Top 10 Trail Riding Areas In the Santa Monica Mountains
Sullivan Canyon
Trailhead: Bayliss Road and Queensferry Rd.,
Brentwood
Description: Trail climbs gently along a canyon
stream bed for 3.5 miles, then climbs steeply for another mile to
Sullivan Ridge fire road.
Westridge, Brentwood
Trailhead: End of Westridge Road, Brentwood.
Description: Moderate 3.6-mile fire road climb to
San Vicente Mountain Park at Mulholland Highway (Dirt Mulholland).
Parallel singletrack exists to the east that is recommended for advanced
riders only
Rogers Road Trail
Trailhead: Will Rogers State Historic Park off
Sunset Blvd., Pacific Palisades.
Description: Moderate to difficult 7.5 mile
singletrack that climbs to intersection of Trailer Canyon (Fire Road 30)
in Topanga State Park.
Mulholland Highway (Dirt Mulholland)
Trailhead: Encino Hills Drive and Mulholland
Highway, Encino.
Description: Easy to moderate 8.5-mile wide dirt
road that takes you from Encino to Woodland Hills. Several trails branch
off of Dirt Mulholland including Mountaingate, Westridge Fire Road,
Sullivan Fire Road, Dirt Reseda/Caballero Canyon, Fire Road 30, and
Natoma Street.
Topanga State Park
Trailhead: Trippet Ranch, Entrada Road, Topanga
Description: Many miles of moderate to difficult
fire roads and difficult singletrack (Rogers Road Trail)
Malibu Creek State Park
Trailhead: Malibu Canyon Road just south of
Mulholland Highway, Calabasas.
Description: Main trail (Crags Road) follows a
stream bed 3.4-miles on relatively flat terrain over to Malibou Lake.
There are several options, including the moderately difficult Grasslands
Trail to the north and the difficult four mile climb up Bulldog Motorway
to the south.
Cheeseboro Canyon/Palo Comado Canyon
Trailhead: Chesebro Road, Agoura Hills
Description: Many miles of easy to difficult fire
roads and singletrack. This area has some of the most diverse riding in
the smallest proximity, making it a favorite of novices and experts
alike.
Backbone Trail (Coral Canyon, Solstice Canyon,
Zuma Canyon)
Trailhead: Parking area off Kanan-Dume Road, 4.3
miles north of Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu
Description: Mostly difficult with some very
difficult sections. Nine miles of out-and-back singletrack along canyons
and stream beds.
Conejo Open Space, Los Robles Trail
Trailhead: Moorpark Road and Greenmeadow St.,
Thousand Oaks.
Description: Moderate to difficult singletrack with
some double track. Seven miles out and back, trail ends at Potrero Road
in Newbury Park next to National Park Service’s Rancho Sierra Vista.
Point Mugu State Park
Trailhead: Potrero Road across from Dos Vientos,
Newbury Park.
Description: Many miles of trails from easy to
difficult fire roads and moderate to difficult singletrack.
