I've hiked in this park several times it offers easy and more difficult trails My dog enjoyed it also read more

The hike up Solstice Canyon is a short one at about 3 miles. The first mile and a half to the ruined house is fairly quick and doable. The second half of the hike up the canyon and down is grueling but well worth the views of the Pacific Ocean. Highly recommend doing this hike if you're in the LA area but do it in the morning t o avoid the summer heat. read more

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I've been to this trail a few times and I appreciate what the terrain has to offer. It is close to the beach and right off of the PCH. Solstice Canyon Trail is relatively popular because of the multiple additional attractions you can find along the trail. It is a nice short stroll with barely any elevation change. Some of the highlights include the oldest still-standing stone building in Malibu, a small waterfall and creek, and several ruins - including the ruins of Robert's Ranch House. I went on the 2.1 mile trail up to the waterfall, great place for pictures. The trail is paved most of the way so walking is relatively easy. This is a pet-friendly trail and you will most likely see families with their dogs on and off-leash out there. As you walk I'm sure you will see some beautiful flowers, lizards and hear wildlife in the bushes. Depending on what part of the trail you walk you will have a decent amount of shade as you head up towards the waterfall. The waterfall is small but it runs year round (very rare find) and is nice although the railing around it is a little unsightly. There are connecting trails that go up the canyon sides so you can hike for quite a while. Those are steeper and more open. I would say this is a very do-able hike if you are in shape. I actually saw an elderly lady walking while I was on my way there. On my way back down I saw her, and her party still en-route to the waterfall so it's relatively easy to do. Parking and entrance to the park are free. There is a small lot with about 5 or 6 spaces upon entering the park. If you go further into the entrance of the park there is a lot with about 20 spaces in addition to some parking off to the side of the of the lot. When I can't find parking in those lots I drive up the hill before you enter the initial parking lot and there is an area to park overlooking the beach and PCH. I actually prefer parking there for the picturesque views and walking down to add some steps to my hike. If you're chasing Waterfalls this is a decent trail to start. read more

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If you are looking for a casual walk go left on the trail but if you want to challenge your legs go right up the stairs and enjoy the nice views and calf contractions. i went the scenic route enjoyed every minute of it and also found a wild karen on my way back to the car "WHERE IS YOUR MASK" she went Full karen on me instead of minding her business and continuing her hike lol bring a mask incase You run into a wild karen. read more

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Love this trail so many things to see! First dogs are allowed if on a lease. Yes there are bathrooms. Trails are not difficult and are ok for beginners. Parking is hard to find but it's worth the wait. I saw a hawk, parrots, woodpeckers, grey squirrels, and a gopher. There is a stream and a little waterfall. read more

As a hiking guide for the last 20 years, this is one of my Top 5 favorite trails. Everybody who visits loves it. The hike up to the Tropical Terrace is not too challenging, but just challenging enough to feel invigorated. The Tropical Terrace is a treasure, not to be missed. Be sure to look at the Blueprint in front of the foundation and read the history, it's inspiring! There are a few options to take. You can hike to the Tropical Terrace and turn around and go back the way you came. You can cross over the stream next to the Terrace and take The Rising Sun Trail all the way back down to the parking lot. This is a hike for sure and it will challenge you with huffing and puffing and lots of Sun but the views will be worth the climb. Or, just before arriving at the Tropical Terrace, you can take the Deer Valley Loop/Sostomo Trail on the left and enjoy sweeping views of the Coastline. It will be some work to get up there but again, worthy of the effort. Enjoy this park, it is a Santa Monica Mountains Treasure! read more

