We met where Stunt Road and Schueren Road meet. There is an area along the side of the road to park and the picture above was taken while standing close to the car. There is an even better view from a lookout a mile out on that ridge, but I am getting ahead of myself. After leaving one car at this point, we drove to Old Topanga Canyon Road and started the 3 hour hike up 1650 feet in elevation through meadowland and canyons and mountains to eventually end up at Topanga Lookout and the Skateboard Ramp to Oblivion. And the best panoramic views of our hikes thus far.
Hondo Canyon Trail
The game plan for this hike is to take the Hondo Canyon Trail to Fossil Ridge Trail to Stunt Road. The trail is easy to follow and has none of the sign-less forks in the road that we have encountered on previous trails.
We hiked on Sunday December 22 - just a week after the last hike. This is the sign at the side of Old Topanga Canyon Road.
I will show the GPS in segments in this post. The trail starts by going through the Topanga Meadows before dropping down into the canyon.
Topanga Meadows.
Matt and the Meadows.
After making it up a ways I turned around and took this picture.
And the trail gets more wooded.
But then it is back to full-on meadows. Cue the Little House on the Prairie theme song!
In this pic we were attempting to show that uphill-iness of the trail. I think it comes through pretty well.
Before going into the canyon we get a preview of what is to come. By the end of the hike we end up on top of those mountains in the distance.
Looking down the canyon.
Yes, I know - there is no bridge to stand on. But I managed to stand there for a pic anyways.
This second GPS detail pic shows a lot of the trail going through the canyon.
We got going in the morning and a lot of the trail was shaded.
Further on we encountered many switchbacks as we gained in elevation.
Now and then we would get views in the distance.
Uphill!
At the end of the canyon the trail goes around to the other side for a bit before a switchback that leads to Fossil Ridge Trail and up the mountain. The GPS stopped before we got to the Topanga Lookout.
Looking across the canyon.
Wooded trail.
It is getting brighter.
At the end of the canyon looking back.
Now we got to the other side of the canyon and are looking back at where we had been hiking.
We are now much closer to these rock formations which have been in previous pictures.
Fossil Ridge Trail
I forgot to take a picture of the trailhead sign, but got a picture looking out to the ocean near the beginning of the Fossil Ridge Trail.
Up above we could see a tower of graffiti. After some research I have found that this was part of a missile defense system from long ago. In the top left circle is painted, "This wasn't worth it."
Back to a wooded area.
The end of the trail is in sight, as well as the car.
This pic is taken from where the cars are parked looking back up to where the previous pic was taken.
And back up on the mountain we now see Matt.
Getting close to the end of the trail and the parked car, we see this sign and decide to keep going to check out the Lookout.
Topanga Lookout
The trail follows the ridge to what had been a fire lookout.
Yes!! What a view!
The lookout is now covered in graffiti but the view is great.
First view pic.
Second view pic.
Third view pic!
And the Skateboard Ramp to Oblivion!!!
Yes, there is a ramp set up on the top part of the Lookout with the side right next to a drop-off. Any takers?
Got GPS?
This is the full GPS from this hike segment.
By the side of Stunt Road there is an informational sign concerning the Backbone Trail.
So far we have made it around a quarter of the way. Looking forward to the rest!
Looking Ahead
Thanks for taking a look at this post. We hope to hike the next segment in the next couple of weeks. I'll post again whenever we get to it.
Cheers,
Bruce
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