A Santa Monica mountain park in Tuna Canyon
It's a Santa Monica Mountains park called Tuna Canyon
Malibu Topanga California hiking trail Big Rock Lateral Highway Hearst Tank Motorway Pacific Ocean view Tuna Canyon Park Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
A 1255-acre park located between Topanga and Malibu preserves the beauty of the mountains. There are few visitors to the park, although it boasts some of the best ocean views in the Santa Monica Mountains. A 1500-foot ridge above a silken Pacific Ocean dominates Tuna Canyon Park, with views east to Santa Monica Bay and west to Malibu.
Both Hearst Tank Motorway and Big Rock Lateral lead to Tuna Canyon Park's main viewpoints. There are 16 miles of hiking to the east-facing viewpoint on Hearst Tank Motorway, and 38 miles of hiking to the west-facing viewpoint on Big Rock Lateral, both starting from the main trailhead. Explore both viewpoints on a 51-mile hike with 900 feet of elevation change, or check out a 62-mile trek along Budwood Motorway.
There is only a small sign indicating Tuna Canyon Park (perhaps this is why it is rarely visited), but you can find it on the outside of a bend in Tuna Canyon Road between Malibu and Topanga.
A dirt service road named Big Rock Motorway, 015 miles south, will lead to an unmarked junction. Hike up Hearst Tank Motorway to the highest point in the park, which is approximately 1800 feet high. Some of the only shade trees in the park are oak trees along the bottom of this dirt service road. In other areas, the sagebrush and chaparral provide stunning views.
Tuna Canyon Park
Hearst Tank Motorway ends at Santa Monica Bay
Two-thirds of the way up the 250-foot climb, the road passes a saddle that looks down on the Pacific. There are two more miles to the top of the ridge from the saddle. On the right, walk to a point with views of Malibu to the south and west. Continue east along the trail to the end for a view down the mountains toward Santa Monica Bay and inland toward downtown Los Angeles. In Topanga State Park to the northeast, Eagle Rock is visible. On the horizon are the upper peaks of the San Gabriel Mountains. It boasts one of the best views anywhere in the range on a clear day. Some visitors built a stone labyrinth at the tip to make you stay even longer.
Continue south along Big Rock Motorway to Big Rock Lateral when you reach the junction with Hearst Tank Motorway. Following a junction with Budwood Motorway, which breaks off to the left heading down to the Pacific, you gain approximately 50 feet of elevation.
On Budwood Motorway, you'll find a rise that offers views of Santa Monica Bay down a green canyon 055 miles away. At a 4-way split, either go straight over a knoll or turn right and hike around the hill. Continuing down the ridge, the trails split up again after a further two miles. The narrow trail continues down the canyon straight ahead. A rise protruding into the canyon provides a spectacular view. A similar (though not as grand) view is provided straight south of Hearst Tank Motorway. Back at the trailhead, if you're hiking up Budwood Motorway, you can explore the single-track that passes through an eucalyptus grove if you head north through the 4-way junction. Once you reach a broad oak tree, turn left to get back to the main trail.
Following Big Rock Motorway past Budwood Motorway toward Big Rock Lateral, you can enjoy a 180-degree view of the ocean. During the descent, the trail glances west over Las Flores Canyon toward Saddle Peak, the 6th tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains at 2805 feet.
Tuna Canyon Park
Saddle Peak is visible on the horizon as you look down Big Rock Motorway
You drop 250 feet over 9 miles from Hearst Tank Motorway to a Y-junction with Big Rock Lateral. The descent descends 400 feet in 3 / 4 of a mile to a landing looking west over Las Flores Canyon. There are clear landings along Big Rock Lateral offering beautiful views along the winding Malibu coast. It is a peaceful vantage point high above the surf, which offers a clear view of the oceanfront below. The view is worth the hike uphill after the trail dead-ends. 650 feet of elevation gain is gained on the 19-mile return hike on Tuna Canyon Road.
Tuna Canyon Park
Toward the bottom of Big Rock Lateral
A short distance east of the junction with Big Rock Lateral, Big Rock Motorway leads to a holding tank. In the area of Big Rock Road, a dirt trail meets a paved service road. Tuna Canyon Park has another access point here. It is steep on the paved road, but it offers even more views of the Pacific. The distance from Big Rock Drive to Big Rock Lateral is 06 miles, with an elevation change of 400 feet. You can start your hike at Big Rock Drive if you don't mind climbing and don't mind overdosing on ocean views (though parking at this trailhead has been disputed as described below in the comments).
Whether you explore Tuna Canyon Park's trails or not, you'll surely find lovely views. It is not necessary to obtain a permit to visit Tuna Canyon Park, and there is no parking fee. The park welcomes dogs and mountain bikes. Enjoy the ocean views at Tuna!