Lost Cabin Trail
in Malibu Creek State Park
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Lost Cabin Trail is a 0.75-mile long dead-end single track departing from Crags Road near the location where the MASH television show was filmed. The trail ends in a mountain canyon at an empty plot where a cabin once stood. Though there is no longer evidence of the cabin’s existence, the trek still offers hikers immersion into a remote section of Malibu Creek State Park behind the Goat Buttes. While the views are not so sensational as to attract a lot of hikers, Lost Cabin Trail provides a pleasant 1.5-mile extension to the MASH site hike for those looking to get a bit more out of their visit to the park.
Rustic terrain along Lost Cabin Trail
From Crags Road, a couple hundred feet east of the MASH site (and 2.35 miles from the park entrance), turn southwest on a narrow track labeled Lost Cabin Trail. After a short distance, the trail ascends to a saddle in a low ridge. From here, there is a nice view up and down the range. Lost Cabin Trail continues over the ridge into a fan-shaped mountain canyon. Descend the slope along the left side of the canyon, before crossing the creek bed, and coming to a sudden stop at the site of the Lost Cabin.
Mountains above the Lost Cabin site
There is actually a posted sign declaring that the trail is over, which is the only indication that you have arrived at the location of the now-vanished cabin. The trail becomes faint and harder to follow toward the end, and since the Lost Cabin site is so anticlimactic, if you decide to turn around early, you won’t be missing much.
The Lost Cabin site at the end of the trail
This is a dead-end trail, with no junctions along the way. After reaching the Lost Cabin, return the way to came for a 1.5-mile extension with 190 feet of elevation between Crags Road and the highpoint of the trail.
To get to Lost Cabin Trail: Hike in to the former MASH set along Crags Road, from any of the access points to Malibu Creek State Park, including South Grassland Trail, Cistern Trail, and the main park entrance.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
Nearby Trails
 | M*A*S*H Set This hike visits the site where the exteriors of the television show MASH were filmed, a 4.75-mile trek from the park entrance. |
 | Cistern, Lookout, and Cage Creek Trails This team of single tracks make a scenic descent to Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park, providing a short loop or longer hikes to other destinations. |
 | Lake Vista Trail This 4.1-mile hike crosses the west end of Malibu Creek State Park and climbs to a scenic view over Malibu Lake. |
 | Grassland Trail to Crags Road and Rock Pool This easy 3-mile hike enters Malibu Creek State Park on South Grassland Trail, then forms a loop around Crags Road to visit Rock Pool, a popular park retreat. |
 | Talepop Loop This 4.75-mile hike climbs 500 feet over a scenic mountain between Liberty Canyon and Las Virgenes Canyon. |
 | Malibu Creek Traverse This adventure hike explores the C-shaped gorge between Rock Pool and Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park. |
 | More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Camping
 | Malibu Creek State Park The year-round campground has 63 sites with picnic tables, fire rings, flush toilets, coin showers, and a dump station. |
Add to trails I’ve hikedAdd to trails I want to hike Distance: 1.5 miles – Elevation Change: 190 feet
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