I Dig Leo Carrillo

This campground rocks! If you have children, dogs, or out of town guests, take them here for a night that you will never forget! If you want to hike or run on trails, you are in for a real treat. Start at the Willow Creek Trail head which starts about 20 feet from the front entrance of the park. Hike or run approximately four miles up that hill until you reach a fork in the road. Take a right, and go up to the top of the hill about another 1/3 of a mile. You will be rewarded with solitude, and some of the best views of Malibu imaginable. Red Tail Hawk, ravens, scrub jays, mule deer, and plenty of reptiles will be your companions on this dry, mostly exposed trail that heads through a wonderful canyon, up a ridge, and to pink sandstone steps that will leave you humbled and in awe. This is a great hike to take with children who will appreciate the gradual switchbacks and the exceedingly rewarding view at the top. I did this on Saturday evening and enjoyed myself so much that I could not wait to wake up and do it again on Sunday. I love being able to get a campsite here and then drive into LA to work for a few hours and then head back up the California Coast to this fantastic place to spend the night. Simply put, this is one of the best pieces of real estate anywhere in the world and it can be enjoyed for chump change at this great State Park. There are full facilities here and the beach is just a short walk under PCH and is a great place to explore the intertidal. Campsites are set among oak groves in a canyon, with hiking trails on one side. Despite the proximity to PCH, there is little road noise in comparison to, say, El Capitan State Beach. The canyon and the beach tend to get a little windy in the afternoon, but it tends to die down after a while. The camp store will sell you firewood and beer if you did not exercise care in packing your stuff. The hiking trails are Nicholas Flat and Willow Creek and you can go back pretty far and catch some other trails like Malibu Spring. There are deer, tarantula, morning dove and coyote in these parts, and views of the coast, spectacular canyons, rock formations and smog less blue sky. With fresh ling cod, salsa, beans, tortillas and corn on the cob cooked over the campfire, this great depression we are going through doesn't seem half bad.