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Crags-Bulldog-Mesa Peak

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 3.9 (30)
  1. Areas
  2. CA
  3. …Southern California
  4. …Santa Monica Mountains NRA
  5. Malibu Creek State Park
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“This ride features a steep ascent/descent on fire road and passes near the outdoor location for the M*A*S*H sitcom/movie. ”

Lost Justpastnowhere
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Map Key

14.6

Miles

23.5

KM

15%

Singletrack

2,395' 730 m

High

468' 143 m

Low

2,667' 813 m

Up

2,657' 810 m

Down

7%

Avg Grade (4°)

25%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Unknown

Overview

This ride can be done in either direction but both feature a challenging fire road climb and a screaming fire road descent. There is some good, although short, singletrack: a portion of Crags Road along Malibu Creek, a fun, rocky section at the high point near mile nine, and the last mile of the descent on Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Trailhead to Tapia Trailhead. The Backbone Trail has great views and a cool ocean breeze in summer. At about mile 3.5, you can go back into a canyon where there is a small lake/swimming.

Need to Know

Bring $12 (2017) for parking in Malibu Creek State Park. The parking machines take credit cards.

Description

This loop starts outside the park along Malibu Canyon Road assuming you've found free parking outside Malibu Creek State Park. Take the fun little singletrack Tapia Spur Trail into the park.

This is followed with an easy ride out along Crags Road to the location for the M*A*S*H outdoor set. There is about a half mile of singletrack along Malibu Creek just before the M*A*S*H set.

Shortly after the M*A*S*H set, you'll start the long, arduous climb of Bulldog Motorway. Bring plenty of water and prepare for a long grind to the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains. Along the way, you'll enjoy sweeping views back into the Malibu State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains.

Once you reach the top of Bulldog Motorway, turn left onto Castro Peak Motorway and descend to the Corral Canyons Parking area. From there, you can continue following this loop along the Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Trailhead to Tapia Trailhead which initially is a steep but rewarding climb on a rutted, wind-formed, very grippy rock formation. The reward for this climb is a short descent of the same rock formation.

After that, the Backbone Trail joins the Mesa Peak Motorway for most of the descent down to Malibu Canyon Road. The last mile of the Backbone Trail is a steep, twisting singletrack descent. Enjoy, but watch for hikers. A short segment along Malibu Canyon Road completes the loop.

If you don't like the looks of the rock formation at the start of the Backbone Trail, you can continue a quarter mile on Castro Peak Motorway and then turn left onto the Upper Mesa Peak Motorway section which soon joins the route for the Backbone Trail.

History & Background

Much of Malibu Creek State Park is the former 20th Century Fox Ranch. It was used by the studio to shoot a number of movies. Perhaps though the property is best known as the outdoor site for M*A*S*H. (Since many of you are probably too young to remember - this was a movie and later popular television show set in a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital during the Korean War running from 1972-1983). You'll reach this site around 4.7 miles. There are a couple of very rusted vehicles, one less rusted ambulance, and a couple of informational placards.

Contacts

Land Manager: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Shared By:

Lost Justpastnowhere
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 30 votes

#2

in Malibu Creek State Park

#910

Overall
  3.9 from 30 votes
5 Star
33%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
20%
2 Star
13%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#2

in Malibu Creek State Park

#135

in California

#910

Overall
79 Views Last Month
11,758 Since Feb 20, 2015
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
0%
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23%
27%
46%
0%
Add a Photo

Photos

Corral Canyon rock formations
Dec 25, 2013 near Agoura…, CA
Speaking of cruising down with a majestic view.
Dec 14, 2015 near Agoura, CA
Looking up at the Castro Crest from the Corral Canyon rock slabs
Dec 25, 2013 near Agoura…, CA
MASH film site
Jan 4, 2015 near Agoura, CA
Corral Canyon
Nov 27, 2017 near Agoura, CA
Looking back from the peak. Well earned view.
Oct 7, 2017 near Agoura…, CA

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Add Your Check-In

Check-Ins

Jun 8, 2024
Niclas Chavez
rei road
May 1, 2024
Private User
Feb 14, 2023
Josh Neilsen
bridge out between campsite and MASH. There's some boards people were trying to use to cross, but rickity. we just took off our shoes/socks and wadded 15mi
Nov 19, 2022
Christine Tinberg
Nov 12, 2022
Christine Tinberg
best if ridden up bulldog, down mesa — 3h 30m
Oct 12, 2022
Jaime Castañeda
Jul 13, 2022
Gary Walker
Apr 24, 2022
Jose Carbajal

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