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There are several trails you can take in this park and its close proximity to the beach makes it, I assume, popular. The weather doesn't get too hot and if you so wish, you can picnic on the beach after. Solstice Canyon Trail seems to be the most popular because of the multiple additional attractions you can find along the trail. It is a nice short stroll with barely any elevation change. It is 2.1 miles round trip and you will end up at Robert's Ranch House at the end of the trail... and behind this "house", which is in ruins, by the way, so don't expect an architectural digest model, is the waterfall. And I use the word waterfall loosely. This waterfall was more like a trickle. So don't expect Nevada Falls here. The sound of trickling water is always so refreshing and relaxing though. At the end of the trail, we felt unchallenged and un-worked-out so we decided to take the Rising Sun Trail on the way back to the parking lot. Rising Sun Trail is a bit more challenging. It was a bit longer at 1.5 miles one-way and is uphill complete with lots of uneven steps and switchbacks. Not to worry though: if my toddler made it, you'll make it. Parking and entrance to the park are free. There was a small lot big enough for 6 cars right at the entrance. Drive a bit more inside and there will be a larger parking lot enough for at least 20 cars. Hey, I said larger, which is, obviously, relative to the one just inside the entrance! LOL. The lot filled up quick. At 8:30 AM on a Saturday morning, it was full. We had to go down to PCH to find parking there and then added mileage to our hiking by walking up from the beach. read more

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Great short hike! The grasses are a bit overgrown but seeing the ruins made it all worth it. It's a good place to take photos. Our little Yorkies loved it. This is a loose hike so regardless of which way you start you'll end up ending at the same place. Lastly, if you want to extend your hike, you can go pass Solstice end take the hike to sostomo trail - additional 3 miles. Well worth it. read more

Solstice Canyon - Parks Near Me - Malibu, California

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A stunning trail hike in Malibu. Beautiful views of the canyon, hills, valleys, with a paved and dirt trail. It was impeccably clean, with some benches as rest areas along the way. There are indoor single-person restrooms at the bottom of the trail as you head in from the parking lot. On some parts of the trail, there is a running creek that adds to the peacefulness of this hike. There are a couple of bridges along the way that make for great photo ops, but you really can't go wrong with photos anywhere along the trail. I'm not entirely sure how long the trails run, but the one we took we were 1 mile in and it seemed like there was plenty farther we could hike. It is an easy hike for beginners and families. Parking can get crowded, but we went on a weekday afternoon and were able to find parking at the lot right at the trail entrance. One of the best hikes along the California coast I have ever been on. read more

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Great hiking trail. We went straight instead of making that first right for the loop trail. The fire place was cool and waterfall was nice but you cannot touch the waterfall it's guarded with signs, and bars. If u decide to not follow that path back down then youll go all the way up to the top. It turns into a foot trail I found a swarm of bees and a tarantula. Great view but not that cool . Please trim the walkway so we don't have to be afraid of not being able to see the floor. read more

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I am giving a 2 stars because it's not nothing like the pictures attached. It appears the address on here with our GPS took us on a different hike or canyon. It's very dry and there isn't any shade. We went early and the sun was burning. It was about 8am. I would say try to get there by 6:30am. It's a moderate hike, it's steep but there are flat areas. We did 4 miles round trip, it took about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Also drive the speed limit, 45 mph on PCH, the cops are every where and ready to pull you over. Can someone please tell me how to get to the location where the pictures are in here? read more

Hiked this for the first time yesterday and was amazed how beautiful it was. So Cal has had a wet winter this year, so all of the mountains were so green. Also, the waterfall was flowing very fast and definitely existed on my hike. Parking seemed to be a small lot of 20 or so spots, but arrived at 9am on a weekday and plenty were open. Extra points for having a bathroom before the trail starts. I took the Solstice Canyon Trail to Roberts Ranch House and I thought it would take us a little longer, but NOPE, got there in less than 20 minutes lol VERY EASY "hike". I would call this more of a stroll as in I saw dogs and literally moms with strollers going this way. Roberts Ranch House was awesome to see. Lots of history here. You can really imagine how big this house in paradise must have been. Remnants of the kitchen and bathroom are still there today. Just past this house is the waterfall. You can climb some rocks and literally touch the water and go in if you want too. Great area to explore. On the way back I took the Rising Sun Trail. There were some switch backs going up, but then the view along the canyons is definitely worth it. You can see the ocean and Catalina in the distance. Beautiful to see. This whole hike reminded me of Crystal Cove in Newport Beach but even better. Closer to the water with better views. I also like how this hike makes a big circle. This whole hike took less than 2 hours (about 3 miles), and that was with plenty of picture taking, stopping, more picture taking, more instagram posting, etc. For me the 2nd part of this hike was not difficult at all, but I would considerate it moderate for most. I saw some kids on the trail who seemed to be fine. Not much shade along the canyons, so during hot summer months bring a hat/sunscreen/waters/etc. I would definitely be back to bring the dog as I noticed dogs on these trails. Nice little hike for a perfect weather day. Check it out, you shouldn't be disappointed! read more

