Sampling the Springtime at Point Mugu

Ringed by ridges, the native grassland of La Jolla Valley welcomes the hiker with its drifts of oaks and its peaceful pond.

La Jolla Valley Loop Trail passes a small waterfall and tours the beautiful grasslands of the valley. Spring has sprung early at Point Mugu State Park, and wildflowers and numerous coastal shrubs are in bloom. This is a trail that smells as good as it looks.

Directions to trailhead: Drive about 30 miles up the coast on Pacific Coast Highway from Santa Monica (21 miles up from Malibu Canyon Road if you’re coming from the Ventura Freeway and the San Fernando Valley). The turnoff is 1.5 miles north of Big Sycamore Canyon Trailhead, which is also part of Point Mugu State Park. From the turnoff, bear right to the parking area. The signed trailhead, near an interpretive display, is at a fire road that leads into the canyon.

The hike: The fire road heads north up the canyon along the stream bed. As the canyon narrows, some tiny waterfalls come into view. Past the falls, the trail passes some giant coreopsis plants. In early spring the coreopsis, also known as the tree sunflower, sprouts large yellow blossoms. As you ascend through La Jolla Canyon on La Jolla Canyon Trail, you’ll notice the dainty blue and white blossoms of the ceanothus. Even the chamise has temporarily abandoned its fit-only-for-firewood appearance and added its snowy white blossoms to the spring tableau. Pause to take in the sight (and pungent smell!) of the black sage with its light-blue flowers and hummingbird sage with its crimson flowers.

At the first trail junction, bear right on the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. In a little less than half a mile, you’ll arrive at another junction. Leave the main trail and you will descend the short distance to a lovely cattail pond. The pond is a nesting place for a variety of birds including the redwing blackbird. Ducks and coots paddle the perimeter.

Returning to the main trail, you’ll skirt the east end of La Jolla Valley, enjoy an overview of waving grasses and intersect a “T” junction. To the right, .7 mile away, is Deer Camp Junction, which provides access to trails leading to Sycamore Canyon and numerous other destinations in the state park. Bear left and in half a mile you’ll arrive at La Jolla Valley Camp. The camp, sheltered by oaks and equipped with piped water and tables, is an ideal picnic spot. The valley is a nice place to spend a day. You can snooze in the sun, watch for deer, or perhaps stalk the rare and elusive chocolate lily, known as the Cleopatra of the lily family--the darkest and the loveliest.

After leaving the camp, you could turn left on a short connector trail that skirts the pond and takes you back to La Jolla Valley Loop Trail, where you retrace your steps on that trail and La Jolla Canyon Trail.

To complete the circle on La Jolla Valley Loop Trail, however, continue a half mile past the campground to a signed junction where you’ll bear left and follow a connector trail back to La Jolla Canyon Trail.

Those wishing to extend their day hike a few miles may make a longer loop back to the trailhead via Chumash Trail and Mugu Peak Trail. Splendid views of the ocean and the Channel Islands reward the hiker from Mugu Peak Trail, which contours around the prickly pear and yucca-covered slopes of 1,266-foot Mugu Peak.

MEANDERINGS

Ray Miller Trailhead--Visitors to La Jolla Canyon in Point Mugu State Park will surely notice the newly-named Ray Miller Trailhead. The trailhead sign is a tribute to volunteer ranger Ray Miller, who was recently honored by state park employees for his many years of dedicated service. The septuagenarian Miller is stationed at the trailhead that now bears his name. When you visit La Jolla Canyon, ask him for a trails map and hiking hints.

Curse of the Chumash?--Hikers with an interest in the Santa Monica Mountains and readers who like the horror genre will enjoy the novel “Chumash” (Leisure Books, $3.95) by Gary Thompson. The setting is Mugu State Park, where strange lights appear in the sky, park visitors are dismembered, and things go bump in the night. Ranger Robert Guimot tries to save the Santa Monica Mountains from vengeful Chumash Indian spirits angry at park planners, subdividers and careless campers. Thompson has a kind of Stephen King style, though in many passages he keeps his tongue firmly in cheek. The author, reportedly a former Point Mugu State Park employee, delivers a modern ecology parable in entertaining fashion.

La Jolla Valley Loop Trail

Seven miles round trip; 700-foot elevation gain.