Wildflowers and Waterfalls in Arroyo Sequit Park

Wildflowers, waterfalls and a weekend walk to remember are the attractions of Arroyo Sequit Park, a gem of a little preserve located just off Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Hikers can experience the park’s considerable charms via a figure-eight trail system that loops through open meadows and dips in and out of a gorge cut by the east fork of Arroyo Sequit. Along the way are grand views of Boney Mountain, the western sentinel of the Santa Monicas.

Ever since this former ranch was purchased by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and a park was created in the mid-1980s, Arroyo Sequit has received relatively few visitors. The weekend-only visitation rule, designed to protect the treasure trove of flowering plants that festoon the park’s 155 acres, is one reason for its obscurity. Another is its isolation from other parks. Long-planned trails intended to link the park with nearby National Park Service properties such as Malibu Springs and Circle X Ranch have never gotten off the drawing board. Should the park ever be connected by trail to surrounding destinations, Arroyo Sequit will emerge as a compelling destination or superb trail head.

For now at least, Arroyo Sequit is a family-friendly destination for a nature walk and a picnic. Visit in winter after a rainstorm to view the park’s small waterfalls or take a hike in spring to marvel at the many wildflowers.

“The loop around Arroyo Sequit is one of my favorite wildflower hikes,” says Milt McAuley, author of the definitive guide “Wildflowers of the Santa Monica Mountains” (Canyon Publishing Co., $19.95).

About 50 to 75 species of flowers bloom during the spring, the author-naturalist reports. They include lupine, monkey flowers, owl’s clover and thickets of California roses.

Directions to the trail head: From Pacific Coast Highway, just up-coast from Leo Carrillo State Park on the Los Angeles-Ventura County line, drive north and then west on Mulholland Highway 5.6 miles. Turn right (south) at the Arroyo Sequit entry gate and park in the lot. Those journeying from the San Fernando Valley side of the mountains may exit the Ventura Freeway onto Westlake Boulevard in Westlake Village, and head south to Mulholland Highway, continuing south, then west on Mulholland to the park.

The hike: Follow the paved road a quarter mile to a ranch house (now a caretaker’s residence) and an old barn. Join the signed path that soon crosses a meadow and leads to the rim of the canyon. Savor the particularly dramatic view of Boney Mountain.

The trail descends rather steeply, with the help of some switchbacks, to the bottom of Arroyo Sequit. The trail crosses and recrosses the creek a couple of times as it follows the canyon bottom. Just when it seems as if this hike is about to dead-end in a canyon, the path crosses the creek a final time and begins climbing the wall of the gorge.

The moderately steep but well-graded trail returns you to the top of the gorge, then heads west to the park’s picnic area. Continue on the trail back to the paved road and then on to the parking area.

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Arroyo Sequit Trail

WHERE: Arroyo Sequit Park

DISTANCE: 2-mile loop with 200-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Meadows, canyon of Arroyo Sequit.

HIGHLIGHTS: SEasonal, sometimes spectacular wildflower displays, waterfalls.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; tel. (310) 858-7272.