TEMESCAL CANYON- SANTA MONICA, CA
The picture above was taken at the very top, known as Skull Rock. I hiked this trail last May with my best friend and a few other willing participants. Without a doubt, this hike is my favorite and the one which really opened my eyes to how blessed we are to live in Southern California, where we can view our snow-capped mountains from the top of a hill, then face south and see sand and wave breaks on along our coast.
This trail is located right off PCH and includes breath-taking views of downtown L.A., the ocean and the gorgeous green tops of the valley. It begins at Temescal Canyon Trail (off PCH about 2.5 miles from Santa Monica) and ends at Skull Rock, the highest point (if you're brave). The picture of the coast line below was taken by me at the half-way point.
(Hiking through the narrow ridge)
(View from the half way point)As with any seemingly perfect situation, there MUST be one negative asset. In this case, its the L.A. smog, which prevents the picture above from being crystal clear. Still, anyone can appreciate the beauty of this setting.
There are two options when choosing to hike this trail. You can either hike the decline which leads deep into the canyon and rewards you with a waterfall. The alternative is to hike to the top which climbs 1000 feet in the first mile alone.
I would have to rate this hike as "easy" though there are a few tough points along the way. Unfortunately, this trail is usually crowded, especially on weekends. However, there is plenty of space on the trails and many turn-offs which help weed out the masses.
Word of advice to the eager: When preparing yourself for this hike, it is imperative to SKIP the scented lotions and deodorant. I learned this the hard way. It seemed my favorite Bath & Body Works scent, "sensual amber" was successful in seducing all the nats, fruit flies and any other annoying, flying insect you can think of. Needless to say, I spent half the hike swatting unwanted biters from my arms and legs. So, definitely go with the Jergens on this one.
HAPPY HIKING :)
diRTloVEr
