Canyon Dip and Sip

Hike at Tuna Canyon Wine at Taste Rosenthal

07.20.2015

Secluded at 1,500 feet in the Santa Monica Mountains, Tuna Canyon Park in Malibu is quiet even on a weekend afternoon. And that's great if you like your hikes quiet. Get to the heart of Tuna and discover a 1,255-acre mountainous preserve of Pacific-hugging panoramas and hiking trails, plus a marquee vantage marked by … a giant heart! This 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike to the preserve's western viewpoint, Big Rock Lateral, features great views and a huge hand-strewn rock formation of a heart. Start at peak elevation and head downward into the canyon along a wide dirt trail. All in, it's a 750-foot descent, filled with views of golden hills specked with sagebrush and the ocean as a steady presence. The trail ends at a clearing that looks ideal for extra-terrestrial landings, protruding to the ocean and wowing with western views up the coast of Malibu. The giant rock heart found here might be still and stoic, but your heart will be flipping for joy.

SIP TIP: Afterwards, drive a few miles down the road for food trucks and a flight of wines at Malibu's Rosenthal Tasting Room (18741 Pacific Coast Highway), a beachfront favorite for flopping onto charming oversized patio furniture and sipping from a selection of Rosenthal and Surfrider wines. Weekends have food trucks and live music.

The trailhead is at 2804 Tuna Canyon Rd., Topanga. Pass through a white gate to begin the hike. Keep right at the path's junctures. When you reach a clearing, make a hard left to continue downhill. The road ends at a final clearing; then turn back the way you came. Free street parking. The hike is dog friendly! No dogs at Rosenthal. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Hiker overlooking Bear Gulch Reservoir at Pinnacles National Park near Monterey

    Pinnacles of Spring

    Why hike at Pinnacles National Park? Spring's a beautiful time of year here. And you might spy the magnificent California condor soaring while you gain soaring views from the High Peaks Trail.

    View

  2. Swing into Spring

    Swing into this 7.1-mile hike in the hills of Half Moon Bay! It’s got gorgeous views, fields of spring wildflowers, and a hidden rustic tree swing.

    View

  3. Talk of the Town

    We're spilling the tea on this bountiful 5.5-mile loop to Gossip Rock in Hayward’s Garin Regional Park (currently whispering all the right springtime notes).

    View
  4. woman hiking the Mendocino Headlands State Park

    Heads Up, Headlands!

    There’s one thing that’s pretty much mandatory when you visit Mendocino and that’s a hike along the famous bluffs. The trail system at Mendocino Headlands State Park is vast, surrounding the village and meandering for miles, with sweeping sea panoramas.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories

  1. Caves in Mojave

    No one expects to see caves when they visit the desert, and that’s part of what makes Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert such an interesting place. Go on a two-hour guided adventure tour through Mitchell Caverns in Providence Mountains State Recreation Area.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Spring Up to These Amazing Events

    Shake it up, shake it all the way up to this sunniest city in the state for the most unique and fun-fueled events. Redding is true Northern California, surrounded by famous mountains, nearby national parks and recreation areas, and the sparkling Sacramento River.

    View
  3. Hikers by the reservoir at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks

    Triumphant in Triunfo

    Go on a hike with a peaceful reservoir, charming meadows, and beautiful spring blooms at Triunfo Creek Park near Thousand Oaks.

    View
  4. Hiker on a trail at George F Canyon Preserve in Ranchos Palos Verdes

    Secret Blooms

    See wildflowers on the Palos Verdes Peninsula via a 2-mile hike through the hidden 51-acre oasis of George F. Canyon Preserve, and a 1.25-mile hike in neighboring Linden H. Chandler Preserve. 

    View