Home › California › Malibu › Solstice Canyon
Solstice Canyon
4.7 ★★★★★ 1,120 Google reviews · Running trail in Malibu, California · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Paved
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Tree cover
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Solstice Canyon's 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.
Canyon offering trails of varying difficulty, plus picnicking, a waterfall, wildlife & dog walking.
What runners say about Solstice Canyon
“The quality of the scenery is high with clean paths, beautiful views, and unique historical structures.”
“For those desiring a more extended and scenic experience, I recommend heading towards the Tropical Terrace, then following the Sunset Trail back to Parking Lot 2.”
“It’s the perfect mix of shaded canyon trails and beautiful ocean views, and the hike itself is moderate and manageable for most people.”
“If you are expecting a massive waterfall, this is not the hike to take, but it was a very pleasant hike with gorgeous and peaceful scenery.”
“Solstice Canyon is a great place to bring friends and family of all ages visiting from out of town.”
Hidden Gem that made my daughter feel like she hiked to a fairytale Rain forest. If you are expecting a massive waterfall, this is not the hike to take, but it was a very pleasant hike with gorgeous and peaceful scenery. The more advance path provided an even more serene ocean view.
We went on one of the many trails around here, and it was absolutely stunning! The views on this trail are breathtaking—definitely worth the effort. It’s a loop hike, and we preferred doing it clockwise.
Easy hike shorter than expected too but overall enjoyable. The waterfalls were small but still calming to just listen to. There’s a lot of smaller side trails that lead into the main trails definitely check those out. Be mindful of wildlife, lots of birds out this way if you you’re a bird lover.
Whole family hiked here in September 2020. It’s about an hour drive from the valley where I live to Malibu. The hike is about 5.2 miles loop. Gorgeous views of the canyon. You are rewarded near the end with a small waterfall and ruins from the previous owner. The second ruin was destroyed by a wild fire decades ago.
Trail conditions & character
“For those desiring a more extended and scenic experience, I recommend heading towards the Tropical Terrace, then following the Sunset Trail back to Parking Lot 2.”
“For those desiring a more extended and scenic experience, I recommend heading towards the Tropical Terrace, then following the Sunset Trail back to Parking Lot 2.”
“The loop trail is approximately 2hrs long which is well worth it as you get to climb the canyon and see beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and as far as Catalina Island.”
“The loop trail is approximately 2hrs long which is well worth it as you get to climb the canyon and see beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and as far as Catalina Island.”
“If you are expecting a massive waterfall, this is not the hike to take, but it was a very pleasant hike with gorgeous and peaceful scenery.”
“The trail loop is about 3 miles and took us a very leisurely 75 minutes with a dog.”
“It’s the perfect mix of shaded canyon trails and beautiful ocean views, and the hike itself is moderate and manageable for most people.”
“Fantastic moderate hike offering a blend of asphalt and dirt paths in certain areas.”
Plan your run at Solstice Canyon
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfacePaved — asphalt or concrete. Fast and predictable, runnable year-round, and fine with a stroller
- 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.
- ShadeRunners describe real tree cover here — it makes a summer afternoon workable
- At the trailheadparking, restrooms, water — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitenps.gov
- Phone(805) 370-2301
- Social Instagram · Facebook
Hours
| Monday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Thursday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Friday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Saturday | 6 AM–9 PM |
| Sunday | 6 AM–9 PM |
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