Lower Canyonback Trail
in the Santa Monica Mountains
Loading ... 
Lower Canyonback Trail crosses Canyonback Ridge between Brentwood and a development of estate homes built along the ridge. The trail offers views of west Los Angeles, Santa Monica Bay, and neighboring ridges in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Getty Museum to the east is also in view and on the same plane with trail. From the top of Kenter Ave to Mountain Gate Country Club Estates is 4.2 miles round trip. Also, hiking the full length of the ridge through the development and across Upper Canyonback Trail to Mulholland Drive is an 8-miles round trip trek.
Like the neighboring ridges in the Big Wild (Westridge, Sullivan Ridge, and Temescal Ridge), there is both a fire road and a single-track trail ascending the ridge. The fire road is gradual, while the trail has steeper sections and offers more dramatic views. Lower Canyonback Trail is much like Upper Canyonback Trail with a couple of exceptions. The freeway sound is not present, but a high-voltage powerline is. The trail shares the ridge with heavyweight lines that obscure the view somewhat and give off a distracting buzzing sound at times.
Looking up Canyonback Ridge
Begin by hiking through the forbidding looking black gate at the top of Kenter Ave. Beyond the gate, the pavement turns left, meeting a gravel road that continues up the ridge. Turn right here and follow the fire road parallel with the power lines. Cross over a rise in the ridge and pass the first of two municipal water tanks.
The road gains elevation, swinging sharply through a hairpin turn. When the road turns back to the east, a narrow trail breaks off to the left, climbing up the ridge to a bench placed in the shade of a Coastal Live Oak (one of the few shaded areas on either route). The trail continues up along the ridge and eventually rejoins the fire road.
Looking down the steep section of the ridge trail
The two routes later separate, with the fire road continuing gradually up the east side of the ridge and the trail making a very steep ascent up the ridge, cutting about ¼ mile from the hike and raising heart rates in the process. The routes reunite and the ridge levels out, arriving at a second water tank 1.8 miles from the start (taking the fire road).
The road is paved over the last third of a mile dropping into Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. From here, walk 0.4 miles across the lofty neighborhood to resume hiking on Upper Canyonback Trail. For those not planning to hike that far, feel free to turn around at the upper water tower. The views do not change much beyond that point and hiking on pavement isn’t really hiking…
One of many Gazanias near the upper water tank
No fee or permit is required to hike Canyonback Trail. Dogs are allowed, and walking them is a popular use of the trail.
To get to the trailhead: From Sunset Boulevard 1.5 miles west of the 405, turn north on Kenter Ave. Drive 2.1 miles up the ridge and park along the street in front of the gate.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
Nearby Trails
 | Upper Canyonback Trail This 3 mile hike descends Canyonback Ridge from Mulholland Drive to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. |
 | Mandeville Canyon to San Vicente Mountain Loop This 5-mile hike incorporating a few trails, taking a DWP road up to Westridge to visit San Vicente Mountain, before crossing Mulholland Drive and Canyonback Ridge to return to Mandeville Canyon via Hollyhock Fire Road. |
 | Westridge Trail to San Vicente Mountain This 7.4-mile hike travels a scenic ridge between a Brentwood neighborhood and a summit that was once used as a Nike Missile site. |
 | Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Mountain This 2-mile hike approaches the peak from the east and offers views to the north and south en route to the old Nike Missile site. |
 | Sullivan Canyon This 8.5-mile round trip hike follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon. |
 | Sullivan Ridge A prominent lone-standing Live Oak along Sullivan Ridge makes a natural turnaround point and a 7.5 to 8.3 mile round trip hike. |
 | More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Similar Trails
 | Topanga Lookout This 2-mile visits the site of an old fire tower that still offers great views of the surrounding mountains. |
 | Backbone Trail to Saddle Peak This 2-mile hike approaches Saddle Peak from the east. |
 | Temescal Canyon This 2.6-mile loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. |
Add to trails I’ve hikedAdd to trails I want to hike 
