Category Archives: topanga state park

adventures, backbone trail, landscape, photography, running, running|adventures, santa monica mountains, topanga state park, trails|topanga state park

Will Rogers – Rivas Canyon – Temescal Canyon Trail Run

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.
Backbone Trail above Will Rogers State Historic Park
Backbone Trail above Will Rogers State Historic Park

The previous weekend I’d done an out and back run from the “Top of Reseda” to the Oak Tree on the Rogers Road segment of the Backbone Trail. It’s an enjoyable run I could do on one bottle of water and get back by mid-morning. Including Temescal Peak, the run was about 14 miles roundtrip, with about 1800′ of elevation gain/loss.

The Oak Tree on the Rogers Road segment of the Backbone Trail
The “Oak Tree” on the Rogers Road segment of the Backbone Trail

This weekend, I hadn’t expected to be back on the Backbone Trail and headed for the Oak Tree again, but last weekend’s run reminded me that I hadn’t done the Will Rogers – Rivas Canyon – Temescal Canyon/Ridge loop in a couple of years.

The 20+ mile loop is an outstanding trail run that is both challenging and scenic. Done clockwise from the Top of Reseda, the run down Rogers Road is as enjoyable as the climb out of Temescal Canyon is difficult. On paper, the elevation gain/loss is around 3400′, but for me the run is usually a bit more strenuous than that stat would suggest.

Century City, Downtown Los Angeles, San Gorgonio Mountain and San Jacinto Peak
Century City, Downtown Los Angeles, San Gorgonio Mountain and San Jacinto Peak

On the way out I usually do a short side trip to Temescal Peak, and on the way back a short detour to Temescal Lookout. With good visibility, both points have extensive, 360-degree views. Temescal Peak can be accessed from the Backbone Trail about 0.1 mile east of Temescal Ridge Fire Road via a use trail. Temescal Lookout is just off the Temescal Ridge Fire Road, about 0.5 mile north of the Trailer Canyon/Temescal Ridge Fire Road junction.

On a clear day, there is a long list of places and peaks visible along the route. Among them are Century City, Downtown, Santa Monica Bay, Palos Verdes, Catalina, Boney Mountain, Hines Peak, San Gabriel Mountains, Mt. Baldy, Santiago Peak, and sometimes San Gorgonio Mountain and San Jacinto Peak.

The steep climb on Temescal Ridge Fire Road up to Green Peak
The steep climb on Temescal Ridge Fire Road up to Green Peak

Water is usually available at Will Rogers State Historic Park at the restrooms adjacent to the main parking lot and polo field. I’ve also topped off my water at the Temescal Canyon trailhead. The Rivas Canyon Trail is used to connect Will Rogers SHP to Temescal Canyon.

Here’s an interactive, 3D terrain view of the Will Rogers – Temescal trail run. The map can be zoomed, tilted, rotated, and panned. To change the view, use the control on the upper right side of the screen. Track and placename locations are approximate and subject to errors. Poor weather, and other conditions may make this route unsuitable for this activity.

Some related posts: Will Rogers – Temescal Loop, Christmas Eve Trail Run, Chilly Los Angeles, Century City Clouds and Sun, Downtown Los Angeles and San Jacinto Peak

landscape, nature, nature|wildfire, nature|wildflowers, nature|wildlife, photography, photography|landscape, running, snakes, topanga state park, trails, trails|topanga state park, wildfire, wildflowers, wildflowers, wildlife

After the 2021 Palisades Fire – Snake Tracks and Monkeyflowers

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.

Rattlesnake track on Eagle Springs Fire Road following the May 2021 Palisades Fire

The rattlesnake track above was one of several snake tracks on Eagle Springs Fire Road this morning. This area, which is below Eagle Rock in Topanga State Park, was severely burned in the May 2021 Palisades Fire.

This photo of a blooming bush monkeyflower in the same area underscores the resilience of the chaparral biome.

Update February 2, 2024. Bush poppy (Dendromecon rigida)  has become a prolific and dominant fire follower in this area.

