Sycamore Canyon Trail
Hello, my name is Riley Wright and as a member of the women’s cross country and track programs at Pepperdine, I want to provide a guide to my favorite running trail, Sycamore Canyon Trail, located at Point Mugu State Park near Malibu, California! Sycamore is a scenic location with several route variations that make it great for a wide variety of running distances from 2 miles to 13+ miles. The main trail is well-groomed, wide, and relatively flat which also makes it a popular location for bikers and those looking for a family hike as well!
Location and Parking
Sycamore Canyon Trailhead is located in Point Mugu State Park, which is right on the beautiful California coastline. In addition to its great trails, this location also features camping sites and a beach where bonfires are permitted! The drive to the trailhead goes along the PCH and there are two spots for parking. One can either park in Point Mugu State Park for $12 per vehicle or one can drive just around the corner from Sycamore Canyon and park along the PCH. The latter option is free and the walk to the trailhead is quick and safe. Once parked, one will walk back toward Sycamore Canyon and there are several entrances to get to the starting location.
Starting Point
To begin this run, one should start at the large bridge next to the bathrooms and water spigot. From this point, the runner should make a left, immediate right, and then another left in order to get through the campgrounds and to the start of the trail, which is marked by a yellow gate and the beginning of a large dirt path. This is a relatively simple start and the distance from the bridge to the trailhead is only ¼ of a mile, or 400 meters.
Main Trail (Big Sycamore Canyon Trail)
The main route in Sycamore Canyon is smooth, somewhat flat, and easy to follow! In order to do this route, one should simply stick to the main trail, avoiding any smaller, off-shooting paths. There are several, yellow water spickets spread alongside the trail every few miles and there are two porta-potties 2.2 miles from the bridge starting point. At 3.24 miles, there is a fork in the trail, but to continue with the main route, one should go right. At 4.6 miles, one will pass by a house on a hill and the trail will turn to pavement. At 6.5 miles, there is another bridge with porta-potties available. From this point, the trail turns into a very steep uphill for ¾ of a mile and then the trail reaches an end once it hits the city of Newbury Park for a total of 8 miles. If running, I recommend turning at 6.5 miles due to the steepness of the hill to come. Because this route is an out-and-back, meaning you go back to the trailhead the same way you came, it is a great path for activities ranging from 2 miles to 13 miles.
Loop Variation (Wood Canyon Fire Road Trail)
This path is for those looking to do a longer run. The full loop is 13.6 miles but with another extension tacked on, this trail can be a 15 mile excursion. The start for this trail is the same, however, instead of staying right at 3.24 miles, one would turn left onto Wood Canyon Fire Road Trail. After this point, there are some forks in the trail but when in doubt, one should avoid smaller, shoot-off trails and choose the path to the right. The most notable forks are a right turn just after 4 miles, a right turn at 5.6 miles, a left at the 6 mile mark, and a right at 7.9 miles. After the right at 7.9 miles, it is a straight shot back on Big Sycamore Canyon Trail, completing the run back at the starting position for a total of 13.6 miles. If one wishes to run even longer, they can take a left at 7.9 miles and run out until 8.7 miles, turning at the same turnaround spot in the Main Trail description. For this variation, one would also run back along Big Sycamore Canyon Trail and the total mileage would be 15.2 miles! It should also be noted that the Loop Variation at Sycamore is not an easy one. The run is gradually uphill, starting from the first split off the Main Trail and gets rather steep between miles 5 and 6. However, the rest of the run is a very enjoyable downhill, making up for the toughness of the miles before.
By: Riley Wright
Pepperdine Cross Country and Track