Canyon Dip and Sip

Hike at Tuna Canyon Wine at Taste Rosenthal

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. All right, Almaden!

    Take a trip through time on this 5-mile loop in Almaden Quicksilver County Park. Explore the ruins of an old cinnabar mine and enjoy the first hints of wildflower season.

    View
  2. Waterfalls and Wine Pours

    Cooler temps, green hills, and the return of our magnificent waterfalls! This family-friendly 2-mile hike at Uvas Canyon County Park in Morgan Hill is a great way to get the most out of a short hike post-rain.

    View
  3. Woman hiker is climbing up the ladder in the Steep Ravine section of the Dipsea Loop Trail on Mount Tam

    Misty on Mount Tam

    Mount Tam’s 3.9-mile round-trip Steep Ravine and Dipsea Trail Loop weathers the wets and wilds with some confidence, sheltered in parts by redwoods, and wowing with a waterfall.

    View
  4. Mile-Long Cataract Club

    In winter after heavy rains, the north flank of Mount Tam glows with flows. The nearly mile-long series of waterfalls—Cataract Falls—transforms into a supercharged spectacle. Starting at Alpine Dam, a 1.6 mile (one-way) narrow trails threads through redwoods and ferns along Cataract Creek.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Peace Labyrinth

    Hidden in LA’s historic West Adams district, the Peace Awareness Labyrinth & Gardens is a welcome respite from the norms of urban noise.

    View
  2. Weekend Sherpa Podcast: Take It Outside

    Adventure for your earbuds. What's new in the world of the outdoors? Listen to Weekend Sherpa co-founders discuss local hikes, beaches, bike rides, camping spots and all kinds of travel and adventure in California and beyond!

    View
  3. Hikers sitting on a large rock slab next to Three Sisters Falls in Cleveland National Forest Southern California near Julian

    Three Sisters

    Good things come in threes at this hike to a lovely trio-tiered waterfall in Cleveland National Forest. The 4.25-mile out-and-back hike rambles among rolling hills, with rocky mountain views as switchbacks take you down to a lush canyon and the falls.

    View
  4. People gathered around a tree at an LA Park as part of the Tree Tour led by Stephanie Carrie

    LA's Tree Tour

    Los Angeles is famous for its iconic palm trees but did you know that LA is home to one of the most diverse urban forests in the world? With over 1,000 different tree species lining its streets, LA offers a unique urban canopy waiting to be explored. One of the best ways to discover it is by joining a Tree Tour

    View