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A Great hike for beginners and families. The parking was pretty packed but if you wait a few minutes you can find a spot the trail isn't too long so people are often coming and going. There are bathrooms at the bottom of the trail which is nice and you can also pick up a map. You are allowed to take pets on this trail and for the most part people do clean up after them. You can pretty much walk along the creek for most of the trail if you want to be a little adventurous. It was really cool to see the different cabins along the trail. Although the waterfall wasn't very eventful it was a great hike with some great views. read more

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Fun, convenient to the 1, easy to park (if you're willing to park on the 1 and walk in), a decent enough length. Came here on a Sunday and when we arrived and left (around 10am to 1pm) the parking lot was full both times. I had already parked on the 1 which was very easy to find a spot, and walked up (no pedestrian walkway but I was not hit by a car... otherwise I might take a star off). The Solstice Canyon trail was somewhat shaded, family friendly. We returned on the Rising Sun Trail, which had more of a climb, was very exposed, but made it feel like we got a real workout in. The signage is easy to follow, and I preferred doing this loop instead of an out and back. Even with the Rising Sun Trail, you could do this in regular walking shoes (ie. hiking shoes and poles were not necessary) read more

I've been here plenty of times there's a waterfall in the back and if you ever need water in a drought you are not to go in here but the water is drinkable I've actually had some and I did not just say hint read more

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Great hike. Started early in the morning. Took the Rising Sun trail because I wanted a hike with more effort so the ruins and waterfall will be more rewarding to see. I almost missed the start of the Rising Sun trail because it is located on the right side of the paved walk way immediately way before the restrooms. The trail is marked and looks like dirt/stone steps rising up. read more

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A really superb hike close to the West Side. We spent around 2 hours there, hiking up to both waterfalls and were delighted by the diversity of environments. No technical skills needed, trails well marked, bathrooms at the trail head. A great place to spend an afternoon, and Malibu Seafood is just down the road. Just sayin' ... read more

This is a short ride depending on traffic from Beverly Hills. The parking is free and there are restrooms at the upper parking lot. I usually go during the weekdays when there is hardly anyone there. I bring my dog and it's a great place if you want to social distance during the Covid-19. My family and I have been hiking here for over 10 years. Dogs must be kept on leashes at all times. Best time to go is on the weekend, when I am not there since I don't want a chance of getting the Coronavirus. Just kidding. The vaccine will soon be available for us all, so I am looking forward to being around people again. Stay safe and will see you at on the hiking trail. read more

Judging by the number reviews, this place beat out a few national parks. Reason for its popularity is, it is free, close to LA and well reviewed on yelp. I have known this place before social media became popular and it was relatively unknown. There was always parking avaliable in the small parking lot. Now it's a cluster F at 10.00 am in the morning. Wth. This canyon is pretty but with the difficult parking I am not so sure this is a great place to come to. read more

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The first part of the trail is easy and lots of shade. The second part is moderate and no shade at all. There is an incline and steps. The full loop is around 4.2 miles. Great hike! read more

