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Piuma Overlook

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area encompasses a broad range of parks and publicly owned open space areas, ranging from 10,000-acre-plus state parks to tiny parcels situated to protect unusual natural habitat, or to preserve cultural and historic resources, or to allow public access to spectacular vistas. One example of the latter is the parcel known as the “Malibu Canyon Piuma Ridge.” There, high atop the rim of Malibu Canyon, you can take a short hike to a restful spot with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains spilling down toward it.

The hike is practically trivial, but getting there involves some adventurous driving on curvy roads. From Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, turn north on Las Flores Canyon Road. Proceed 3.4 miles to Rambla Pacifico, and turn right. Go 0.6 mile to Piuma Road and turn left. Now head west on Piuma for about three miles, and notice the Piuma roadside overlook on the left. The obscure starting point for the trail (a small parking area on the left side of the road) is 0.25 mile farther, at mile post 2.91. The little hike ahead is great for kids, and your leashed dog might appreciate the chance to sniff around a bit and enjoy the exciting scents of the natural world.

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From the trailhead, follow a former roadbed (now a wide trail) that ascends the brushy slope. After only about 0.3 mile and 150 feet of elevation ascent, you arrive at a flattish, open area featuring two picnic tables and a virtually unlimited view. Gaze eastward to spot the dramatically tilted sandstone strata on the west flank of Saddle Peak. Look westward into Malibu Creek State Park and spot the dramatic profile of the Goat Buttes — a mini-mountain range of volcanic origin. Scan the ocean in the south to as far as the transparency of the air will allow. Those bumps out there in various directions are the Channel Islands, the nearest of which is Santa Catalina Island, about 45 miles away.

Piuma Overlook
Enjoy a wide-world view from Piuma Overlook in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Distance from downtown San Diego: 145 miles
Hiking length: 0.6 mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy

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The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area encompasses a broad range of parks and publicly owned open space areas, ranging from 10,000-acre-plus state parks to tiny parcels situated to protect unusual natural habitat, or to preserve cultural and historic resources, or to allow public access to spectacular vistas. One example of the latter is the parcel known as the “Malibu Canyon Piuma Ridge.” There, high atop the rim of Malibu Canyon, you can take a short hike to a restful spot with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Monica Mountains spilling down toward it.

The hike is practically trivial, but getting there involves some adventurous driving on curvy roads. From Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, turn north on Las Flores Canyon Road. Proceed 3.4 miles to Rambla Pacifico, and turn right. Go 0.6 mile to Piuma Road and turn left. Now head west on Piuma for about three miles, and notice the Piuma roadside overlook on the left. The obscure starting point for the trail (a small parking area on the left side of the road) is 0.25 mile farther, at mile post 2.91. The little hike ahead is great for kids, and your leashed dog might appreciate the chance to sniff around a bit and enjoy the exciting scents of the natural world.

Sponsored
Sponsored

From the trailhead, follow a former roadbed (now a wide trail) that ascends the brushy slope. After only about 0.3 mile and 150 feet of elevation ascent, you arrive at a flattish, open area featuring two picnic tables and a virtually unlimited view. Gaze eastward to spot the dramatically tilted sandstone strata on the west flank of Saddle Peak. Look westward into Malibu Creek State Park and spot the dramatic profile of the Goat Buttes — a mini-mountain range of volcanic origin. Scan the ocean in the south to as far as the transparency of the air will allow. Those bumps out there in various directions are the Channel Islands, the nearest of which is Santa Catalina Island, about 45 miles away.

Piuma Overlook
Enjoy a wide-world view from Piuma Overlook in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Distance from downtown San Diego: 145 miles
Hiking length: 0.6 mile round trip
Difficulty: Easy

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The latest copy of the Reader

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

La Clochette brings croissants—and cassoulet—to Mission Valley

Whatever's going on with this bakery business, Civita Park residents get a decent meal
Next Article

Barrio Logan’s very good Dogg

Chicano comfort food proves plenty spicy
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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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