno to do?
I say go to Malibu!
And this week's adventure takes us to a classic Malibu romp - Solstice Canyon!
Solstice Canyon Park is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and has a variety of hiking options from an easy stroll through the canyon to some strenuous single tracks up the side of the mountains. On this trip I did the Solstice Canyon Loop Trail, which is actually composed of three different trails and is approximately 3 miles long.
But before I talk about the hike, let's discuss what many Canine Angelenos enjoy just as much as the trail - the car ride there:
If your coming from the L.A. Basin or Ventura County, just take the PCH to get there. I don't think I need to tell anyone how nice it is to stick your head out the window as you cruise down one of the most beautiful roads on the planet. If your coming from the Valley, take the Las Virgenes Rd. exit off the 101 and head South. When you get to the Mulholland Highway, the road becomes Malibu Canyon Rd., an officially designated scenic road that ends at the PCH and is another excellent place to stick your head out and enjoy the smells and scenery.
Solstice Canyon is located about a half mile North of the PCH on Corral Canyon Road. (Thomas Guide 628/C7) there's a free parking lot but you had better get there early if you want a space. If no spaces are available, you can always backtrack to one of the many roadside parking areas near the entrance to the park.
Our hike begins from the parking lot on the Solstice Canyon Trail.
The trail follows a creek for 1.2 miles all the way to Tropical Terrace. Along the way there are ample opportunities to dip your paws and you'll pass the ruins of the Keller House, thought to be the oldest stone structure in Malibu.
Tropical Terrace was the site of an amazing home built in 1952 for the Roberts Family by renowned architect Paul Williams. The home was featured in Architectural Digest Magazine and is the perfect place to take a break, have a snack, and drink up.
SIDE TRIP
When you're at Tropical Terrace, there's a small waterfall that is one of the only year-round falls in the Santa Monica Mountains. Unfortunately for me, dogs are not allowed at the falls so you'll need someone to hold the leash if you plan on checking it out. :(
When you're ready to move on, look for the Rising Sun Trail sign at the Northwest corner of Tropical Terrace. This trail starts climbing right away and is definitely the most strenuous part of this trip. Fortunately, its only about 0.3 miles to reach the crest of the hill and you will be greatly rewarded for your efforts with a spectacular ocean view and a nice breeze.
From here, the trail goes mostly downhill for another 1.25 miles to its intersection with the TRW Loop Trail.
Take a right at the intersection then walk downhill for about half a mile and you'll be back at the parking lot where our adventure began.
FUN FACT (from the National Park Service pamphlet):
Solstice Canyon was an important site of early pioneering space research. Technology laboratories, Inc., a subsidiary of Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge (TRW), rented 10 acres from the Roberts Family from 1961-1973. The site was used to test satellite equipment for space missions, including the Pioneer 12. Solstice Canyon was one of only three places in the world chosen to conduct such tests, due to the lack of man-made or natural disturbances. At the TRW overlook you can see the foundations of the TRW buildings, all that remain after the Corral Fire of 2007.
I hope you enjoy your next trip to Malibu and Solstice Canyon; I sure did.
In my next blog, I'm going to share with you at all the things I look for in a great park and I've devised a rating system to help us understand the best places to visit and areas where some parks could use some improvement. Until then...
I'll see you on the trail!
Chloe Canine-Angeleno
Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:
Afoot & Afield Los Angeles County (Wilderness Press)
Santa Monica Mountains NRA
All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross
Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.
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