Sullivan Canyon runs north to south in the Santa Monica Mountains east of Will Rodgers State Park. This 8.5-mile round trip hike departs from a residential street a couple miles north of Sunset Boulevard and follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon.

Sullivan Canyon

A green wall across Queensferry Road marks the start of the hike. Beyond the gate, the road descends for another quarter-mile, leaving Brentwood’s affluence for nature’s riches. When the pavement ends, turn right and cross a wide swatch of gravel with a seasonal creek flowing down the center. Along the west bank there is a short path that cuts through a bit of ivy-overgrown forest to bypass a section of steep gravel.

Back in the center of the canyon, the dirt and gravel trail heads north on a gentile grade, running parallel to and overlapping the small creek. Yellow posts every few hundred feet serve as a reminder that The Gas Company has a pipeline running through the canyon. Unplug your iPod and enjoy the abundant birdsong along the trail.

Tall gangly sycamores provide a canopy of loose shade

After 3.5 miles, Sullivan Canyon Trail comes to an end. For those looking to extend the hike, there is a fire road to the left that climbs 0.5 miles up the west wall of the canyon to Sullivan Ridge. From here, one can hike 1.5 miles to San Vicente Peak by making a right on Sullivan Fire Road and a right on unpaved Mulholland Drive. Additionally, there is a connection path 0.9 miles from the start of Sullivan Canyon Trail that ascends the east wall of the canyon to Westridge Fire Road. This path climbs a steep dirt rut, and can be used to create a ten-mile loop encompassing Sullivan Canyon and Westridge Fire Road to visit San Vicente Peak. Hiking up this path at the end of a long hike can be brutal, so better to descend this way at the start if you wish to attempt the loop starting from the Westridge trailhead.

Like the surrounding trails, Sullivan Canyon is popular with mountain bikers, but the trail is quite peaceful in the early morning, visited only by a few neighborhood dog walkers. The scenery along the trail is fairly redundant, so one could turn around early and not miss out on much. No fee or permit is required, so get out and enjoy.

The top of Sullivan Canyon

To get to the trailhead: From Sunset Boulevard, 2.3 miles west of the 405, turn north at the light onto Mandeville Canyon Road. After 1/3 mile turn left onto Westridge Road. Drive uphill on Westridge Road and turn left on Bayliss Road. Make another left on Queensferry and find a place to park. The trailhead is at the bottom of the road, but for some reason street parking is not allowed right next to the trailhead. Park where it is legal, and walk down the road to the gate.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

View Sullivan Canyon GPS in a larger map
Or view Los Angeles Hikes in a larger map

Photos

 

                         

These photos were taken in March of 2010. Click to enlarge.

Nearby Trails

 

	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.
	Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak 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 Peak This 2-mile hike approaches San Vicente Peak from the east and offers views to the north and south en route to the old Nike Missile site.
	Temescal Canyon This 2.6-mile loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity.
	Parker Mesa Overlook This steep 7-mile out-and-back rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean.
	Santa Ynez Falls This 2.5-mile follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short waterfall.
	More trails in the Santa Monica Mountains Explore other destinations in the range.

Similar Trails

 

	Zuma Canyon Trail This 2.8-mile hike leaves a coastal Malibu neighborhood to explore rustic Zuma Canyon.
	Solstice Canyon This two-mile out and back is easy and level, and visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall.
	Red Rock Canyon The trails in the beautifully sculpted Red Rock Canyon are 2.5 and 5.2 miles in length.
	Eaton Falls This 3-mile hike visits a 40-footer.

More Info

 

Sullivan Canyon on localhikes.com