Rolling Through the Robles

Hiking Corbin Canyon in Topanga State Park

Corbin Canyon in Topanga State Park is a hidden gem of the Santa Monica Mountains with beautiful scenery and low foot traffic, yet it’s only minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Ventura Boulevard. The 2-mile (round-trip) out-and-back trail transports you to a wilderness retreat full of beautiful oak trees and lush flowers—and it provides a perfect excuse to make a stop at one of the San Fernando Valley’s most legendary Mexican restaurants.

Entering the trail, you scoot past a chain-link fence and immediately notice the trailhead plaque mounted on a small boulder. As you continue meandering down the path, it begins to narrow.  Amid all the dry brush, a patch of low white datura bloom along either side of the trail. You spy a ridge, known in Spanish as a cresta, off to your right.

As you reach what appears to be a fork in the road (at 0.7 mile in), peer closer and realize that only the path to the right continues on. You continue up the hill to your right. The light dims, the air cools, and you enter a tunnel of beautiful árboles de roble, oak trees. Your feet trot along the soft cushion of leaves. As you reach the top of the hill, you reach another junction and continue straight.

Entering a patch of shade, you notice a dry creek bed to your left and in it lies a toppled-over car covered in rust—remnants of a mysterious Valley past! Strolling along the path, careful not to brush the roble venenoso, poison oak, you reach a magnificent oak tree. You climb into it to pause and appreciate the silence. Besides the scurry of a few lizards and the sound of the light breeze combing through the leaves, it is utterly quiet.

Comer y Beber: After your hike, you’ll be glad you’re so near Ventura Boulevard. Now it’s time to head to family-owned and operated Sol y Luna, only a few minutes down the boulevard. They have a live guitarist after 5 p.m. every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

To reach the trailhead from US-101 in the San Fernando Valley, exit Winnetka Ave. south. Take Winnetka to Wells Dr. and turn left. Make a right onto Corbin Ave. and continue up until you reach a chain-link fence where the hike begins. Street parking available. No dogs.

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Man hiking up a trail at Montara Mountain, with a view of the Pacific and Grey Whale sand beach in the background

    From Beach to Summit

    No need to decide between a beach and a mountaintop—this hike includes both! Explore the stunning coastal scenery on this 6-mile out-and-back up Montara Mountain and into Rancho Corral de Tierra.

    View
  2. Picnic and a Pedal

    West Marin has all the right stuff for an afternoon getaway: bike paths, babbling brooks, canopy forests, and secluded picnic spots. Combine a picnic and a pedal at Samuel P. Taylor State Park by biking the easygoing Cross Marin Trail.

    View
  3. Sebastopol Food & Wine Roll

    One apple farm, three charming towns, multiple wineries, and infinite natural beauty. Savor a perfect autumn day in Sonoma County by biking the West County Regional Trail from Sebastopol to Forestville via Graton. It’s a 17-mile (round-trip) adventure. 

    View
  4. Go, Tell It on the Mountain

    Want to be king of the mountain? Head to King Mountain, the 108-acre open space preserve just above Larkspur in Marin. Despite its lofty name, hiking King Mountain proves that simp

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Woman walking in the Venice Canals of Los Angeles County

    Canal Contemplations

    With its incense-scented boardwalk, bohemian shops, skateparks, and abundance of body builders, Venice is happily eccentric, and artistic. Exhibit A: Its network of European-style canals with charming bridges, offering a tranquil tour of the town’s history.

    View
  2. Sponsored

    Yes, Seattle!

    Ready to try something new this winter? Seattle’s ready for you! Beautiful by nature with its Puget Sound setting, surrounding mountains, and nearby national parks, winter in Seattle can be a magical and festive time. Ever been in a hot tub boat?...

    View
  3. Wine Down, Dine Out in Lake Chelan

    The fertile soil around Washington State's Lake Chelan is ripe for more than just the amazing apples. Vineyards here yield high quality grapes, and some of the country’s best less-discovered wineries. Locals know it, and you will too when you start choosing from the more than 30 wineries in the region.

    View
  4. What's Up, Winthrop!

    It’s not just its location close to Washington State’s spectacular and less visited national park (North Cascades) that makes Winthrop such a winsome mountain town. This lively enclave in the Methow Valley bristles with a whimsical blend of Wild West charms, contemporary culture, and a mosaic of outdoor adventures—from river to lake to waterfalls, and beyond.

    View