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My friends and I wanted to do a hike in Malibu and came across this on yelp. Overall, it was fairly easy to hike. The waterfall and the ruins were slightly underwhelming to me, but it's definitely something you should do once. PARKING: There are two parking lots, one right when you enter and a bigger one further in. Try to park further in as you'll be closer to the entrances of the hikes. The parking lot will be on your left side with a sign. AND IT'S FREE-hallelujah, a true rarity in LA!! My friends and I did a loop. We took the Rising Sun Trail to the waterfall and Roberts Ranch house and then finished off with the Solstice Canyon Trail. Take a photo of the map JUST in case-we didn't need it, but it's better to be safe than sorry because there ain't no service once you're out there (well for me anyways haha)!! RISING SUN TRAIL: From the parking lot, this was known to be the most challenging of the trails. We wanted to start with the challenge. You follow the sign as if you are going on the Solstice Canyon Trail. The sign for the Rising Sun Trail will be the first turn you can make on your right. Restrooms are nearby here too-they smell fyi haha. It is a gradual and constant unshaded uphill climb, but very very doable. It ends with a downhill towards the ruins. It is well marked with signs, so just follow it as is. There was maybe one confusing part where there are two paved road options-follow the one with the arrow going away from you (not too much of a brain teaser haha). This was about a two mile hike to the waterfall and ruins. ROBERTS RANCH HOUSE (RUINS): These ruins were very interesting. Apparently it was a mansion built around the landscape, but unfortunately got burned in a fire. There's no roof, so it feels very spread out and open. I recommend exploring a little bit. Look for the sign that leads you behind the trees. There you'll find a somewhat creepy worship area with religious statues and additional ruins. This would be to your right just before the enter the house ruins. It's definitely hidden behind the trees. WATERFALL: The whole hike is dog friendly, but they are not allowed near the waterfall. The waterfall was more like a pond...welcome to california and the never-ending drought season haha! I was kind of let down because I had hopes as it rained two days before. There are a few rocks that you can climb to, so that was definitely a fun adventure!! SOLSTICE CANYON TRAIL: This is their main trail. Very kid friendly as it is mostly flat and shaded. We finished with this trail and it was a great way to cool off. This hike felt slightly shorter than the Rising Sun Trail, but it could be that it was just downhill so we naturally walked quicker. We took our sweet time exploring and walking-our adventure lasted 2.5 hours. It can definitely be a quick hike if you want it to be. read more

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Great hike for the whole family A lot of fun, good work out, beautiful scenery of the Pacific ocean and of the beautiful hills. Down fall, is parking! First time here and my wife and I loved it. But had to wait about 20 minutea, and fight with a few cheaters who tried to cut in front, to try to finally get a parking space in the main parking lot. There is additional parking of you continue your drive before turning into the place where the sign is. But also pretty packed. Well worth the wait though, very nice and semi hike along the stream. Definitely recommend read more

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In case you haven't heard, I'm looking for some hiking trails around these parts. I recently moved back down and want to discover the not-so-typical areas of the city. I'm glad I did a bit more research on the canyon prior to going. Originally I was going to just use the Solstice trail, but soon realized that there was no elevation gain and it was a wide paved road. I was looking for a walk, but something that would exercise me more. After much research, I decided to start with the Rising Sun Trail down to the Roberts House and walk back to the parking lot on the Solstice trail (you know, hardest first and nice walk back). The Rising Sun Trail had my heart pumping 5 minutes in and it pretty much stayed pumping the entire duration. Be sure to stop and look behind you so you can take in the view, and stop and look at some of the lizards. Finally got to the Roberts house (which must've looked amazing when it was built). Who knew you could have so many fireplaces in one spot? The stream and fall pools were filled with water boatmen and tadpoles. We decided to explore past the first mini waterfall so we scaled the boulders and kept going. We ran into multiple beautiful waterfalls for the next hour before we decided to turn back around. Who knows how far back that thing goes. Now, it's the next day and I feel like my body's gone through the gentle cycle in a washing machine. And by body I mean upper body (turns out, rock climbing is great exercise!). Even though this is a near 50 mile drive for me, I definitely plan on going back soon. The plan next time? Take Solstice Canyon trail to the waterfalls so that there's more time and energy to use on climbing back to the waterfalls. I intend on going further. read more

