A $10 day use fee is charged to park at Trippet Ranch (price as of 2018). The Trippet Ranch trailhead area is open from 8:00 a.m. Although mountain bikes are not permitted on Musch Trail, they are allowed on all the other wide trails in Topanga State Park. Turn left and stroll back to Trippet Ranch, just a tenth of a mile away.ĭogs are not allowed on this hike in Topanga State Park. Then slip down across a small shaded ravine before emerging from the oaks to cross one last grass slope down to a paved road. Have a seat and enjoy the view over Topanga Canyon. You will reach a bench along the trail with 2/3 of a mile to go. Take a swig from the water fountain and continue down Musch Trail, which angles to the right through a grass field and more chaparral. Sites may be reserved for $7 per night on a first-come first-serve basis (price as of 2018). This hike-in campground offers eight tent sites to backpackers with amenities like picnic tables, drinking water, and flush toilets. Weave down a slope of chaparral and sage over 1.1 miles to reach Musch Camp. Hiking back on Musch Trail: As you descend the dirt single track, you will be facing out from the mountain, enjoying grand views over Topanga Canyon and the Santa Monica Mountains to the west. This 3.4-mile extension will add a second summit and a loop to your hike to Eagle Rock (effectively extending the hike by 2.9 miles as it replaces the half mile hike back down Eagle Rock Fire Road). Return to Hub Junction and take Eagle Springs Fire Road west for 1.3 miles to reach Eagle Junction at the other end of Eagle Rock Fire Road and the top of Musch Trail. Head south on Temescal Ridge Trail for half a mile, make a left up the Backbone Trail and another left up a single track to reach the 2,1,26-foot top of Temescal Peak, 1.4 miles from Eagle Rock. Want more? To extend the hike to another summit, continue east from Eagle Rock on Eagle Rock Fire Road for 0.7 to Hub Junction. Don’t turn back now! First hike up Eagle Rock Fire Road. To the far left, Musch Trail descends toward Musch Camp and Trippet Ranch. To the left, another wide trail, Eagle Rock Fire Road angles uphill to Eagle Rock. Straight ahead Eagle Spring Fire Road continues northeast toward Temescal Ridge. After another 0.8 miles, the trail crests a high point in the ridge at 1,700 feet and gradually descend to a 4-way junction. To the left, you can look down over Topanga Canyon and across the range toward Topanga Lookout and Saddle Peak.

Santa Ynez Canyon and a sliver of the Pacific can be seen to the right. (From the bottom of Santa Ynez Canyon to Eagle Rock is 7.4-mile round trip with 1,400 feet of elevation gain.) Approaching Eagle Rock on Eagle Springs Fire RoadĬontinue up Eagle Springs Fire Road, which climbs a grass covered ridge, delivering growing views over the Santa Monica Mountains. This trail can be used to reach Eagle Rock from a trailhead lower in the Pacific Palisades. Just before the last batch of trees, approximately 0.4 miles from the start, you will pass a junction with Santa Ynez Canyon Trail on the right. The wide and well maintained trail continues uphill through a few more clusters of oaks in an area beloved by the park’s mule deer population. Turn left, heading northeast toward Eagle Rock. To the right, East Topanga Fire Road heads south toward Parker Mesa Overlook.

After a quarter mile, you will come to a T-junction. Begin up the wide fire road departing from the south end of the parking lot next to the sign labeled “Trippett Ranch Trailhead.” Follow the connection trail as it turns right then left up a grassy slope spotted with oaks. Make the hard left turn on Eagle Rock Fire Road and climb half a mile up the rutted road to Eagle Rock.ĭo the Loop: For loopy hikers, you will catch the best views taking Eagle Springs Fire Road to Eagle Rock and returning to Trippet Ranch via Musch Trail. Musch Trail ends at a junction with Eagle Springs Fire Road, alongside the connection trail to Eagle Rock. You will climb 350 feet over the next 1.1 miles as the views over Topanga Canyon and the Santa Monica Mountains grow and grow. Stay to left through the trail camp and push up the mountain slope. A quarter mile ahead, take the sharp right turn in the trail and continue another tenth of a mile to Musch Camp.

Eagle rock