Eagle Rock Loop via Temescal Canyon Road(edit)

Overview

This is a difficult loop trail to Eagle Rock in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. This hike starts in Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park but most of the time is spent in Topanga State Park. Eagle Rock is in Topanga State Park. There are excellent views of both the San Fernando Valley as well as the mountains and canyons and all the way to the ocean. There are some view points along the way. Eagle Rock is a huge relatively flat area which has a few mini-caves at the top.

Getting Started

Access to the trail head is from southern tip of Reseda Boulevard (south of the 101 freeway in the San Fernando Valley). Parking can be free. As you are driving south there are free diagonal parking spaces on both sides of the street, up until a certain point. Cross the line (and that's all it is) and you're in pay parking ($5). The delineation between free and pay is clear if you look for it. You are walking up a hill and so it's certainly easier if you pay, but you are hiking after all so what's a little walking up a hill it's only a thousand feet or so.

Your starting in the Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park (https://mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/marvin-braude-mulholland-gateway-park/) but almost immediately you enter Topanga State Park (https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=629). This distinction is relevant because you can have dogs in Marvin Braude but not Topanga, so no dogs on this hike.

There is a restroom, bench and shade at an area known as the hub which is at the junction of Temescal Canyon Fire Road and East Topanga Fire Road.

Garapito is a single track trail of switchbacks in and out of a canyon (significant shade) there is a small seasonal creek you'll cross. The rest of the hike is wide unshaded fire roads.

Taking Children

It's a long hike and there is elevation, but Eagle Rock is fun and children will enjoy it. There aren't really any dangerous areas.