Solstice Canyon - Roberts House from above - Parks Near Me - Malibu, California

Over the weekend, I wanted to go on a short adventure with my siblings and we decided to go to Malibu. Yet, I didn't really have an idea of what to do. But hold on! Let's go for a hike! So I searched and searched for a whole ten minutes and saw the reviews for this place. Was it up to the challenge?! Parking: 3 stars When you're going up the narrow, windy, fun-to-drive road, you notice lots of cars parked on the side. Even though there seems to be an entrance on the left side, you get tempted to just find parking on the side of the road. Don't do that. Go into the opening and try to find a parking spot first. Once that's full, then go to the side of the road. Unless you like extra walks down a road with no real side space for walking. Perhaps you literally enjoy walking on the side of danger. Hiking: 4 stars The hike itself isn't very difficult. Most of it is on small inclines and declines, while there are several paths paved in cement. There are many cool views, including seeing a few homes that have been burned down from wildfires, as well as other man made remnants like stone walls. But as far as difficulty goes, almost anyone can do it. However... if you want to up your game and really have fun, head towards the Roberts Home. Then go past it, up the steps, and you'll see the waterfall. It's not a great waterfall. No gushing, white water rapids. Just a light flow down rocks. But, that's what makes it great. If you're game, hike/climb up the waterfall. It is so much fun! It really tests your decision making for which paths to take, how to climb the rocks, and how far you want to go up. We went up all the way to the top and it really made the rest of the hike worth it. If we didn't take this path, I think we might have left after 30 minutes. Conclusion Though this hike is quite beautiful, it is a bit on the boring side. If you are an avid hiker and looking for something difficult, this isn't it. However, if you're just getting into hiking, this place definitely is a good work out for you. I highly recommend you bring water and a backpack for some supplies. I also recommend coming an hour or two before sunset, because the place looks gorgeous with the amber light seeping through the foliage. And of course, climb the waterfall! read more

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This is an easy hike and simple to find. I wouldn't go out of my way to drive here if your travel is more than 40 min. Turn down Coral Canyon at the 76 station and follow the road up. There is a small lot (about 6 cars) and a much larger lot further up so parking shouldn't be a problem. This is definitely not a long hike but it offers up a few points of interest along the way: * The ruins of the Roberts Ranch House- this home burned down in the 1982 wildfires. Chimneys, stoves, stairs and some structure still remains. *A "waterfall", don't get your hopes up too high. A good photo op and climbing area. * The Keller House- supposedly the oldest standing stone building in Malibu. read more

Solstice Canyon - Parks Near Me - Malibu, California

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Ok so this was my first hike ever in a looong time - and I'm really glad we did our research before heading out. We were looking for a ~2 mile route that didn't have many ups/downs. And oh boy did we pick a good one! Ok so to begin with, we parked at the big parking lot next to the entrance. It wasn't that hard to find a spot maybe because it was a weekday. Remember to take a water bottle with you! The directions on the maps/boards were very helpful and helped us pick the correct entrance. We were wearing regular sports shoes and were comfortable. Other people were there in small groups too. The hike culminated at this small waterfall/waterpond thing next to the ruins. It wasn't that popping at the end but I guess we didn't have any major expectations and it hasn't really rained recently so yeah. The ruins had a small description about the history and impact of the fire. Coming back was as easy as going there, although at one fork we did stop and question if we were going the right way lol. But it's cool because other people making their way to the ruins can help you on the way back. You can clearly tell that we left google maps behind on this one haha. The only thing I hoped for was maybe some good ocean views but I guess that might have been the longer route that we didn't take. Maybe we'll take a more scenic route next time. Ok so in summary - shorter route is a nice beginner hike and now I'm excited to explore more! read more

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So beautiful! Gotta love the California coastal landscape. The best part of this trail is that it's relatively accessible, even if you're disabled! I managed to make it pretty far in, maybe about a mile, before the trail was no longer paved (though I didn't get the chance to see the waterfall). There's lots of shade. There are seating areas, but the area is overgrown and I didn't want to risk any nasty tick bites... There is a pleasant picnic area by the trailhead. I went on a Thursday afternoon and there was tons of parking available in their lot. There's about 20 spots total, so I assume it fills up quickly otherwise. read more

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Looking for a hike where there's some shade, close to the ocean and you can bring your fur babies? This is the place! -parking available -it was an easy moderate hike. A couple of trails to choose from. -loved the history behind the burned houses -i think it needs more signs on where how long you have to hike. We did the Rising Sun trail and the sign wasn't clear on how long and our dogs were getting tired so we turned around -overall pretty clean except for some horse and dog poop Tip: if you brought your dog, bring a portable dog bowl as there's none over there. I forgot ours and had to cut a water bottle like a cup so my dogs could quench their thirst. read more

