Nicholas Flat Trail – Willow Creek Trail Loop to Ocean Vista in Leo Carrillo State Park
At the west end of Malibu where Mulholland Highway meets PCH, you'll find Leo Carrillo State Park. Well known for its beaches and surfing, this park has offerings for hikers too, like the trek up Nicholas Flat Trail to an oak-wrapped grassland with a small pond, which is 7 miles round trip or more. For a shorter hike, combine the bottom of Nicholas Flat Trail with Willow Creek Trail, for a 2. ...Read more.
Distance: 2.05 miles · Elevation change: 620 feet
By: Published: September 13, 2016 Last updated: December 9, 2025
Nicholas Flat Trail in Leo Carrillo State Park and Nicholas Flat Natural Preserve
Nicholas Flat Trail is a three-mile long 'ocean to mountains' trail beginning within Leo Carrillo State Park, just across PCH from a famous beach at the west end of Malibu. The single-track trail travels up a coastal ridge past two vista points (and lots of other ocean views) to reach Nicholas Flat, where grassy meadows are rimmed by oak trees. A small network of trails offer different routes through Nicholas Flat Natural Preserve. ...Read more.
Distance: 7 miles · Elevation change: 1685 feet
By: Published: September 13, 2016 Last updated: April 9, 2026
Nicholas Flat via Malibu Springs Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains
Near the west end of Mulholland Highway north of Leo Carrillo State Park, you will find an almost hidden trailhead for Malibu Springs Trail. This spring-loaded single track is faint and overgrown in areas, providing a sense of adventure as you take in fantastic views of the highest peaks Santa Monica Mountains. At the end of an arduous climb, you will drop down to Nicholas Flat in Nicholas Flat Natural Preserve. ...Read more.
Distance: 7 miles · Elevation change: 1425 feet
By: Published: March 22, 2013 Last updated: April 9, 2026
Camping in Leo Carrillo State Park
Leo Carrillo State Park boasts a large campground just across PCH from the park's 1.5 miles of beautiful waterfront. A path from the campground goes underneath PCH to allow easy access to the beach. Once there, campers can swim, surf, and walk along the shore, exploring numerous rock formations with sea caves and tide pools. The campground is made up of 135 sites, each with its own picnic table and fire ring. ...Read more.
By: Published: January 14, 2010 Last updated: April 19, 2026

Tag!

You've come to a tag page, one of the blogiest ways to browse hikespeak.com.

Here are some more tags. The most common tags are the big ones at the top of the list. Have a look around. You may also find what you seek with the search feature on the Hike Finder Map.

Free TrailsNational ParksOcean ViewsCalifornia State ParksSummitsWaterfallsTent CampingCreeksLakesNature TrailsAngeles National ForestMalibuAdventure PassCascade RangeNew Zealand Department of ConservationDesert CanyonsOff TrailWildflowersBeachesLos Padres National ForestNew Zealand National ParksMountains Recreation and Conservation AuthorityGriffith ParkSan Gabriel Mountains National MonumentBig SurCampervan CampingWheelchair-FriendlyRuinsSequoia GrovesOregon State ParksLos OsosBackpackingPacific Crest TrailHollywoodHydrothermalCavesMontaña de Oro State ParkAustralian National ParksYosemite ValleyRedwood GrovesTopanga State ParkAltadenaSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation AreaSanta Ynez MountainsTopangaIrish HillsBorrego SpringsAgoura HillsLone PineMalibu Creek State ParkPacific PalisadesBoulderingTrail CampBureau of Land ManagementArchesLookout TowersColumbia River Gorge National Scenic AreaMorrosTualatin MountainsLavaBackbone TrailWest Hills of PortlandDeschutes National ForestTongariro National ParkGiant ForestArthur's Pass VillageFruitaGrand JunctionClosedMammoth LakesBendMinesArthur's Pass National ParkWalk-in CampingNevada State