Hiking the Popular Solstice Canyon Trail | Malibu, CA

The first time we hiked Solstice Canyon Trail in Malibu was years ago. This trail holds a lot of memories for us as it was one of the first trails that introduced us to hiking. So, on our recent camping trip at the Leo Carrillo State Park, we decided to visit Solstice Canyon Trail again. Solstice Canyon Trail offers multiple route options ranging from easy to moderately strenuous. Whichever option you choose, you’ll be rewarded with beautiful scenery, interesting ruins, and even a small waterfall. It is also great for beginners and children.

Note: Please make sure to respect this beautiful place and the surrounding areas. Always practice LEAVE NO TRACE. This means no loud music, no graffiti, no taking artifacts or fossilized items, and pack out what you pack in! Please help us protect this place for generations to come!

Stats

Where

Solstice Canyon Trail trailhead
34°02’15.9″N 118°44’51.3″W

Parking

There is a decent size, paved lot in front of the trailhead. If that is full, you can also park at a very small overflow parking lot, located right after the entrance into the park.

Restroom

Restrooms is located about 100ft up the main trail, past the parking lot.

Fee

Free

Important Things

Parking lot closes from Sunset to 8 am. The trails are open 24/7.

Distance

2.1 mi to 3 mi R.T depending on the routes

Elevation Gain

200 ft (61 m)

Level

Easy to moderate depending on the route.

Time:

1.5-3 hours

Pet-friendly

Dogs are allowed but must remain on a leash, maximum of 6ft, at all times. Please pick up after your dog.

Ideal Time

You can hike this trail anytime, however, it can get very warm. We recommend hiking on a cooler day and go early. Parking can fill up pretty fast on the weekend.

Weather

Video

Getting There

Solstice Canyon Trail trailhead is located off Corral Canyon Road. From Pacific Coast Hwy (Highway 1) in Malibu, turn inland onto Corral Canyon Rd. Then, drive about 0.25 miles to the park entrance on left. There is an overflow parking right after the entrance. However, the main parking lot is about 0.3 miles from the park entrance. The trailhead is at the end of this main parking lot.

Route Options

At first glance, all the routes at Solstice Canyon might seem confusing, but it is not that bad. The end of the trail is the Tropical Terrace, which is the ruins of The Roberts Ranch. There are 3 route options to get there

Solstice Canyon Trail – this 2.1 miles round trip is the most popular option. It is an easy walk with a gentle uphill. It is best for beginners and children.
Rising Sun Trail – if you’re looking for an uphill workout, Rising Sun Trail will definitely keep your heart pumping. It is steep with lots of stairs. There is also minimal shade on this trail so make sure to bring lots of water and sunblock. This trail is 3 miles round trip.

Solstice Canyon Loop Trail – This is the combination of Solstice Canyon Trail and the Rising Sun Trail. Altogether, it is about 2.6 miles loop. With this option, you’ll get the best of both worlds. You’ll get to beautiful ocean views and the cardio workout from the Rising Sun Trail then ease it out with the gentle walk.

The Adventure

The Start of the Trail

Since we wanted the best of both worlds, we opted to hike the Solstice Canyon Loop Trail. A little pro-tip, most locals hike this route clockwise. This means going through the easy Solstice Canyon Trail first and finishing off with the Rising Sun Trail. It is not as steep going in this clockwise direction. Also, you’ll get the beautiful ocean view the whole time hiking back. The trailhead for the Rising Sun Trail starts right after the gate.

Solstice Canyon Trail is mostly paved. This is because it used to be a driveway to the Tropical Terrace. Even though there are a few intersections along the way, there is also plenty of signage so you won’t get lost. Along the way, there are many interesting things to see. Some of which are cool tree trunks that you can get inside. There is also a creek that runs alongside the trail.

The Keller House

About halfway through, you’ll come up to a small informational sign. It has information about the ruins of the Keller House beyond the trees. The detour to visit this ruins is just up the road. There is an obvious intersection on the trail. If you want to see the Keller House, turn right here and cross over the bridge. The Keller House is one of the ruins on this trail that had been destroyed by fire. Back when we first hike this trail, there was no fencing there. We were able to go in and explore the whole place. Unfortunately, due to vandalism, nowadays, you’ll have to stay behind the fence. Please note that the area is being monitored so it is not a good idea to trespass.

Quickly after getting back on the main Solstice Canyon Traill, you’ll come up to another fork. Make sure to stay left. We have no idea where the right trail goes but we didn’t feel like checking it out that day. After this fork, it is a bit more uphill before we reach the Tropical Terrace.

Tropical Terrace

The Tropical Terrace is the name of the ruins of the Roberts Ranch House. It was designed by architect Paul Williams and built in the 1960s. In its full glory, it was a beautiful brick structure that blend harmoniously with nature. Unfortunately, it was burned down by wildfires in 1982. Now, its remaining foundation is protected by the National Park Service.

It was definitely a walk down the past as we wander through the brick ruins. Several walls, stairs, and fireplaces are still standing. Interesting leaf patterns are imprinted on the concrete floors. There is also an outline of a pool, weaving through the grassy hills. The whole property is surrounded by palm and banana trees. If you close your eyes, you can almost imagine this place as it once was, a tropical paradise.

The Waterfalls

Just beyond the ruins, there is a rock staircase running along the creek, leading to small waterfalls. When we went, the waterfall is just a trickle and not that spectacular. Years ago, we were able to go down the creek and check out the smaller ruins on the other side of it. These ruins were my favorite. However, most of the creek and its bank are closed off now so you won’t be able to see these ruins anymore.

When you’re done checking out the ruins here, it’s time to head back. You can either choose the easy route and go back the same way you came from. Or, take the challenge as we did and hike back through the Rising Sun trail. This turns Solstice Canyon Trail into a loop trail. The trailhead for the Rising Sun trail starts at the creek, between the rock stairs and the old dam.

The Rising Sun Trail

Once crossing over the creek, the trail immediately gains elevation. The Rising Sun trail is all dirt with loose gravel and rocky sections. There also aren’t a lot of shades so it got very warm when we hiked. After a short climb, we reached the stair section. According to a local hiker, this stair has 58 steps. It wasn’t a lot but it was not fun climbing on a hot day.

After climbing past the stair, the trail curves around the canyon and opens to the beautiful views of the ocean in the distance. This is also where the switchbacks start. After huffing and puffing through the short section of switchbacks, we were relieved that the trail started to even out and slowly descend. At some point, the Rising Sun trail swings into the canyon walls before leading into a steeper descent. If you look left, you can see the old TRW space lab, also known as “the Darth Vadar building.” Nowaday, it is the headquarters of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

To the Parking Lot

Soon, the trail meets up with a small parking lot. We think this parking lot is either abandoned or for the people who work here only. There is a sign here telling us to cross over to the other side of the parking lot to continue our way. After crossing over, we continued our hike. At this point, you’re almost to the main parking lot. In fact, we could see the parking lot from here. It is a steep way down. The trail is also marbly so it can get slippery. Make sure to be careful on your way down.

Even though it was a warm day, we enjoyed our little hike through Solstice Canyon. It brings back a lot of memories. If you’re in the area, check it out. If you’re looking for cool hikes in the L.A. area, check out Cave of Munits or Vanalden Cave. We also love the Hummingbird trail that leads to a super cool cave full of swings.

These are the gear that we personally use and find them helpful for this particular adventure. Don’t forget to check out our Recommended Gear section as well.

adventure gear

Even though the trail is easy, you still need decent hiking shoes, especially if you want to hike Solstice Canyon as a loop. We use this shoes here. Vy’s version.