Hiking Zuma Ridge Trail in Malibu

October 22, 12:30 PMLA Outdoor Recreation ExaminerSeth Smigelski

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A panoramic turnoff along the Zuma Ridge Trail

The Zuma Ridge Trail is a wide dirt service road which weaves northwest up the back of the ridge west of Zuma Canyon. The hike starts at the base of the flood plane, but quickly leaves the shrubby canyon for grassy hillsides. The views improve as the trail climbs, and there are several great lookouts of Zuma Beach, Point Dune, Malibu High School, and the ocean beyond.

• Click here to see more photos of Zuma Ridge Trail

Looking down from the Zuma Ridge Trail

Zuma Ridge Trail

Zuma Ridge Road swings north providing long views west of Trancas Canyon. Continue along the road for 2.7 miles (and 1500 feet of elevation gain) until you come to a marked intersection with Edison Road. Enjoy this perched view of Upper Zuma Canyon and evaluate the options.

• Option 1, the obvious one, is to turn around, for a 5.4-mile out-and-back.
• Option 2 is to continue straight ahead, dropping 1,000 feet over an additional 3.2 miles to Encinal Canyon Road.
• Option 3 is to turn right on Edison Road and take the long way home, dropping down into Zuma Canyon and climbing up the opposite ridge. To complete this 10.6-mile loop, Hike the Edison Road for 3.9 miles and turn right on the Zuma Canyon Connection trail, Take this to Ocean View Trail and descend to the Bonsall Trailhead. To return to the Busch Trailhead at the base of Zuma Ridge Trail, take the 0.6-mile Ridge-Canyon Access Trial (off the Zuma Loop Trail).
• The last common option, typically completed in the opposite direction, involves an off-trail trek through the wild Zuma Canyon to get between Zuma Canyon Trail and Edison Road for an 8-mile round-trip loop.

Edison Road crossing Zuma Canyon

For more information on the trails in Zuma Canyon, read the National Park Service brochure and Jerry Schad's 101 Hikes in Southern California.

Zuma Canyon trail map courtesy of NPS

The Zuma Ridge Trail leads to less-traveled corners of the Santa Monica Mountains. Parking at the trailhead and the views of the Pacific are free, so get out and enjoy!

To get to the trailhead: Follow the PCH to Malibu and make a right on Busch Drive (about a mile west of Kanan Dune Road and just before Zuma Beach). Drive north on Busch Drive, turning right at the second intersection to remain on Busch Drive. The trailhead starts at the dirt parking lot at the end of the road.

The Zuma Ridge Trail is also reachable from the adjacent Bonsall Road Trailhead. See the Zuma Canyon Trail review for directions. Those starting from Bonsall Road should take the Zuma Loop Trail which connects to the Zuma Ridge Trail after 0.4 miles.

Use the map below to create your own directions:

View Hiking reviews around Los Angeles in a larger map

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