Corral Canyon Cave Hike towards Mesa Peak

The Caves

It was a lovely day for a hike, but we had a few work schedules to work around, so  we needed to find an easy. amazing hike with views that we could do around sunset.  Corral Canyon fit the bill.  It is a part of the Backbone Trail that starts  at the top of Corral Canyon and turns into Mesa  Peak Motorway, far from the crowds on a busy beach and hiking day.

Elephant Rock  

I liked this hike for its scavenger hunt appeal and the flat rock areas perfect for a happy hour spread.  Hike east from the parking lot towards the sandstone outcroppings, and follow a narrow trail through the slots and boulders.  Elephant rock, a small arch rock will be on the right side of the trail.  The trail becomes shady in spots and varies from uphill to downhill.  

Look for a car graveyard to the left of the trail in the bushes.  About a half mile into the hike, you will join a larger trail, Mesa Peak Motorway.  Continue hiking eastward, and the next set of geological formations will have a few caves to crawl in and a boulder to climb. There's also  a circular rock garden.   At the top of the boulder is where we decided to have happy hour.  

 We arrived at 6:00 p.m. and left around 8 :00 p.m.  So for a fast and easy access, it was great and the canyon and ocean views are amazing from the sandstone boulders.  If you want a longer hike, the Mesa Motorway continues all the way to Malibu Canyon. 

 

From Santa Monica, give yourself 45 minutes to the trailhead.  Take PCH towards Malibu, for about a half hour, passing the town of Malibu and Pepperdine University.  Turn right on Corral Canyon.  Follow the road to the end, it will become a gravel road, and parking will be a 

quarter of a mile on the gravel.

  

To keep the adventure going, I suggest eating at Old Place, http://www.yelp.com/biz/old-place-restaurant-agoura-hills a gem of a find hidden in the hills off of Kanan Dume Road.  The ambience is like no other, and it is small, so expect a wait, or try to make reservations in one of the three booths, but reservations are restricted to three time slots.  It is approximately a 45 minute drive from the trailhead, but you are very close to the 101 freeway for the drive home.