#Backbone rock trail how to

Views just as stunning as the ones we saw at Torrey Pines State Reserve, an extremely scenic coastal mesa near San Diego. However in this case, sneakers with waffle grip will do just fine.įrom some of the higher points of the rocks, you can see all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Generally, trekking anywhere in a nice pair of hiking shoes is always preferred. You should have no trouble climbing as long as you have the appropriate shoes! What’s nice is the rocks themselves have a very grippy texture. We either bring food for a picnic or just relax and take in the scenery. In the past, we’ve brought a few blankets to lay inside some of the small nooks within the rock. We love to scramble all along the boulders, explore the many different crevices, and see the incredible views atop the highest perch. They’re impossible to miss! A Favorite Natural PlaygroundĬlimbing on these tall rock formations really makes us feel like kids again.

3 miles on Mesa Peak Motorway, you will see on your left some of the huge rock structures of Backbone Trail. The vistas and minor rock scrambling will keep you entertained for hours.Īfter walking about. Hiking doesn’t need to be big on your list to enjoy spending a day exploring the immediate area of this location. Read more information on the longer hike to Mesa Peak in detail by. If you want, you can continue to hike longer along the trail all the way to Mesa Peak which is around 6.5 mile round trip. Even less if you like to walk faster than a stroll. This is the exact location where we start the trail.įor us, it only takes about 5- 10 minutes to reach the rock formations we are referring to. You can also view the map marker below at the bottom of this post. If needed, here are the exact coordinates you can plug into Google Maps: 34☀4’44.4″N 118☄5’20.1″W. There is unmarked dirt parking on each side of the road. On Google Maps it is called Mesa Peak Motorway. After about 15 minutes, you will see a dirt trailhead on the right. Take Corral Canyon Rd from Pacific Coast Highway, and head up the mountain for about 5 miles. To reach this specific location, you can easily access it by car. In total, there are 12 trailheads located along Backbone Trail.

#Backbone rock trail how to

💜 How to Get to Backbone Trail (one of many trailheads) This helps us to continue creating useful and valuable content for you and other visitors. If clicked through to make a purchase, the price remains the same for you and we will earn a small commission. (And no, you don’t need to rock climb or scramble like I am in the image below.) 🌻 Our content may contain affiliate links. This short excursion makes for a perfect trip if you only have one day or weekend for travel. We want to show you where you can access some of the charm of Backbone Trail within 5 minutes of parking your car. To reach the area we’re referencing specifically, you actually don’t even need to hike!

Keeping it Short and Sweetįor many, hiking parts of the trail at a time is preferred to the lengthier excursion that requires backpacking gear and at least a few days of continual hiking. If you do so, we recommend traveling with a group rather than by yourself for safety. If you are up for a challenge, you can choose to hike all 67 miles of Backbone Trail. Literally like the rocky backbone of the mountains! What is Backbone Trail?įirst of all, Backbone Trail is a whopping 67 miles long! The trail name “Backbone” was coined, because it literally runs through the entire range of the Santa Monica Mountains.įor me, I like to think it’s named due to the diverse rock formations scattered along the trail. To this day, the beauty and uniqueness of Backbone Trail always has us coming back for more. We’re lucky to have randomly stumbled upon what is now one of our favorite nature spots up in these mountains. But did you know that there are several hiking trails located just above Malibu in the Santa Monica Mountains? Obviously Malibu’s number one attraction is the beach. Not far from the busy city of Los Angeles, rests the quiet and beautiful beach city of Malibu. Climb and Explore the Unique Terrain of Backbone Trail