Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak
in the Santa Monica Mountains
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Stunt High Trail begins with a gentle walk along Cold Creek, and then ascends through meadows and chaparral up the northern slope of Saddle Peak to offer great views of the Santa Monica Mountains. Stunt High Trail ends at a road 3 miles from the start, which is a rather anti-climactic high point. From there, pick up the Backbone Trail and hike to the top of Saddle Peak, the sixth tallest summit in the range, where wide views over Malibu and the Pacific can be enjoyed. This excellent excursion to Saddle Peak is 8.2 miles round trip with 1,700 feet of elevation gain.
From the trailhead, descend through an oak grove along the banks of Cold Creek, a year round water source. Turn left at the first junction, leaving the creek, and progress uphill through green fields with open views. The trail narrows to a single track as it crosses the UCLA-owned eco-classroom Stunt Ranch, a pristine preserve that UCLA is kind enough to let non-students enjoy. Continue straight through the next junction to remain on Stunt High Trail, passing a path leading to the right into Stunt Ranch.
A bench along Cold Creek
Stunt High Trail progresses southward, crossing a paved service road. After a short distance, the trail hits Stunt Road (for the first time). There is a parking area here for those wishing to join the hike a mile and a half from the start. Turn right and cross the road, heading uphill a few hundred feet. The start of the next leg of the trail is just past mile marker 1.94 and difficult to see if you are not looking carefully.
Switchbacks climb quickly through a forest of bays, giving way to more gradual trail up chaparral-covered slopes. The views across Cold Creek Canyon toward the 2,163-foot Calabasas Peak will inspire you to hike that peak next if you haven’t already.
Calabasas Peak
Three miles from the start, the trail again reaches Stunt Road and another parking area at the top of Stunt High Trail. You could turn around here, but there is something inherently dissatisfying about hiking to a road and back. Fortunately, there is the option to continue. Just a few hundred feet to the right, on the other side of Stunt Road, is an access point to the Backbone Trail. Take the Backbone Trail for 1.1 miles, climbing 800 feet to a much more satisfying pinnacle, the summit of Saddle Peak.
A short distance from Stunt Road, turn left at the junction (otherwise you will be hiking 3.2 miles down to Piuma Road). The northern slope of Saddle Peak offers even broader views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Backbone Trail climbs past Manzanita trees and crosses a collection of large sandstone formations that beg to be climbed.
Sandstone beneath the summit
The trail continues to the east, bringing into view a radio tower-covered lower summit. Turn right at the next junction, leaving the Backbone Trail for a wide path that climbs to the 2,805-foot summit of Saddle Peak after one more turn to the left. From here, have a look down on the Malibu estates on the slopes below, and out at the Pacific Ocean.
Looking northeast from Saddle Peak
The directions to remember are:
- Left at the first junction leaving the Cold Creek
- Straight past the Stunt Ranch Trail
- Straight across the paved service right
- Right at Stunt Road to find the recommencement of the trail
- Right at Stunt Road again at the top of Stunt High Trail to find the Backbone Trail
- Left toward Saddle Peak
- Right to leave the Backbone Trail for the summit
- Left to reach the summit
Do the reverse on the return for an 8.2-mile round trip hike with great views of Malibu and Calabasas. Despite having 3 different pavement crossings, this trail immerses hikers into diverse greenery. No fee or permit is required, so get out and enjoy. For a shorter hike to the summit, and to see photos from the top of Saddle Peak that aren’t covered by clouds, check out the two-mile round trip hike up the Backbone Trail to Saddle Peak.
The parking lot at the base of Shunt High Trail is a popular one as it also services the Calabasas Peak Mountainway trailhead, delivering hikers to Calabasas Peak and Red Rock Canyon (both excellent hikes).
A few of the many Lupines blooming along the trail
To get to the trailhead: From the 101 freeway, exit Las Virgenes Road and head south toward Malibu. After 2.8 miles turn left (east) on Mulholland Highway. After 4 miles, turn right on Stunt Road and drive one mile. There is plentiful parking along the right side of the road next to the trailhead.
From PCH, take Malibu Canyon Road until it becomes Las Virgenes Road. Turn right on to Mulholland Highway and take that to Stunt Road as described above.
Another option for those coming from the west side is to take PCH north to Las Flores Road (across from Duke’s restaurant). Drive 3.4 miles up this narrow twisting canyon and turn right onto Rambla Pacifico Street. After 0.6 miles, make a sharp right onto Schueren Road and descend the backside of the mountain for 5 miles to arrive at the parking for Stunt High Trail from the other direction. This scenic route offers a high view on Malibu and the Pacific.
Use the map below to create your own directions:
Nearby Trails
 | Calabasas Peak This 3.6-mile hike travels an easy-to-follow fire road, climbing 1000 feet to panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and San Fernando Valley. |
 | Red Rock Canyon The trails in the beautifully sculpted Red Rock Canyon are 2.5 and 5.2 miles in length. |
 | 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. |
 | Hondo Canyon This fairly well maintained section of the Backbone Trail crosses fields of grains and forests of Bays, climbing 1500 feet over 3.8 miles. |
 | Talepop Loop This 4.75-mile hike climbs 500 feet over a scenic mountain between Liberty Canyon and Las Virgenes Canyon on the north end of Malibu Creek State Park. |
 | 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. |
 | More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range. |
Similar Trails
 | La Jolla Canyon Loop This 11.75-mile hike explores Point Mugu State Park on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains, offering extraordinary ocean views. |
 | Sandstone Peak This 6.25-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook This steep out-and-back hike rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. |
 | Mount Lee This 6.4-mile hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign. |
 | Santa Anita Canyon Loop This 9.5-mile loop visits a two peaceful creeks, a 60 foot waterfall and plenty of beautiful wilderness. |
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I’m looking for a trail that has a rusty old Dodge truck on it. I photographed it in 2008 and I’m hoping that it is still there. But I don’t know which trail it is. My photo caption just says “Cold Creek”.
the tral is cold creek preserve, but that portion has been closed to the public for about a year. the trailhead is on stunt road, but the gate is padlocked.