12/02/2008 Revision

Hiking the Trail

Here is a suggested grouping of the hikes on the Backbone Trail going from western end (Point Mugu State Park) to the eastern end (Will Rogers State Historic Park) along with mileage and some trail info. Usually it’s best to meet at the end point of the hike and carpool to the beginning trailhead. At the conclusion, drive the carpool drivers back to their cars. Allow half hour per mile plus time for lunches, rest stops and carpooling back to the trailhead parking in your calculations.

Because of the lack of good signage on the trail, you will find it much easier if you hike with a GPS unit and use our 2008 GPS west/east coordinates. This has trail intersections and waypoints.

 

BBT # 1 - Ray Miller Trail to Danielson Ranch
(8.1 miles + hike out from Danielson Ranch if needed).

There are two options:
1. Meet at Pt. Mugu State Park day use area. Carpool to La Jolla Canyon (parking fees at both sites). Start Backbone Trail at Ray MillerTrailhead and hike to Danielson Ranch. Hike out from Danielson Ranch to Pt. Mugu day use area (about 5 miles) on Sycamore Canyon Trail. Take carpool drivers back to La Jolla Canyon parking.
2. Meet at Rancho Sierra Vista main parking lot and shuttle to La Jolla Canyon parking (parking fee). Start Backbone Trail at Ray Miller Trailhead. Hike to Danielson Ranch. Hike out from Danielson Ranch along Sycamore Canyon Trail to Rancho Sierra Vista parking area (about 3 miles, including a very steep uphill out of the canyon). Return shuttle drivers to La Jolla Canyon.

BBT # 2 - Danielson Ranch to Circle X Ranch (Sandstone Peak parking area)
(8.6 miles + hike in or out from Danielson)

You can either hike uphill from Danielson Ranch or downhill from Circle X Ranch. Either way you have to plan for your access to Danielson as noted above and arrange your shuttle from or to Sandstone Peak parking area (mile marker 6.37 on Yerba Buena Rd).

BBT #3 - Circle X (Sandstone Peak parking area) to Yerba Buena Rd past Triumfo Peak
(5.5 miles)

There is very limited parking near the end point of the hike (Yerba Buena mile marker 9.10). You can park a few cars at road side across from the houses, before the sharp right turn just west of mile marker 9.10 where the hike will end. Carpool to the Sandstone Peak Parking Area (Yerba Buena Rd mile marker 6.37) to start this hike.

The next few miles of the trail are currently under construction, Pick up the trail again at mile marker 5.2 on Mulholland Highway.

BBT # 4 - Mulholland Hwy to the Backbone Trail/Kanan Road Parking Area
(6.5 miles)

Meet at the parking lot on Kanan Road north of Tunnel 1. This section of the trail involves several interconnecting and mostly unmarked trails. Good recent maps are very helpful on this one (or take someone along who’s done the hike). To start hiking, shuttle from the Kanan parking area north of Tunnel 1 to trailhead on Mulholland Hwy. near mile marker 5.2. Right now, you’ll have to try to find parking where you can on the side of the road and walk back to the driveway on the south side with the chain across it. Walk up the driveway. Trail starts at end of driveway.

BBT # 5 - Backbone Trail/Kanan Road Parking Area through Newton Canyon and Latigo Canyons to Parking Area at end of Corral Canyon Road
(6.9 miles)

Meet at the parking area at the end of Corral Canyon Road for shuttle to Backbone Trail/Kanan parking north of Tunnel 1.  The trail goes up and over tunnel 1 and then goes up and down through these canyons and ends in the parking area at the top of Corral Canyon.

BBT #6 - Top of Corral Canyon to Malibu Canyon Rd.
(6 miles)

Meet at Backbone Trail/Malibu Canyon parking area (l/4 mile south of Piuma Road on Malibu Canyon Road, parking fee). Shuttle to parking area at end of Corral Canyon Road. The trail starts there through the jumble of rocks east of the parking area, but it is hard to find.  If you can’t find it, you can also walk back down Corral Canyon Rd to mile marker .23 where you can pick up the Mesa Peak fire road to continue this mostly downhill section of the Backbone Trail.

BBT # 7 - Malibu Canyon to confluence of Stunt, Scheuren and Saddle Peak Rds
(7.9 miles)

Meet at the small streetside parking area at the junction of Scheuren, Stunt, and Saddle Peak Roads. Parking there is very limited. (Additional parking is available on the dirt pull-off on the north side of Stunt Rd near mile marker 3.99). Shuttle to the Backbone Trail/Malibu Canyon parking area described in Hike # 6. Walk north on Malibu Canyon Rd (across the bridge), to the signal at Piuma Road. Walk east on Piuma Rd about .3 mile to the trailhead on your right by the telephone pole. In about two miles you’ll cross Piuma Rd again and continue to follow this uphill trail to its final exit at mile marker 3.99 on Stunt Road. Walk up Stunt Rd to parking area.

BBT # 8 - Stunt, Scheuren & Saddle Peak Rds to Topanga State Park
(7 miles)

Meet at Trippet Ranch parking area at Topanga State Park (parking fee) for shuttle to the gated junction of Scheuren, Stunt, and Saddle Peak Roads. Start by walking the paved road east a very short distance to the Fossil trail on your right, then continue down through Hondo Canyon across Old Topanga Canyon Blvd around Topanga School to Topanga Blvd. Cross the street and continue up to the Dead Horse parking lot where you pick up the Dead Horse Trail to take you back to your parking area.

BBT # 9 - Topanga State Park to Will Rogers State Historic Park
(11 miles)

Meet at Will Rogers State Historic Park for shuttle to Topanga State Park. This hike will be long, but mostly downhill. At Topanga State Park, hike the trail through Musch Camp to the signed Eagle Junction. At this point you can choose the Eagle Springs trail to the Hub on Temescal Fire Road or take the more scenic Eagle Rock Trail to the Hub. Upon reaching the Hub, hike south on Temescal Fire Road to the sign on the left for the single track trail marked Rogers Road Trail which takes you to Will Rogers State Historic Park. There are parking fees at both Will Rogers State Historic Park and Topanga State Park.