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I really enjoyed this hike through Solstice Canyon to the old ruins. It wasn't difficult at all. The parking situation was more difficult than the hike to the ruins. I would rate at easy to moderate. If you plan on doing the loop, It would be best to hike to the ruins first and then make the climb up the Rising Sun Trail back to the parking lot. It's better to warm up your legs first then going straight up at the beginning of the hike. We decided to make a side hike after reaching the ruins. Right before you get to the ruins, there's a trail to the left taking you to Deer Valley Trail/Sostomo Trail. The hike up this trail gives you amazing scenic view of the Valley leading into the ocean. This trail has less traffic compared to the Rising Sun Trail as I saw more people on that trail while walking down the Sostomo Trail. One thing I did notice when walking back to the car was there were a few cars parked on the dirt lot right before the parking lot entrance. I don't know if that's an actual parking area or not as there are not signs, but do it at your own risk. The other option would be to park right off of PCH and then make the hike in. That will add at least a mile to your hike though. Or you can get here around 7am on a Saturday to not have to deal with the parking situation. Cell coverage is nonexistent here after you pass the restrooms. I have T-Mobile and had pretty good reception, but my wife has AT&T and she didn't get a signal at all. read more

Loved this. Quite a bit of a drive from BH but the ocean views on PCH make up for it. It's easy for a family and we even brought the carriage in case the kid got tired. Just had to carry it twice over streams from the paths we went on but you can also totally avoid going over the streams too. Parking can suck if you don't get there early enough but we parked at PCH and walked up after we searched for parking. It makes for an even better hike, especially since its more of just a nature walk. Get back to nature, cleanse your soul and get some much needed exercise. We will go again! Pack a lunch and bring water. There are picnic tables and bathrooms at entrance. Enjoy! read more

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Solstice canyon is a nice and fairly easy trail that leads to the ruins of a home burned in a fire. If you go around winter/spring, there's a chance you might see a very small waterfall behind the house. There are two parking lots, but if you go on weekends or holidays, chances are it will be very busy. There is street parking available further down the road and on PCH if you want to avoid the parking lot crowds. read more

It's so beautiful here!! I want to come back time and time again! I've been coming here ever since I could remember since my Dad would surf in competitions at the pier, after heats we would venture around Malibu/Ventura/Ojai...& over the years this has always been a favorite waterfall to say the least. It's short and sweet in my opinion & the parking lot closest to the beginning of the trail is small but there is additional parking in the beginning of the entrance. I would assume you could also park on PCH, not sure though so don't quote me. Lots of wildlife here, it's honestly kind of sad that people are so trashy. I hate to say it cause I'm pretty laid back and I don't really care to pay attention to what people are doing but wow, people just really do not care sometimes. I seen tagging everywhere & trash all up in the water. Man makes me kind of want to cry inside because this has been a special place for me. Also, one of the bathrooms someone took a fat dump right on the floor. Wtf happened to LNT???????? Leave no trace. I don't even want to mention this to my hiking buddies. They would be pissed. Other than that the trail was very maintained and new signage telling people that there is surveillance? Doesn't look like that's working out so well. Next time I'm opting for the loop trails or scenic route... read more

This is an awesome place to hike! I love that you can work up a good sweat, and then you can go to the beach afterwards to cool off. The hike to the house ruins is actually very short and flat, so don't expect a huge workout if you just came to see the ruins. After you explore the ruins, you should take the trail (I don't know what it's called) that winds up to the top of the canyon - it's a good climb and there is a great view of the ocean, so beautiful. Parking is tough, so be prepared to walk a little bit to the trail since you'll probably have to park way out on the main road. Or come early. Or avoid the summer months. read more

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For the beautiful drive, the views, the fresh air and parking, Solstice Canyon gets five stars for me. If you are an active person, you'll find this hike very easy and would call this more of a walk then a hike. I would definitely classify this as a beginner hike and for me, it's perfect. There are several loops and the sign before the trail starts recommends trails depending on how much time you have. My top 3 tips to enjoy yourself here: Get here early: Parking can be difficult especially later in the day, it's best to get here early. Dog Friendly: Dogs love the hike here but there are some areas where dogs are not allowed on the trails so read the signs. If you park, leave nothing in your car: Even though the area is a champion when it comes to beauty, unfortunately, cars get broken into here. It happens everyhwere right? So just a warning, for locals and visitors alike, leaving stuff in your car is like asking for it, so please leave the valuables at home. I would hate for a bad experience like that to happen to someone after a beautiful hike. Bonus Tip: One of the trails leads to a beautiful but small stream of water "waterfall." I have a hard time calling it a waterfall as it's not what comes to mind when I think of a waterfall. Still it's beautiful, I loved the fresh mountain air and all the views. Can't wait to come back! read more

Yes definitely a great walk in Malibu. The path is kid friendly to walk most of the trail- wouldn't say stroller friendly.

