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A Trail That Doesn’t Go Anywhere

first published April 20, 2025 & last updated May 1, 2025 Gary Valle

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Coast redwood in Malibu Creek State Park scorched by the 2018 Woolsey Fire — Coast redwood scorched by the 2018 Woolsey Fire

Jogging east on the Forest Trail, I stopped to take in the sights and sounds of the early morning. A chorus of bird songs filled the canyon, oblivious to the roar of a passing jet. There was the familiar “honking” of Canada geese and the happy improvisations of a spotted towhee, but also several other birds I could not identify.

Curious to see what Merlin Bird ID would find, I started the app and watched as it matched the songs of a red-winged blackbird, yellow warbler, ash-throated flycatcher, northern house wren, and yellow-breasted chat.

Continuing along the trail, I rounded a corner where some fallen trees had been cleared and was surprised to see someone else hiking toward me.

“You know this trail doesn’t go anywhere,” He commented.

I told him I knew, but I just liked being on the trail.

Bush poppy along the Lake Vista Trail in Malibu Creek State Park. (thumbnail) — Bush poppy along the Lake Vista Trail

That’s the thing, a trail doesn’t have to “go somewhere.” If you are open to what it tells you, a trail can take you on a journey beyond its start and end. On a trail, you can explore and experience the wonders of Nature and all that is around you.

The Forest Trail is one of the special trails of Malibu Creek State Park. I often include it when doing more well-known and popular routes, such as the Bulldog Loop and Phantom Loop.

Earlier, I’d used the Cistern, Lookout, and Yearling Trails to run through Reagan Ranch to the parking area near Mulholland Hwy and Lake Vista Drive. Frost covered the grass near the top of the Cage Creek Trail. I’d dressed for what the temperature would be later in the morning, and my hands complained of the cold.

From the parking area off Lake Vista Drive, an indistinct trail leads south along a fence line and private property to a steep SCE service road. The dirt road can be followed to the western trailhead of the Lake Vista Trail. Once on the trail, it’s about a tenth of a mile up to a pretty overlook of Malibou Lake.

Parry's Phacelia along the Lake Vista Trail in Malibu Creek State Park. (thumbnail) — Parry’s Phacelia along the Lake Vista Trail

From the overlook, the Lake Vista Trail winds in and out of ravines on the north side of “Lake Vista Butte” as it descends to the Deer Leg Trail. This stretch of trail is home to one of the largest populations of hummingbird sage I have seen on a local trail. The aromatic, distinctly-colored, large-flowered member of the Mint Family stands out along the trail. Also blooming on the Lake Vista Trail were bush poppy, stinging lupine, and Parry’s Phacelia.

Back on the Forest Trail, I continued to count the coast redwoods that survived the 2011-2015 drought and the 2018 Woolsey Fire. In July 2016, I counted about sixteen redwoods, some of which were multi-trunked. At that time only one tree appeared to be dead. Today, I counted six surviving redwoods.

There are three solitary trees and three multi-trunked clusters of trees. Two of the solitary trees appear to be those originally planted in the Century Lake area more than 100 years ago. One old redwood is on the Crags Road Trail, near the start of the Forest Trail, and the other is on the north side of the Forest Trail, as it nears Century Lake.

A very young, naturally germinated redwood is found near the east end of the Forest Trail. The three multi-trunked family groups appear to be intermediate in age and could also be naturally germinated.

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Ahmanson Ranch’s Green Hills And Early Spring Wildflowers Will Soon Be Gone

published April 17, 2025 Gary Valle

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Invasive mustard covering a hillside in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (Ahmanson Ranch)

Before you know it, the green hills of Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (Ahmanson Ranch) will have turned brown, and many of the early Spring wildflowers blooming along the area’s trails will be just a memory.

At the moment, all of the wildflowers mentioned in my previous post can still be found, but the earliest bloomers — such as goldfields — are gradually going away.

Catalina mariposa lily (thumbnail) — Catalina mariposa lilies

Some additional wildflowers that may currently be seen along Ahmanson Ranch trails include: Catalina mariposa lily, blue Dicks, monkey flower, fiddleneck, miniature lupine, and arroyo lupine.

Invasive mustard has become very prevalent, not only in the Kenneth Fire burn area, but throughout Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. It is picturesque when blooming, but fields and slopes covered in mustard increase the fire hazard when the stalks and leaves dry out under the hot summer sun.

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Ahmanson Ranch Poppies, Goldfields, Red Maids, and a Rattlesnake

published April 5, 2025 Gary Valle

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California Poppies at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

At first glance you might think there aren’t any wildflowers at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (Ahmanson Ranch). The grasses, mallow, mustard and other invasives tend to crowd them out, but the wildflowers are there.

As seen in the title photo, there are a few nice patches of California poppies. Unless you have a sharp eye, you probably won’t see them from the parking lot. They like warm, west-facing slopes. If it’s early morning or chilly, their blossoms will be tightly furled to protect against the cold.

Goldfields on Lasky Mesa (thumbnail) — A patch of goldfields on Lasky Mesa

Individual goldfields (Lasthenia gracilis) may go unnoticed, but it’s hard to miss the bright yellow patches of goldfields scattered around Laksy Mesa.

Red maids is another vibrantly-colored wildflower. Its rose-lavender blossoms stand out from the green of the grasses. Small patches of the flowers can be seen just about anywhere at Ahmanson in late Winter and early Spring.

Also grabbing my attention during a recent run was a small rattlesnake on the fire road in East Las Virgenes Canyon. It may be young and small, but it’s just as venomous as an adult snake. With warming temps, more encounters with snakes are likely.

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The Best Trailhead for Trail Running in Malibu Creek State Park

published March 27, 2025 Gary Valle

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Talepop Trail - Malibu Creek State Park

In a 2013 post, I suggested that the Cistern/Phantom Trailhead on Mulholland Highway might be the best trailhead to start the Bulldog Loop.

More than 10 years and a lot of trail running miles later, I still prefer to do the Bulldog Loop from that trailhead. More than that, most of the trail runs I do in Malibu Creek State Park are from the Cistern/Phantom Trailhead.

There are two key reasons — the scenery is spectacular and the route options endless. Over the past year, I’ve run from the Cistern/Phantom Trailhead a dozen times, on routes ranging from 2 to 23 miles.

Two of those runs were this March. One was on March 9. I’d done the Bulldog Loop several times recently, so the idea was to do a Bulldog-length run, without doing the Bulldog Loop. It was a “follow my nose” run that included Reagan Ranch, Malibou Lake overlook, Crags Road, Tapia Spur Trail, Grasslands Trail, Talepop Trail, Las Virgenes Trail, Liberty Canyon Trail, and Phantom Trail. It turned out to be about 17 miles, with an elevation gain/loss of about 2400′.

I enjoyed that run so much, I came back a week later and did a similar run. But this time the route included the Bulldog Loop. The idea was to use established trails and do the longest loop I could in Malibu Creek State Park, without repeating any part of the route. The run turned out to be about 23 miles, with around 4200′ gain/loss.

It was an outstanding run, with a delicate creek crossing, eye-catching halo, green hills, Spring wildflowers, and an unusual encounter with a Great Blue Heron (video).

Here’s an interactive, 3-D terrain view of the 23-mile loop in Malibu Creek State Park, and a few photos from the run.

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If Running at Ahmanson Could Always Be Like This…

published March 17, 2025 Gary Valle

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Green hills and clouds in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

Cool weather, light winds, picturesque clouds, and Dales-green hills… If running in Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve (Ahmanson Ranch) could always be like this.

Here are a few more photos from the run.