ParksMorro BayLa Cañada FlintridgeTide PoolsCleveland National ForestClosed SeasonallyRotoruaAzusaLava TubesIsland in the SkyPasadenaArcadiaZion CanyonOvertonJohn Muir TrailHot SpringsTasmania's 60 Great Short WalksAccommodationsCalabasasGoletaVerdugo MountainsBadlandsSanta Lucia MountainsGolden Trout WildernessClaremontBoardwalksGaviota State ParkShasta-Trinity National ForestVolcanoesRainforestsForest ParkTillamookPhillip IslandMount CookGrand Canyon of the YellowstoneLas VegasSan Bernardino National ForestNorthwest PortlandAoraki Mount Cook National ParkSan Ysidro MountainsOakhurstBrentwoodAnsel Adams WildernessSand DunesMorterosNewbury ParkFreycinet PeninsulaGeyser BasinsAdirondack ParkTopatopa MountainsGifford Pinchot National ForestButtesGiant Sequoia National MonumentPetroglyphsAdirondack MountainsOnondaga CountyStairsVolcanoGrant GroveThousand OaksColes BayMorro Bay State ParkPalos Verdes PeninsulaSunriverOjaiTasman PeninsulaPoint Mugu State ParkLighthousesFreycinet National ParkWestern Divide Ranger DistrictOhakuneWestridge-Canyonback Wilderness ParkMemorialsJohn Muir WildernessWestern DivideSanta Ana MountainsSilver Moccasin TrailOrange County ParksSan Bernardino MountainsTrabuco Ranger DistrictPaicinesContinental DivideWater SlidesWashington State ParksHobartStevensonSistersWhakapapa VillageSouthwest PortlandNewberry National Volcanic MonumentNelder GrovePfeiffer Big Sur State ParkLava Butte Lava FlowWill Rogers State ParkDomesTopanga CanyonOasesCratersMount ShastaCastle Crags State ParkHumboldt Redwoods State ParkSouth Lake TahoeLeo Carrillo State ParkMount Hood National ForestThree Capes Scenic RouteMount HoodNatural BridgesTarzanaReservoir Canyon Natural ReserveYellowstone RiverBlack HillsSilver Falls State ParkGoing-to-the-Sun RoadSublimityCambriaSouth Coast WildernessSan Vicente Mountain ParkNewhallWind CavesLaguna BeachAvila BeachBeacon Rock State ParkGlacier LakesJulianKlamath MountainsSpringvilleMontecitoRancho Palos VerdesPearblossomPicnic AreaWawonaSilver Peak WildernessCamp ShermanTanksHawaii State ParksDeschutes RiverLos Robles Open SpaceHutsWildlife ViewingTemescal Gateway ParkVestalWaiotapuSan Jacinto MountainsLabrador Hollow Unique AreaMoabMount William National ParkCedar GroveCalifornia Coastal TrailPalomar Ranger DistrictTasman National ParkIdyllwildCliff JumpingSan Jacinto Ranger DistrictBurbankCortland CountyTullySwimming HolesBinghamton University Nature PreserveObservatoriesGovernment CampNew York State ForestsJulia Pfeiffer Burns State ParkWilsons Promontory National ParkTaurangaCrescent CityElephant SealsCatalina IslandBike TrailBlue Mountain LakeWhananaki NorthCal PolySheep Mountain WildernessAvila ValleyCrestlineLake ElsinoreSnowshoeingNew York State ParksPlacerita Canyon State ParkRedwood Mountain GroveSan PedroCrystal Cove State ParkHume Lake Ranger DistrictNicholas Flat Natural PreserveSierra Pelona MountainsSanta Susana MountainsEmma Wood State BeachBishop Peak Natural ReserveTujungaRichardson Grove Redwoods State ParkSan Mateo Canyon WildernessColumbia River GorgeCinder ConesMurrietaWenatche National ForestConejo ValleyCarpinteriaPlacerita Canyon Natural AreaSimi HillsSun ValleyGlendaleCusterSanta MargaritaWaipio ValleyMacleay ParkPictographsPuakoWascoTaupoLodgeCastle Crags WildernessDeschutes River State Recreation AreaLyleHood RiverEaglehawk NeckSaltwater RiverBeverly HillsTree MoldsWaimangu Volcanic ValleyPortlandOkere Falls Scenic ReserveArroyo GrandeMarvin Braude Mulholland Gateway ParkHiloGlaciersTe AwamutuRangitikeiSummit ValleySouthern AlpsSummit Valley Edmund D. Edelman ParkMount Thomas Forest Conservation AreaOkukuBlowholesWillamette National ForestCampervan ReviewLake Tahoe Basin National Forest LandsWoodland HillsTwentynine PalmsPepperwoodLauncestonAndrew Molera State ParkTryon Creek State Natural AreaCampervan RentalSanta PaulaMount Field