Hikes on the Palos Verdes Peninsula

From a distance, this picturesque peninsula in the southwest corner of Los Angeles County can appear like an island, hovering above the haze of Santa Monica Bay. The peninsula feels far away too, with rugged bluffs that look more like the Central Coast than waterfront typically found around Los Angeles. Parks and reserves throughout Palos Verdes create pockets of green spaces that are prefect for short day hikes. ... Read more.
Paramount Ranch in the Santa Monica Mountains
Located in Agoura Hills, California near Malibu Creek State Park, Paramount Ranch served as a Hollywood filming location and outdoor studio for Paramount Pictures. This cinematic history of the ranch is now preserved by the National Park Service as part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The park's main attraction and most interesting facet is Western Town, a couple blocks of prop buildings used from the 1950s to present day as an outdoor set for film and television show. ...Read more.
Distance: 4 miles · Elevation change: 150 feet
By: Published: February 3, 2011 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Lake Vista Trail in Malibu Creek State Park
The scenic vista point at the top of Lake View Trail provides a beautiful view overlooking Malibu Lake and the surrounding mountains. The network of trails through Malibu Creek State Park offer several routes to the overlook, including a short 2.1-mile loop from a trailhead off Lake Vista Drive and a longer 4.1-mile out and back trek that begins down Cistern Trail from Mulholland Highway. ...Read more.
Distance: 4.1 miles · Elevation change: 350 feet
By: Published: January 24, 2011 Last updated: December 5, 2025
Cistern Trail, Lookout Trail, and Cage Creek Trail in Malibu Creek State Park
While relatively short, Cistern Trail and Lookout Trail offer some of the very best views of Malibu Creek State Park. By entering the park at the middle of Crags Road (the main trail across the park), these less-used trails provide quick access to many of Malibu Creek's major hiking destinations. A number of possible hikes begin from Cistern Trail. ...Read more.
Distance: 2.25 miles · Elevation change: 425 feet
By: Published: January 5, 2011 Last updated: April 9, 2026
Lost Cabin Trail in Malibu Creek State Park
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. ...Read more.
Distance: 1.5 miles · Elevation change: 190 feet
By: Published: December 31, 2010 Last updated: December 5, 2025
The MASH site in Malibu Creek State Park
Far from the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame, Malibu Creek State Park holds its own bit of Hollywood history. The exterior set for the long-running television show M*A*S*H was filmed in a Korea-resembling corner of park. While the medic tents have been removed, the location is still recognizable, and Malibu Creek State Park has gone above and beyond to create a rich experience for hikers. ...Read more.
Distance: 4.75 miles · Elevation change: 200 feet
By: Published: December 29, 2010 Last updated: December 5, 2025