This is a great hike that ultimately offers a breathtaking view of the ocean. When I went in late March, the stream was fairly weak and the waterfall was underwhelming. The real pay off of this hike was taking the longer route (not just to the waterfall and back) and going up the mountain. From there, I saw one of the best ocean views I've ever seen in my life. The trek up is challenging, but totally safe. There were no super narrow trails with steep fall offs,. The trail was well established, and I felt safe at all times. I would definitely do this hike again, but again, the real payoff for me is the ocean view rather than the waterfall. read more

Such a beautiful hike. The view of the mountains are amazing and the hike is very easy to walk. It's very short and you get to see the waterfall however due to the weather the waterfall is very small to look at, not enough water. I also enjoyed exploring the burned houses. Highly recommend taking your family or loved ones to this hike. read more

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Solstice Canyon is located right off the PCH in Malibu. It was rather difficult to find parking in the tiny lot, so I parked in the Dan Blocker beach parking lot across the street. It's worth mentioning that this is a paid parking lot that only lets you stay up to 90 minutes for about $2; I ended up hiking for two hours, but didn't get a ticket. I wouldn't chance it again though, because I suspect the only reason I didn't get ticketed was because it was Memorial Day. Walking towards the trailhead, I saw many people trying to park on the side of the road on Solstice Canyon Rd., which is probably a safer bet. As for the hike itself, there are several trails. The main trail is a short walk that leads you to a couple of houses that have long since burned down, but are still pretty cool to look at. If you go just a few hundred feet beyond the houses, you'll arrive at a small waterfall. I brought my dog, and saw several other people with dogs as well. On the walk back, I took a detour and went up a side path called Deer Valley Trail loop. This path starts out as an incline hike with no shade, then eventually tapers down into the forest into a fern-lined canyon with several small waterfalls and pools. I liked this trail better than the main trail because there were considerably less people and it felt like more of an actual hike. I heard there are several other paths crisscrossing all over Solstice Canyon, so I'll be back to check them out. read more

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This place is filled with history which was probably the best thing about this hike for me! Burned down houses that are being preserved as history landmarks. It's not a very long hike overall. It took me about 1.5 hour to complete. It was my first time and based on review I read on AllTrails they recommended that you start the loop counterclockwise, which I did. There's a lot of shade when you're going down the trail (again I did the loop counterclockwise so there's more shade at the beginning if you don't.) Great hike anyone. Not too hard. read more

The loop trail is only 3.4 miles long and is relatively easy. There's an extended trail called Deer Valley Loop nearby Robert Ranch house that would give you extra miles if you wanted it, taking this additional path would bring the hike up to moderate and give you a total of 6.7 miles. Parking is free, but the lot is small. It'll take about 30 cars with some overflow closer to the entrance. On a summer Sunday morning the lot filled up around noon. Pooches are also welcomed! I started my hike at 7am and thankfully completed the inclines under the cool shade of the mountains. Once you get to Robert's Ranch there's a look out for a waterfall to your right. If you plan on going up Deer Valley, take care to wear pants because it's the only place I saw poison oak, sometimes it will parallel the trail. You'll find it quiet up here aside from a few trail runners, but it's nice to be away from the crowd that frequent the main hike. Come here to check out the small cascades and the old Keller house. The peak alone will enchant you with its Malibu views. For a better workout, go counterclockwise on both loops which feature more dramatic inclines and gradual descents. There's much to see, but limited to explore. Even though I don't like the amount of signs declaring nonauthorized passage every which way, I do appreciate that the hike is thoroughly monitored as it deters vandals and keeps the trail relatively litter free, all the trash I picked up seem to have been discarded the same day. Do everyone a favor and don't contribute to it! Being that this is one of the most popular hikes in the Santa Monica mountains, expect to bump into a lot of people. But if you're in the area to enjoy Malibu this is a must see destination! read more

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