National ParkBritzLimekiln State ParkSherman OaksOkere FallsFish HatcheryRocky MountainsMount WellingtonWellington ParkHobbitonWarner SpringsMount MaunganuiBoat CruiseOrangePeters Canyon Regional ParkBel AirGetty View ParkCrazy Horse MemorialHearst San Simeon State ParkCentral ParkHuntington BeachSatellite CommunicatorsHigh LineManhattanAerial GreenwayLord of the RingsMatamataMonrovia Canyon ParkMuruparaMonroviaFiscalini Ranch PreserveRefugio State BeachPrimitive CampingPalomar MountainsWhitewater RaftingTop 10 Holiday ParkPapamoaSOS BeaconsGPS NavigatorsLaguna Coast Wilderness ParkSoutheast PortlandSan BernardinoBreaCarbon Canyon Regional ParkSimi ValleyCanoe & KayakCalaveras Big Trees State ParkAmboyPismo BeachPilot Butte State ParkMaricopaAwbrey ButtePowell Butte Nature ParkPetrified LogsOak ParkAmboy Crater National Natural LandmarkSanta Lucia WildernessBig Bear LakeCross Country SkiingCarpinteria Salt Marsh Nature ParkSonoraCarpinteria Bluffs Nature PreserveMalibu Lagoon State BeachKura Tawhiti / Castle Hill Conservation AreaCastle HillLas CrucesMount Lowe RailwayPortervilleSanta Clarita Woodlands ParkKoalasFallbrookAgua DulceVasquez Rocks Natural Area ParkJamesvilleCataract Gorge ReserveClark Reservation State ParkBerriedaleBeaver Lake Nature CenterBaldwinsvilleOnondaga County ParkWhitewater PreserveDocent-led HikesMonserate Mountain PreserveSan SimeonTauwhara BayCape Woolamai State Faunal ReserveLiffeyLiffey Falls State ReserveGreat Western TiersFallbrook Land ConservancyHokianga HarbourOtamure BaySaint Columba Falls State ReservePyenganaOtamure Recreation ReserveDouglas-Apsley National ParkBechinoPlaya VistaSantiago Oaks Regional ParkWeir Canyon Wilderness ParkBanningKings CanyonGuy W. Talbot State ParkEugeneMission Trails Regional ParkTurangiSanteeHarmony Headlands State ParkCayucosConcretionsMangawekaHuntervilleSan Jacinto WildernessMount San Jacinto State ParkFayettevilleYucca ValleySan Rafael HillsEl Capitán State BeachFreeride TrailsWest HillsUpper Newport Bay Nature PreserveB&BNewport BayNewport BeachSanta Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National MonumentBackpackers LodgeGreen Lakes State ParkMotor LodgeBisonMontagueKlamath National ForestSeasideCucamonga WildernessLaCrosseLas Virgines View ParkPalouse Falls State ParkVentura RiverCulver CityOregon CityWillamette RiverHappy ValleyCamassia Natural AreaWeedBaldwin Hills Scenic Overlook State ParkEl Chorro Regional ParkCorbettGeorge Himes Nature ParkCooke CityDevils TowerStroller-FriendlyTuna Canyon ParkWhite SalmonCamasLacamas Lake Regional ParkClatskanieMcKenzie BridgeLake MichiganKenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaWest LinnThe Nature ConservancyLake Tikitapu Scenic ReserveGlenbrookCarson CityApp ReviewCarpinteria Seal SanctuaryWelchesRhododendronOceansideNative American HeritageBass LakeSespe WildernessYurtsWildomarSalt Point State ParkMacKerricher State ParkDunsmuirLincoln CityDepoe BaySiletz Bay National Wildlife RefugeAnaheimFishpondsKonaKohala Forest ReserveHonomuJedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkPrairie Creek Redwoods State ParkPu‘uhonua O Hōnaunau National Historical ParkHonaunauLongridge ParkenvironmentStudio CityEcola State ParkMyers FlatShasta LakeArroyo Sequit ParkOceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation AreaNipomoMojave Trails National MonumentDuarteEldorado State ParkColorado State ParksCape Meares State ParkWeottCannon BeachCape Meares State Scenic ViewpointOrickPacific CityCape Kiwanda Natural AreaAtascaderoMosierFort BraggJennerBoulderCape Lookout State ParkSkyforestTualatin Hills Nature ParkSanta ClaritaTumalo CreekArchie Briggs Natural AreaLake ArrowheadArboretumsCastaicKlamathBeavertonArcoAdirondack High PeaksLake PlacidMarquam Nature ParkGarbervilleUpper Ojai ValleyHollywood HillsCascade LocksPalos Verdes EstatesShevlin Park