![]() ![]() Look for sagebrush, buckwheat, ceanothus, monkey flowers and coastal sage scrub, the only place on the Backbone Trail where these plants thrive. The higher you get the more you see - first the Channel Islands and then, inland, jagged Boney Ridge. It crosses lands lived on by the Chumash and Tongva, then settled by Spanish ranchers and early homesteaders, and later reimagined by hippies who laid claim to Topanga Canyon. It's a patchwork of old ranch roads, deer paths and newly designed sections. The trail's 67½ miles travel to woodsy canyons filled with native oaks and sycamores high points for views of the Channel Islands in one direction and the San Gabriel Mountains in the other and 16-million-year-old rock spires that look more like Arizona than L.A. Pull on your hiking boots and head out on the Backbone Trail to experience the most spectacular and wildest parts of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. To take the truly scenic route from Malibu to Pacific Palisades, you won't need a car. This story is part of our ultimate guide to hiking in L.A. This trail soon turns south and downward along the ridge, meeting back up at the “golf course.The sun sets behind the Santa Monica Mountains in a view from Eagle Rock along the Backbone Trail in Topanga State Park. The views of the area were beautiful.įrom the top, we headed back down the spur to the Inspiration Loop Trail, this time heading east on the fire road. We followed the signs directing us up the spur to Inspiration Point. ![]() There is an information board with a map of the area, and the Backbone Trail continues up this ridge. The single track trail finally emerges at the back of the the park, and the eastern boundary of Topanga State Park. It was all dry and brown in the summer, but would be lush and green in the springtime. This trail at times pass under a canopy of scrub and vines. We opted for the longer, more scenic route. 2 miles to Inspiration Point, or taking the single track trail to the right and a. ![]() Here we had the choice of continuing along the fire road for. We headed up the broad dirt trail in the shade of eucalyptus and oak trees.Īt 0.83 miles, we reached this junction. At the end of the grass area, the sign directs you to the beginning of the Inspiration Loop Trail. Will Rogers built a two-hole golf course for a friend of his who would visit. You might notice that the grassy area outside the house has what looks like sand traps - which in fact, they are. We walked along the veranda of the house, then followed the path along a stone wall to the trailhead. There are docent led tours of the house, and a visitors center with exhibits on the history of Will Rogers’ life and career. The house and grounds are being restored to the original state. If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.” – Will Rogers Today, you can still see polo matches and take horse riding lessons. When Will’s widow died, the land was given to the State of California on the condition that polo be played there every year. He bought the land back in the 1920s, and built a home, polo field, stable and hiking trails. Will Rogers was a cowboy, a vaudeville performer, humorist, social commentator and actor. The parking lot sits between the Will Rogers’ home and the polo field. The entrance fee was $12 per car, but I consider that a contribution to support the park system. Download GPXWe headed out to Will Rogers State Historic Park on a Sunday morning. ![]()
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