Malibu Creek State Park
1925 Las Virgenes Road, Calabasas, CA 91302
Introduction
Just 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles is this hidden gem of a state park. This 8,215 acre park was established in 1974. It was a popular film location for television shows like M*A*S*H* before it opened to the public in 1976. Here there are 15 miles of streamside trail that take you through oak and sycamore trees, volcanic rock gorges, and scenic pools.
Highlights
This state park is a great escape from the craziness of the city. With the size of the park and the miles of trails, it’s a good idea to spend at least 2-3 hours here if not the whole day. If you’ve been looking for the perfect place for a picnic, look no further.
Our favorite activity here is to get lost on the trails. We enjoy looking for wildlife along the edge of the creek or in the treetops. There’s also park benches underneath many of the oak groves, which serve as a perfect resting place to just sit and enjoy the silence. We’ve seen some incredible green nanday parakeets on tops of the trees as well as families of quails skittering amongst the bushes of the creek.
This is a great place to keep your eyes peeled for wildlife, especially around sunset.
Watch for
Walk any of the trails, and keep an eye along the edges of the creek and in the treetops. Here you can find parakeets, quails, vultures, hawks, woodpeckers, lizards, coyotes, deer, rabbits, snakes, frogs, and plenty of small birds.
Nanday Parakeets - You will hear these green fellas long before seeing them. Like most parrots, they will make a screeching sound that can be heard for miles. Follow their screeches, and they will most likely be sitting up high on the the tops of the trees.
California Quail - These birds are absolutely gorgeous, but can be difficult to spot. They are extremely skittish and well camouflaged. They usually travel in groups and can be found walking on the ground. The best way to spot them is to scan the ground from the distance, having a pair of binoculars helps. We found that they like to roam around the little islands in the creek.
Logistics
Lots of parking is available, it is pay-to-park since it’s a state park -$3/hr or $12 per car, all day. Hours of the park are 8am to 10pm. Camping reservations and more info can be found on the park website.
Worth Noting
The color of the landscape here greatly depends on the time of year you visit - in winter it is green but in summer everything is brown. Our favorite time to visit is in winter for the vibrant greens and mild temperatures.
Wildlife Photos from Malibu Creek:
