Objective: Hike to Temescal Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, California
Distance: 4.2 miles (out and back)
Elevation Gain: 1,000’
Difficulty: Moderate

Climb a ridge. Check out Skull Rock. Stand on a bridge and look at a dry waterfall. Walk through a lovely tree-lined canyon path. The Temescal Canyon hike has a little bit of everything.

Directions to Trailhead

From Pacific Palisades, continue north on CA-1 (PCH). Turn right on Temescal Canyon Road and find street parking before Sunset Boulevard. (Avoid the $12 parking lot fee and hypersensitive stop sign cameras.) Walk to the trailhead at the back of the Temescal Gateway Park parking lot.

Trail

Trailhead: Start hiking on the Temescal Ridge Trail. In a few hundred feet, keep left to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail.
0.7 miles: At the junction, keep right to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail.
0.8 miles: At the junction, keep right to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail.
1 mile: At the junction, keep left to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail.
1.4 miles: At the junction, keep left to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail.
1.6 miles: At the junction, keep left to stay on the Temescal Ridge Trail. (This is the quick detour to Skull Rock.)
1.9 miles: You have reached Skull Rock. Turn around to return to the loop.
2.2 miles: At the junction, turn left.
2.4 miles: At the junction, turn left onto the Temescal Canyon Trail.
4.1 miles: At the junction, turn left onto the Temescal Ridge Trail. Return to the trailhead.

Trek Highlights

There are some wooden steps at the start. This clockwise loop hike begins on Temescal Ridge Trail. It climbs on the ridge to the west of the canyon. There is not much shade, but the climb is rather steady. After 1.6 miles, you will leave the loop for a quick detour to Skull Canyon. After Skull Rock, return to the loop, where it is all downhill the rest of the way.

At about 2.8 miles, you will cross a bridge above the light trickle of Temescal Falls.

The Temescal Canyon Trail descends through the ample shade of Temescal Canyon. The trees shake hands above the trail and form a pleasant canopy. The trunks and branches seem to twist and contort in every direction.

Red Tape

Avoid the $12 parking lot fee and hypersensitive stop sign cameras.

Photos