Some related posts: Trippet Ranch Loop After the Palisades Fire, Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails

landscape, nature, nature|wildfire, photography, photography|landscape, topanga state park, trails, trails|topanga state park, wildfire

Trippet Ranch Loop After the 2021 Palisades Fire

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.
Laurel sumac crown sprouting along Eagle Springs Fire Road
Laurel sumac crown sprouting along Eagle Springs Fire Road

The 2021 Palisades Fire began the evening of May 14, 2021 in Santa Ynez Canyon, near Michael Lane in Pacific Palisades. According to the Los Angeles Fire Department Palisades Fire incident page, 1202 acres were burned, one firefighter was injured, 710 structures were threatened, but no structures were damaged or destroyed. The fire was fully contained on May 26.

Most of Topanga State Park was closed as a result of the fire. The Park reopened, with restrictions, on June 11. On June 13, I found myself chugging up the Garapito Trail toward Eagle Rock, and wondering what I was going to find.

I was doing a variation of one of my favorite trail runs in the eastern Santa Monica Mountains — the Trippet Ranch Loop.

This trail run links together several single-track trails and fire roads between Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park (Top of Reseda) and Trippet Ranch. With the addition of an out and back segment on the the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail, the route included all the trails impacted by the fire.

Here are a few photos taken along the way.

Some related posts: 2021 Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails, Garapito Trail Runs, Trippet Ranch Loop Plus Temescal Peak

nature, topanga state park, trails, wildfire

2021 Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.

Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails

Update January 14, 2025.  if searching for the 2025 perimeter and trails, see the post 2025 Palisades Fire Perimeter and Some Area Trails.

Update January 9, 2025. For information regarding the 2025 Palisades Fire see the CalFire Palisades Fire Incident Page.

Update June 11, 2021. Topanga State Park was reopened with restrictions. See the Park website for details.

According to the Topanga State Park website, all but a small part of the Park is temporarily closed as a result of the 2021 Palisades Fire. With the closure of most of the Park, I’ve been curious to see which trails were affected by the fire.

Here’s an interactive, 3D terrain view of the 2021 Palisades Fire perimeter along with GPS tracks of some of the trails in the area. The scene can be zoomed, tilted, rotated and panned. Alternatively, here is a Google Earth image of the 2021 perimeter and trails.

The perimeter has a timestamp of 2021/05/20 08:36:18+00 and was downloaded from the National Interagency Fire Center(NIFC).

The locations of placemarks, trails, and other data are approximate and subject to error.

adventures, backbone trail, birds, landscape, nature, nature|weather, nature|wildlife, photography, photography|landscape, running, running|adventures, santa monica mountains, southern california, topanga state park, trails, weather, weather

Musch Meadow Frost

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.

Frost along the Backbone Trail at Musch Meadow

As I approached Musch Camp, a scrub jay flew from a trailside faucet and into a nearby eucalyptus. There had been a little rain the day before, but the birds at the closed camp were still thirsty. Less than a quarter-inch of rain had fallen, and nearby creeks were still dry.

Melting frost
Melting frost “steaming” at Musch Meadow

I was doing a run from the “Top of Reseda,” and on a warmer day would have topped off my water bottle at the camp. I stopped at the faucet and briefly turned on the spigot. Maybe that would make it easier for the jay.

Leaving the camp behind, I continued south on the Backbone Trail, across frost-covered Musch Meadow. Early morning sun had just reached the meadow, and water vapor from the melting frost steamed in the cold air.

In another mile I reached the Trippet Ranch trailhead, and then begin the six mile run back to the Valley. At several points on the run there had been wintry views of the local mountains. On the way back the best view of the snowy mountains was from the Hub, where Mt. Baldy could be seen gleaming white in the morning sun.

Some related posts: Garapito Trail Runs, Musch Trail Mule Deer, Musch Trail Morning

adventures, backbone trail, landscape, nature, photography, running, topanga state park, trails

Trippet Ranch Oak Grassland

first published & last updated
Click on thumbnails for more info & larger image.

Trippet Ranch oak grassland

Taken on today’s trail run from the “Top of Reseda” to Trippet Ranch and back.

Here’s a Cesium 3D interactive view of a GPS track of my usual route. Today I did the Garapito and Musch Trails on the way out, then ran the fire roads on the way back.

Some related posts: The Heavenly Ranch in the Hills, Garapito Trail Runs