Hiking Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak

Sandstone formations atop Saddle Peak

Stunt High Trail begins with a gentle walk along Cold Creek, and then ascends through meadows and chaparral up the northern slope of Saddle Peak to offer great views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Stunt High Trail ends 3 miles from the start at Stunt Road, which is a rather anti-climactic high point. From there, cross the road and pick up the Backbone Trail to the top of Saddle Peak, the sixth tallest summit in the range. This excellent excursion to Saddle Peak is 8.2 miles round trip with 1700 feet of elevation gain.

Click here to see more photos from Stunt High Trail and Saddle Peak

From the trailhead, descend through an oak grove along the banks of Cold Creek, which flows year round. Turn left at the first junction and progress uphill through green fields with open views. The trail narrows to a single track as it crosses the UCLA-owned eco-classroom Stunt Ranch, a pristine preserve that UCLA is kind enough to let non-students enjoy. Continue straight through the next junction to remain on Stunt High Trail, passing a path leading to the right into Stunt Ranch.

A bench along Cold Creek

Stunt High Trail progresses southward, crossing a paved service road. After a short distance the trail hits Stunt Road (for the first time). There is a parking area here for those wishing to join the hike a mile and a half from the start. Turn right and cross the road, heading uphill a few hundred feet. The start of the next leg of the trail is just past mile marker 1.94 and difficult to see if you are not looking carefully.

Switchbacks climb quickly through a forest of bays, giving way to more gradual trail up chaparral-covered slopes. The views across Cold Creek Canyon toward the 2,163-foot Calabasas Peak will inspire you to hike that peak next if you haven’t already.

Calabasas Peak

Three miles from the start, the trail again reaches Stunt Road and another parking area, marking the top of Stunt High Trail. You could turn around here, but there is something inherently dissatisfying about hiking to a road and back. Fortunately, there is the option to continue. Just a few hundred feet to the right, on the other side of Stunt Road, is an access point to the Backbone Trail. Take the Backbone Trail for 1.1 miles, climbing 800 feet to a much more satisfying pinnacle, the summit of Saddle Peak.

A short distance from Stunt Ranch, turn left at the junction (otherwise you will be hiking 3.2 miles down to Piuma Road). The northern slope of Saddle Peak offers sweeping views of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Backbone Trail climbs past Manzanita trees and crosses a collection of large sandstone formations that beg to be climbed.

The trail continues to the east, bringing into view a radio tower-covered lower summit. Turn right at the next junction, leaving the Backbone Trail for a wide path that climbs to the 2,805-foot summit of Saddle Peak after one more turn to the left. From here, have a look down on the Malibu estates on the slopes below, and out at the Pacific Ocean (when the view is not covered by clouds).

Saddle Peak can also be reached via a shorter hike up the Backbone Trial from the east. Visit this Saddle Peak report for directions to this 2-mile hike (and to see photos of a clear view from the summit).

Looking northeast from Saddle Peak toward Topange Mountain

The directions to remember are:

1. Left at the first junction leaving the Cold Creek
2. Straight past the Stunt Ranch Trail
3. Straight across the paved service right
4. Right at Stunt Road to find the recommencement of the trail
5. Right at Stunt Road again at the top of Stunt High Trail to find the Backbone Trail
6. Left toward Saddle Peak
7. Right to leave the Backbone Trail for the summit
8. Left to reach the summit

Do the reverse on the return for an 8.2-mile round trip hike with great views of Malibu and Calabasas. Despite having 3 different pavement crossings, this trail immerses hikers into diverse greenery. No fee or permit is required, so get out and enjoy.

The parking lot at the base of Shunt High Trail is a popular one as it also services the Calabasas Peak Mountainway trailhead, delivering hikers to Calabasas Peak and Red Rock Canyon (both excellent hikes).

A butterfly enjoying Blue Dicks along the trail

To get to the trailhead: From the 101 freeway, exit Las Virgenes Road and head south toward Malibu. After 2.8 miles turn left, (east) on Mulholland Highway. After 4 miles, turn right on to Stunt Road and drive one mile. There is plentiful parking along the right side of the road next to the trailhead.

From the PCH, take Malibu Canyon Road until it becomes Las Virgenes Road. Turn right on to Mulholland Highway and take that to Stunt Road as described above.

Another option for those coming from the west side is to take the PCH north to Las Flores Road (Across from Duke’s restaurant), drive 3.4 miles up this narrow twisting canyon and turn right onto Rambla Pacifico St. After 0.6 miles make a sharp right onto Schueren Rd. and descend the backside of the mountain for 5 miles to arrive at the parking for Stunt High Trail from the other direction. This scenic route offers a high view on Malibu and the Pacific.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

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	You might also enjoy:
	Saddle Peak The 2-mile round trip hike to the summit climbs just 450 feet but offers fantastic views of Malibu and the Santa Monica Mountains.
	Red Rock Canyon The beautifully sculpted canyon has trails of 2.5 and 5 miles in length.
	Topanga Lookout This 2-mile hike to Topanga Lookout is an easy trek with excellent views of Malibu, Topanga, Calabasas, and beyond.
	Sandstone Peak This 6-mile loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains.
	Hikes in Los Angeles This list of trails explores the peaks and waterfalls of the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains