Canyon Dip and Sip

Hike at Tuna Canyon Wine at Taste Rosenthal

Secluded at 1,500 feet in the Santa Monica Mountains, Tuna Canyon Park in Malibu is quiet even on a weekend afternoon. And that's great if you like your hikes quiet. Get to the heart of Tuna and discover a 1,255-acre mountainous preserve of Pacific-hugging panoramas and hiking trails, plus a marquee vantage marked by … a giant heart! This 3.8-mile (round-trip) hike to the preserve's western viewpoint, Big Rock Lateral, features great views and a huge hand-strewn rock formation of a heart. Start at peak elevation and head downward into the canyon along a wide dirt trail. All in, it's a 750-foot descent, filled with views of golden hills specked with sagebrush and the ocean as a steady presence. The trail ends at a clearing that looks ideal for extra-terrestrial landings, protruding to the ocean and wowing with western views up the coast of Malibu. The giant rock heart found here might be still and stoic, but your heart will be flipping for joy.

SIP TIP: Afterwards, drive a few miles down the road for food trucks and a flight of wines at Malibu's Rosenthal Tasting Room (18741 Pacific Coast Highway), a beachfront favorite for flopping onto charming oversized patio furniture and sipping from a selection of Rosenthal and Surfrider wines. Weekends have food trucks and live music.

The trailhead is at 2804 Tuna Canyon Rd., Topanga. Pass through a white gate to begin the hike. Keep right at the path's junctures. When you reach a clearing, make a hard left to continue downhill. The road ends at a final clearing; then turn back the way you came. Free street parking. The hike is dog friendly! No dogs at Rosenthal. 

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Hiker taking a photo of sunset at Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve

    Sunshine and Skyline

    Head to Russian Ridge Open Space Preserve for a 4-mile out-and-back hike on the Bay Area Ridge Trail that offers a front-row seat to spectacular sunsets.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View