Page Type Page Type: Mountain/Rock
Location Lat/Lon: 34.07810°N / 118.6544°W
Activities Activities: Hiking
Seasons Season: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Additional Information Elevation: 2805 ft / 855 m
Sign the Climber's Log

Overview

GPS track to Saddle PeakGPS Track of Route

Trail down from Saddle PeakOne of the neat rock sections on the way down.

This peak offers beautiful, panoramic views of the Malibu Mountains. It can be accessed via the Backbone trail from either Malibu Canyon Road or Stunt Road. From The Malibu Canyon Trailhead it is approximately 5 miles to the summit, from Stunt Road it is only 3.

If you are camping at Malibu Creek State Park, you can take the Tapia Spur Trail from the group campsites directly to the backbone trail (0.7 miles).

The hike to this peak can be combined with the entire Backbone trail. There is a shuttle by the national park system that can shuttle you from one end ot the backbone trail to the other for only $1. A very convenient way to do a hike that usually requires a car drop. However, the shuttle does not go to Stunt Road so this segment of the backbone does not lend itself to the use of this shuttle.

"The Backbone Trail is a network of trails that crosses the Santa Monica Mountains along the ridge. You can experience hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking on most of this trail.

Using the ParkLINK Shuttle, you can embark on a 13 mile strenuous one way hike that crosses from Newton Canyon, to Castro Crest, through Malibu Creek State Park, and Piuma Parking Lot or the reverse."

Getting There

From 101 Freeway:
Backbone Trailhead:
Take the 101 North from LA to Las Virgenes Road Exit near Malibu. Drive south along Las Virgenes, past Mulholland Highway at which point Las Virgenes turns into Malibu Canyon Road. Drive approx. 2 miles to the Backbone tailhead parking on the right just past Tapia Park, near the Water Reclamation Facility.

Stunt Road Trailhead:,
As for the Backbone trail, take the 101 North from LA to Las Virgenes Road Exit near Malibu. Drive south along Las Virgenes and turn left on Mulholland Highway. Drive approx. 5 miles, take a right on Stunt Road and the trail intersects the road just past the 1.00 Mile Marker at a "pull out". The trail intersects the road again at 2.9 miles. The quickest way to the peak is at 3.99 mile point where the 3 roads join. You can hike directly up the bank at the intersection up past the water tank and on to the summit.

From Pacific Coast Freeway:
You can also take the PCH just north of Mailbu and take the Malibu Canyon Road towards Pepperdine University. Drive North to either the Backbone trail head or Hulholland Highway and follow the directions above to Stunt Road Trailhead.

Red Tape

None:

Camping

The most convenient place to camp is at Malibu Creek State Park Campground. It is located near Hulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road, just 25 miles from downtown LA. Here is a MAP.

There are 15 miles of streamside trail through oak and sycamore woodlands an chaparral-covered slopes.

Twenty-five-mile Malibu Creek in the park is the principal water-course of the Santa Monica Mountains - from Boney Mountain to Malibu Lagoon.

The park was the center of Chumash Native American life for centuries and was once used to film numerous movies and TV shows, such as Planet of the Apes and M*A*S*H.

Reservations are usually required and can be made at www.reserveamerica.com

Other Information

USGS Topo Maps:
o341186.tif Malibu Beach 7.5

GPS Corrdinates

External Links

  • http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/SaddlePeak_4472.asp


  • Malibu Creek State Park Campground


  • Zoomable Map centered on Malibu Creek Campground


  • www.reserveamerica.com

  • Weather for Malibu Creek State Park


  • Information from www.NPS.org on the Backbone Trail (incl. Maps)