An excruciating five-mile ascent on
an exposed ridgeline, followed by a long, pleasant ramble in a cool canyon.
Location: Santa Monica
Mountains Region: Pacific Palisades/Santa Monica Mountains Distance: 10.0 mi. Difficulty: Difficult When to go: October through June Hours: None Phone: 805-370-2301 Elevation Gain: 2,500 ft. Are dogs allowed: Yes, on a leash. Restrooms: None Parking: Free street parking. Two-car shuttle required.
Trail Information
Full Review: Believe it or not, finding
parking is not the most painful part of this hike. After the first few miles
of unrelenting uphill on the exposed ridge that separates Rustic and
Sullivan canyons, you'll understand that the real pain is rounding a corner
after a tough hill, only to see another climb ahead. Stick with it, though,
and you'll end up strolling along the breezy base of Sullivan Canyon, where
oaks and sycamores hang overhead, shading you all the way home. Note to
trail runners: This makes a perfect Sunday morning run.
From your parking spot on Amalfi, walk back to Capri and take it uphill to
the end. Turn left here and follow the road as it turns to dirt and takes
you past some beautiful homes to a paved trailhead. This is your starting
point. Unfortunately, the pavement lasts for quite some time. After a while
you'll see the entrance to Camp Josepho. Take the fire road on the right of
the camp entrance, past the gate, and follow it uphill - this is where the
incline starts to get nasty. As you climb, stop every once in a while to
appreciate the canyon views on both sides of the ridge. The trail takes you
around hills and between the canyons for a few more miles.
When you reach a broad clearing, look for a trail leading down into Sullivan
Canyon on the right. It's not marked, but you'll know it by the scrawny tree
that someone planted there, with a sign requesting visitors to water it. (A
word of warning: Mountain bikers love this canyon, too. Keep an eye out for
fat-tire speedsters or you run the risk of being flattened.) Follow this
trail down into the canyon and stay on it until it ends at a gate. To the
left of the gate is a paved road that takes you up to Bayliss Rd., and your
car.
This website is sponsored by Cox Communications,
Orange County. Cox
Communications does not however endorse the above events or links. To ensure
proper delivery
of the OCnow Newsletter to your inbox (not bulk or junk folders), please add
OCnow@updates.cox.com to your address book.
Rest
assured, your privacy and satisfaction are
our top concerns.
Review our
privacy policy and
visitor agreement. Copyright 2009 OCnow.com.
All rights reserved.
If
you’re looking for mountain biking trails...
it’s all right here where you live
and play.
