Red Rock’s Trail With Many Colors

Hooray for the red, white and blue in the Santa Monica Mountains. Views of towering red rocks and white-and blue-hued ceanothus stir the heart and stimulate the senses on the trail to Red Rock Canyon Park west of Topanga Canyon.

Huge sandstone formations record a complex history of river-deposited rock that has been folded, faulted and sculpted by wind and water.

The tan, red and pale purple rocks are joined by wildflowers in the spring. Hikers can look for cliff aster, clarkia, golden bush and other blooms on the canyon walls near the trail.

Red Rock Canyon is between Topanga and Malibu Creek state parks. Oaks and sycamores occupy the bottom of the gorge, which ecologists consider a special microhabitat because it acts as a wildlife corridor linking the neighboring parklands.

Angelenos seeking the country life began building homes in Red Rock Canyon in 1906. One early resident, James Slauson, willed 80 acres to the Boy Scouts of America. Camp Slauson was a popular weekend Scout area for years. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy purchased the property in 1986 and opened it to the public as Red Rock Canyon Park. It has drinking fountains and a small picnic area but otherwise is undeveloped.

The easiest way to reach the park is to drive, but then you’d miss some exercise and a fine hike.

Directions to trail head: From U.S. 101 (the Ventura Freeway) in Woodland Hills, exit on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and head south a mile to Mulholland Highway. Turn west (right) and proceed six miles. As Mulholland curves west, turn east (left) on Stunt Road and travel one mile to a large turnout on the right side of the road at mile marker 1.0. The route, a gated fire road called Calabasas Peak Trail, begins on the opposite side of the road.

The hike: Walk up the fire road across chaparral-blanketed slopes dominated by toyon, laurel sumac, mountain mahogany and ceanothus. These larger shrubs are joined by smaller ones, including buckwheat, black sage, bush sunflowers and sagebrush.

After a 0.75-mile ascent, the Calabasas Peak fire road comes to a saddle and junction. The left fork is a continuation of the road and leads to some fascinating rock formations and Calabasas Peak. Take the right fork and begin a 0.75-mile descent on Red Rock Canyon Trail. The canyon narrows and appears more and more intriguing as you near the bottom.

At the 1.5-mile mark, Red Rock Canyon Trail offers an interesting option. A footpath crosses a trickle of a creek and climbs into the rock formations on the north wall of the canyon. It’s a fun detour if the day isn’t too hot.

The main trail continues along the canyon bottom another half-mile to the heart of Red Rock Canyon Park. It’s worth extending your hike with a short stroll among the impressive rocks stacked along the dirt segment of the park’s western entry road.

To reach the park entrance by car, exit U.S. 101 in Woodland Hills on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and head south a mile to Mulholland Highway. Turn west (right) and drive 2.2 miles to Old Topanga Canyon Road. Turn south (left) and go 3.6 miles, then turn west (right) onto Red Rock Road. It’s 0.8 mile to Red Rock Canyon Park; the last 0.2 mile is unpaved.

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For more of John McKinney’s tips, visit https://www.thetrailmaster.com.

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Calabasas Peak, Red Rock Canyon Trails WHERE: Red Rock Canyon Park

DISTANCE: Four miles round trip with 600-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Dramatic sandstone gorge, riparian canyon bottom.

HIGHLIGHTS: Red sandstone gorge; wildflowers in spring.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Easy to moderate.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, tel. (310) 589-3200; Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. tel. (310) 589-3230.