Hike Point Mugu State Park’s Sycamore Canyon — to stunning ocean views

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Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park, off Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, has dramatic ocean views but little shade. Bring a hat, sunscreen and water.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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A jog at Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park includes a moderate climb through switchbacks and a series of breathtaking ocean views.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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Point Mugu State Park’s trails stretch for dozens of miles in the Santa Monica Mountains and make for a moderately difficult hike.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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The state park system says Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park features the finest example of sycamore savanna in California.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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Enjoy ocean breezes and beach views at Point Mugu State Park’s Sycamore Canyon.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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Campers relax in Point Mugu State Park with a picnic and music. The Sycamore Canyon Campground offers some shade.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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Cacti and other vegetation abounds at Point Mugu State Park.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

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A walk in Point Mugu State Park’s Sycamore Canyon offers just a hint of the massive park acreage in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times)

By Charles Fleming

Sept. 8, 2018 5 AM PT

Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park boasts dozens of miles of hiking and biking trails in what the state park system calls the finest example of sycamore savanna in California.

This walk is only a hint of the massive park acreage in the Santa Monica Mountains, but it will serve as a great introduction, offering a gentle canyon approach, a moderate climb through switchbacks and a series of breathtaking ocean views.

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It doesn’t afford much shade, however, so wear a good hat and lots of sunscreen, and make sure to stay well hydrated.

1. Begin this walk from the parking lot at Sycamore Canyon Campground, on the eastern side of Pacific Coast Highway, about 16 miles north of Mulholland Highway. Walk on paved road past the campsites, then pass a wide yellow gate onto unpaved Sycamore Canyon Fire Road.

2. At about three-quarters of a mile, or roughly 20 minutes, turn left onto the well-marked Overlook Fire Road. Take a series of switchbacks as they climb up the canyon.

3. Near the crest, watch for signs on the left for Scenic Trail as it angles slightly downhill from Overlook Fire Road.

4. Descending, enjoy ocean breezes and beach views, including a look near the cliffs down the Great Sand Dune onto PCH. Stay right for a spur trail that climbs a little farther for even better views, then follow Scenic as it leads back down into the canyon.

5. Scenic Trail meets Sycamore Canyon Fire Road again just above the campground. Turn right and wind your way back to the starting point.

Fleming is the author of “Secret Stairs: A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.” Each month, he leads a free walk at one of his favorite spots in Southern California. Find out more at his Facebook page, Secret Stairs. He is on Twitter @misterfleming

STATS

Distance: 3 miles round trip

Difficulty: 3 on a scale of 1 to 5

Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Details: Free parking on PCH. Paid parking $3 per hour inside campground. OK for bicycles; no dogs allowed. Wheelchair accessible areas.

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Charles Fleming

Charles Fleming writes about automobiles and motorcycles for the Los Angeles Times’ Business section. He also writes the urban hiking column LA Walks. A former staff writer for Newsweek, Variety and the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, he is the author of the Los Angeles Times bestseller “High Concept: Don Simpson and the Hollywood Culture of Excess,” the New York Times bestseller “My Lobotomy,” and “Secret Stairs, A Walking Guide to the Historic Staircases of Los Angeles” and its sequel, “Secret Walks: A Walking Guide to the Hidden Trails of Los Angeles.”

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