7.2 hr
Overview
This loop starts outside the park along Malibu Canyon Road assuming you've found free parking outside Malibu Creek State Park. Take the fun little singletrack Tapia Spur Trail into the park.<br><br>This is followed with an easy ride out along Crags Road to the location for the M*A*S*H outdoor set. There is about a half mile of singletrack along Malibu Creek just before the M*A*S*H set. <br><br>Shortly after the M*A*S*H set, you'll start the long, arduous climb of Bulldog Motorway. Bring plenty of water and prepare for a long grind to the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. Along the way, you'll enjoy sweeping views back into the Malibu State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains.<br><br>Once you reach the top of Bulldog Motorway, turn left onto Castro Peak Motorway and descend to the Corral Canyons Parking area. From there, you can continue following this loop along the Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Trailhead to Tapia Trailhead which initially is a steep but rewarding climb on a rutted, wind-formed, very grippy rock formation. The reward for this climb is a short descent of the same rock formation. <br><br>After that, the Backbone Trail joins the Mesa Peak Motorway for most of the descent down to Malibu Canyon Road. The last mile of the Backbone Trail is a steep, twisting singletrack descent. Enjoy, but watch for hikers. A short segment along Malibu Canyon Road completes the loop.<br><br>If you don't like the looks of the rock formation at the start of the Backbone Trail, you can continue a quarter mile on Castro Peak Motorway and then turn left onto the Upper Mesa Peak Motorway section which soon joins the route for the Backbone Trail.
Trail Stats
23.5 km
812 m
729 m
142 m
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Photos
Ride park road to trailhead
Ride park road to trailhead
MASH relic.
MASH relic.
Views from Mesa Peak Motorway/Backbone Trail.
Views from Mesa Peak Motorway/Backbone Trail.
Wide track section
Wide track section
Looking toward Contury reservoir... you can swim there.
Looking toward Contury reservoir... you can swim there.
The Pacific Ocean from the Backbone Trail
The Pacific Ocean from the Backbone Trail
Corral Canyon Park, Malibu.
Corral Canyon Park, Malibu.
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
M.A.S.H. Set - Malibu Creek State Park.
M.A.S.H. Set - Malibu Creek State Park.
Start of some singletrack
Start of some singletrack
Crags-Bulldog-Mesa Peak.
Crags-Bulldog-Mesa Peak.
Looking out at the view from the Puerco Motorway
Looking out at the view from the Puerco Motorway
Half way up climb...
Half way up climb...
Looking up at the Castro Crest from the Corral Canyon rock slabs
Looking up at the Castro Crest from the Corral Canyon rock slabs
fire road..
fire road..
Crags-Bulldog-Mesa Peak.
Crags-Bulldog-Mesa Peak.
The entrance to Bulldog Motorway
The entrance to Bulldog Motorway
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Malibu State Park in the early winter
Looking back from the peak. Well earned view.
Looking back from the peak. Well earned view.
Corral Canyon
Corral Canyon
MASH film site
MASH film site
Corral Canyon rock formations
Corral Canyon rock formations