About This Event
Join us on an easy-pace, strenuous 11 mile hike on the Secret Trail to Calabasas Peak and onward to Red Rock Canyon and Zuniga Pond.
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/8/5/a/event_72798522.jpegThe Secret Trail (aka the Calabasas-Cold Creek Trail) winds its way through shaded ravines, dense chaparral and sandstone outcrops to Calabasas Peak Motorway which will take us to Calabasas Peak.
http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/4/a/4/e/event_72799022.jpegCalabasas Peak (2163ft) towers over Red Rock Canyon, Old Topanga Canyon and bowl-shaped Cold Creek Canyon. From the top there are spectacular views into Ventura County, the Pacific Ocean and San Fernando and Simi valleys. After a short stop at the peak its onward to Red Rock Canyon passing a variety of interesting geological formations, such as large weathered sandstone outcroppings and colorful rock slabs.
http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/0/5/a/event_72508762.jpegRed Rock Canyon is a unique riparian canyon within a sandstone gorge. It contains special rockland micro-habitats and acts as a key northern habitat linkage between Malibu Creek and Topanga State Parks. The canyon walls are fortified with huge red sandstone outcroppings, reminiscent of southwest canyons and gorges. Many of the formations have caves and arches that we can explore.
http://photos3.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/6/c/b/8/event_72507832.jpegThe 120-acre Zuniga Pond area permanently protects both the northern section of these rock formations and a historic pond containing a regionally significant population of endangered Southwestern pond turtles.
Directions to the trailhead:
The trail head is located on Mulholland Hwy less than a fifth of a mile west of Dry Canyon Cold Creek Road
From the 101 freeway in Agoura/Calabasas, head South on Las Virgenes Road to Mulholland. Turn Left on Mulholland and continue 5.7 miles to a small dirt parking lot on the right. or....
From 101 Ventura Fwy in the Vally: take Valley Circle/Mulholland Dr exit south, turn right on Valmar Rd (becomes Old Topanga Cyn Rd) then right on Mulholland Hwy 2.1 miles to dirt parking area on the left.
From PCH take Topanga Canyon and turn left up Old Topanga. Take a left at Mulholland for a couple miles and then turn left onto turnout
Bring at least 2 qts water, snacks, sunscreen.
