La Jolla-- A Real "Jewel" Of A Hike

March 10, 11:34 PMLA Hiking ExaminerJohn Hanssen

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 The word "La Jolla" is Spanish for "The Jewel", and that is about the best way to describe the gorgeous sights of La Jolla Canyon.  This magnificent area is located in Point Mugu State Park, just west of the Santa Monica mountains on Pacific Coast Highway.  This place could very well be described as a land out of time, with its massive walls of bedrock, interesting assortment of plant life, and long, grassy prairies.  One would never guess that this canyon lies directly next to the beautiful Pacific Ocean, until he or she was on the higher terrain above.

The hike begans within a narrow canyon fillied with coastal sage, Sycamore and Oak trees, along with prickly pear cactus and very scenic walls of rock.  In Spring, the canyon is filled with a wide variety of wild flowers that create a pleasant floral mosaic that paints the land with such exquisite care.  After hiking through the narrow canyon for about the first two miles, then comes the magnificent open valley filled with a tall grass prairie, making the hiker feel as if he is starring in the epic film "Dances With Wolves."  (Thankfully, no wolves can be found on this hike, though.)  From this prairie of La Jolla Valley, the hiker gets a magnificent shot of Boney Mountain to the east, a spectacular, three thousand foot mountain loaded with massive outcroppings of exposed bedrock.  It is a feature that looks very much like something one would see from dinosaur times and is definitely worth a view.  

Within La Jolla Valley there are many places to trek around, along with a number of rustic campsights located in groves of tall coastal oak trees.  On the hike, especially at the beginning, one will generally run into quite a number of people, for this canyon has gained quite a bit of popularity over the years.  Even with this heavy visitation rate, though, the land is very clean with very little, if any, trash or graffiti to spoil the scene.  

Getting there is quite easy.  If you are heading from the Los Angeles area, just take the Pacific Coast Highway out of Santa Monica and drive on the highway through Malibu.  After Malibu, keep heading up PCH until you come to the sign that says "La Jolla Canyon".  The trailhead is very near Mugu Rock and is very visible from this point.  You can either drive into the parking lot and park, which costs about five dollars, or, you can do what many other hikers do and just park out on Pacific Coast Highway.  This area is free of charge and is really not that far at all from the trailhead.  

Enjoy La Jolla Canyon--a hike that is truly a diamond in the rough.