The La Jolla Valley Loop Trail is a popular hiking trail at the western end of the Santa Monica Mountains in Pt. Mugu State Park. We hiked this trail years ago on a warm summer's day in July of 1997, and despite traversing some areas of open chaparral, we also trekked through some shady spots with oak-lined creeks and waterfalls. In fact, it was on this trail, creekside, that I saw my first ever Scarlet Monkeyflowers (Mimulus cardinalis). Pretty exciting for a then budding native plant enthusiast...About a mile and a half up the trail, you'll reach the rolling hills and expansive grasslands of La Jolla Valley with a nice, tranquil pond to the left. In the springtime, this area can be covered with a beautiful array of wildflowers.
Closest Towns: Malibu, Port Hueneme
Directions: The turnoff is 1.5 miles north of Big Sycamore trailhead, (about 30 miles north of Santa Monica, 10 miles north of Malibu, 15 mile south of Oxnard) on Pacific Coast Highway. Keep right to the parking lot.
Map: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/upload/SAMOmap-2004.pdf (NPS, Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area)
Websites: http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/LaJollaValley/AreaTrails.htm
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Lajollavalley_4472.asp
Trail: Get John McKinney's hiking guide Coast Walks: 150 Adventures Along the California Coast for detailed info on the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. About 800' elevation gain, 7 miles round trip. According to McKinney, you'll encounter Giant Coreopsis in bloom just past the waterfalls in early spring.
7/4/97 Across the road from the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. We stopped at a lookout point off Pacific Coast Highway near the estuary lagoon at the Pt. Mugu Naval Air Station. This cute little squirrel showed up promptly, looking for some treats.
7/4/97 Gil at the estuary lookout. That wiley squirrel is hanging out next to him on the lower left.
7/4/97 Pt. Mugu.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 Blooming non-native fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in the backdrop.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 One of the falls along the trail. La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 Scarlet Monkeyflower (Mimulus cardinalis). Creekside, La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 Lemonade Berry (Rhus integrifolia). La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
7/4/97 Laurel Sumac (Malosma laurina). La Jolla Valley Loop Trail.
STATS:
Location: Pt. Mugu State Park, Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area
County/State: Ventura, CA
Management: CA Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Directions: The turnoff is 1.5 miles north of Big Sycamore trailhead, (about 30 miles north of Santa Monica, 10 miles north of Malibu, 15 mile south of Oxnard) on Pacific Coast Highway. Keep right to the parking lot.
Map: http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/upload/SAMOmap-2004.pdf (NPS, Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area)
Websites: http://venturacountytrails.org/TrailMaps/LaJollaValley/AreaTrails.htm
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Lajollavalley_4472.asp
Trail: Get John McKinney's hiking guide Coast Walks: 150 Adventures Along the California Coast for detailed info on the La Jolla Valley Loop Trail. About 800' elevation gain, 7 miles round trip. According to McKinney, you'll encounter Giant Coreopsis in bloom just past the waterfalls in early spring.
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