Trailspotting California, New England, New Hampshire and More

Malibu Creek State Park, CA

• 5-star hike
• 2 to 6 mile options
• Easy | Gain 80 to 370 feet
• Calabasas, CA | Los Angeles Region
.

The image shows a wooden signpost with multiple directional signs pointing to various locations around the world. The signpost is set against a backdrop of a mountainous landscape with clear skies. Each sign indicates the distance to a different destination, making it interesting as it highlights the vast distances between places. This signpost design is inspired by the iconic sign from the MAS*H TV show, which depicted the distances to various places around the world from the fictional 4077th MASH unit in Korea. The show's sign became a cultural symbol, representing the longing for home and the connections between far-flung places during the Korean War.

Home is a lot closer than this replica sign makes it look.

The 20th Century Fox Ranch, now known as Malibu Creek State Park, is a wonder of dramatic vistas that are different in every direction in which you might look. Which explains why it continues to be so popular as a movie filming location. Cary Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Marlon Brando, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Elvis Presley and Paul Newman have worked on set here.

⬤ Crags Road Trail
The Malibu Creek park is possibly best known however for the M*A*S*H movie and television show where many of the exterior shots were filmed for over a decade. Follow the Crags Road trail for 2.4 miles and you'll be on the set yourself, complete with a restored ambulance, a replica signpost and two burned out vehicles that were used in the last season of the show. Be sure to look for the helipad area, just South of the former camp site.

On the way you'll also pass by the site of the village from the Planet Of The Apes (1968) movie. The park has some great interpretive signs reminding you of this and other park facts.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 5★ Crags Road Trail 6.3 mi out & back, easy, gain 370 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions GPX?

⬤ 4★ Crags Road to Rock Pools 2.2 mi out & back, easy, gain 80 ft
GPX File · AllTrails · Directions

⬤ 4★ Side Trip: Lookout Trail

⬤ 4★ Side Trip: Chaparral Trail

$ CA State Park fee

The walk down the wide Crags Road is undemanding and flat, but with the dramatic landscapes to keep you entertained you'll hardly notice. At around the 1.6 mile mark things get a little harder where the creek has found its own path around what looks like something that was intended to be a bridge. To pass the creek you'll want to look around for the best way across - I saw people navigate a makeshift crossing of logs, but I chose to head to my left where I found a place that I could just stride across. From here the road narrows into a trail, snaking through the canyon to the M*A*S*H location.

Some like to end their hike with the M*A*S*H filming location at the 2.4 mile mark, but if you have the energy we'd recommend continuing to the trail's end at the base of the Malibou (sic) Lake dam. Although there's no way to see or access the lake itself, you do pass close by more of the local rocky terrain.

The image shows a vintage military ambulance vehicle parked in a natural setting with trees, bushes, and mountains in the background. The vehicle is olive green with a large red cross on a white background painted on its side, indicating its use as a medical transport. The scene is set under a clear blue sky, suggesting a bright and sunny day.

The image shows a vintage military ambulance vehicle parked in a natural setting with trees, bushes, and mountains in the background. The vehicle is olive green with a large red cross on a white background painted on its side, indicating its use as a medical transport. The scene is set under a clear blue sky, suggesting a bright and sunny day.

A restored M*A*S*H 4077 ambulance.

The gorges in Malibu Creek park were formed from layers of sea-floor lava which became tilted and exposed to the air by compression between the North American and Pacific tectonic plates. Air bubbles were originally trapped in the seafloor lava as it rapidly cooled, and now exposed to the elements those odd holes in the rock now make great nesting places for the hundreds of white-throated swifts that flit around the canyon.

⬤ Crags Road to Rock Pools
Not everyone comes here to hike the movie locations. Malibu Canyon is a great setting for a picnic, and others like to hike as far as the rock pools or climb the walls and boulders nearby. We've plotted out a shorter hike that will lead you to the rock pools which is usually busy with waders and sightseers.

⬤ Side Trip: Lookout Trail
Extend your journey by 1.0 miles and 300 feet by heading up the Cage Creek trail (keep right) and looping around on the Lookout Trail for some excellent Malibu Creek Canyon views.

⬤ Side Trip: Chaparral Trail
This route behind the visitor center winds around the hillside and back to Crags Road. Total journey length is increased by only 0.3 miles and 170 feet if you use this as your return route rather than Crags Road.

The image shows a scenic landscape featuring a river flowing through a valley with mountains in the background. The sky is clear with some scattered clouds, and the area is surrounded by greenery and trees, some of which appear to be bare. The mountains have a rugged appearance with patches of green vegetation. The river reflects the blue sky, adding to the picturesque quality of the scene.

The image shows a scenic landscape featuring a river flowing through a valley with mountains in the background. The sky is clear with some scattered clouds, and the area is surrounded by greenery and trees, some of which appear to be bare. The mountains have a rugged appearance with patches of green vegetation. The river reflects the blue sky, adding to the picturesque quality of the scene.

One of many dramatic viewpoints along the Crags Road trail.

The image shows a scenic landscape with rolling green hills under a partly cloudy blue sky. In the foreground, a group of people is sitting on a blanket, possibly having a picnic. The hills are dotted with trees and shrubs, and there is a wooden bridge visible in the mid-ground.

The image shows a scenic landscape with rolling green hills under a partly cloudy blue sky. In the foreground, a group of people is sitting on a blanket, possibly having a picnic. The hills are dotted with trees and shrubs, and there is a wooden bridge visible in the mid-ground.

Plenty of places for a picnic, close to the parking lot.

The image shows a scenic landscape with a dirt trail leading into a valley surrounded by rocky hills and lush greenery. The sky is clear with a few scattered clouds, and the overall setting appears to be a natural hiking area

The image shows a scenic landscape with a dirt trail leading into a valley surrounded by rocky hills and lush greenery. The sky is clear with a few scattered clouds, and the overall setting appears to be a natural hiking area

Filming location for the Planet Of The Apes village..

Tangents:
• Official: Malibu Creek SP
• AllTrails Public: Malibu Lake Tr
• More Links: Movie Location
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

LA's Best Trails
Explore the natural side of Los Angeles with Trailspotting's Best Trails feature.

Best hiking trails and rail trails in California

Best Trails of California
See our favorite hiking trails for each region of California.

Trailspotting the Southwest (Joshua Tree)

Trailspotting the Southwest
See our growing collection of hikes from the Southwestern US states.