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Malibu Springs

4.6 ★★★★★ 63 Google reviews · Running trail in Malibu, California · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Not reported
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Malibu Springs' own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

ScenicDog-friendlyRestroomsTrailhead parkingMile markers

Kid-friendly park featuring hiking trails and a public restroom.

What runners say about Malibu Springs

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (63 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 11 mentions

“beautiful place is my first time but I will return with my girlfriend it is a promise it was an unforgettable day I will return to this place”

We visited this trailhead on 5/22/2022. We had trouble finding it, like just about everyone else who mentions it (I read a lot of reviews on AllTrails as well) but as the previous poster here noted, it is right before road marker 3.22 on Mulholland, from the PCH entrance. If you pass 3.

★★★★☆ — Sara , Feb 2026

Rode a mountain bike on the backbone trail, it has been cleared and even improved after the fires and rain. The trail is in great shape and the flower boom is amaizing!

★★★★★ — Guido , May 2019

Awesome nature, relatively easy walk, beautiful waterfalls. You will need to cross the river several times, so wear proper shoes.

★★★★★ — Mohammad , Jun 2023

Me , my girlfriend and her 10 year old son set out to hike this trail ! The weather was perfect and we we’re ready for a good hike and about 20 minutes into it we ran into our first rattle snake ! Unfortunately it was rt where the trail narrowed and the grass was really tall.

★★★★☆ — Shane , Oct 2020

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 63 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 18 mentions

“beautiful place is my first time but I will return with my girlfriend it is a promise it was an unforgettable day I will return to this place”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 10 mentions

“According to the California park website (forgot which one) dogs are permitted on leashes and we had our large dog with us.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 3 mentions

“Near parking there are bathrooms, which were clean.”

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🚻 Restrooms 2 mentions

“Near parking there are bathrooms, which were clean.”

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📏 Mile markers 2 mentions

“Just look for mile marker 3.”

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Plan your run at Malibu Springs

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking, restrooms — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.

Hours

Monday 7 AM–8 PM
Tuesday 7 AM–8 PM
Wednesday 7 AM–8 PM
Thursday 7 AM–8 PM
Friday 7 AM–8 PM
Saturday 7 AM–8 PM
Sunday 7 AM–8 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Malibu Springs

Malibu, California

Get directions

Running trails near Malibu

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Sycamore Canyon Falls

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ShadedScenic

Hiking area with trails leading to a waterfall, plus streams, and oak and poison oak trees.

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Los Robles Trail

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Wendy Trail Head

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Green hills and fields of this area offer hiking trails, waterfalls, and ocean views.

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Los Robles Trail & Open Space System

4.7 ★★★★★ 191 reviews

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ShadedScenic

Natural area known for its hiking/mountain biking trails & picturesque panoramas.

5.0 miles away

Rosewood Trail Trailhead

4.7 ★★★★★ 66 reviews

Thousand Oaks, CA

Scenic

Hiking area with shady trails, running water, and views of Thousand Oaks.

5.1 miles away

Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa

4.8 ★★★★★ 612 reviews

Newbury Park, CA

LoopMixedShadedScenic

Scenic park with hiking, biking & horseback riding trails plus an American Indian cultural center.

5.3 miles away

All running trails in Malibu, CA →

Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.