Hike Mugu Peak Trail

In This Guide	Video and Turn-by-Turn Directions to Hike the Mugu Peak Trail Where to Park for the Mugu Peak Trail Insider Tips & Recommendations
Total Distance (?)	3 miles (4.8 km)
Hike Time	2 Hours (Total)
Difficulty (?)	Moderate
Total Ascent (?)	1,270 feet (387m)
Highest Elevation	1,266 feet (386m)
Fees & Permits	Free
Dogs Allowed	No
Alerts & Closures (?)	Point Mugu State Park
Park Phone	805-488-1827
Weather & Forecast	Latest Conditions
Stay Safe	Copy this webpage link to the clipobard and share with a friend before you hike. Let them know when to expect you back.
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Don’t let the short distance fool you; the hike up to Mugu Peak is challenging, climbing 1200 feet in about a mile. But with great effort comes a great reward, and the views from the summit of Mugu Peak are spectacular, from the high peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains to the Channel Islands. And while you’re suffering on the climb, let your mind wander by thinking about the trail you are on, used by the native Chumash peoples for over 7,000 years. The Mugu Peak Trail is a fun adventure that’s worth the effort.

Where is Mugu Peak?

The trailhead for Mugu Peak, up the Chumash Trail, is right off the Pacific Coast Highway in Point Mugu State Park. The trailhead doesn’t have any official parking area or park signage, so you have to keep your eyes open for it. Use these GPS addresses:
Chumash Trailhead, Malibu, CA 90265 or 34.09171787401509, -119.06571593445499

Hike Mugu Peak Trail 3 — Look for the dirt parking area on the side of the road.

Hike Mugu Peak Trail 2 — The lot is a decent size and is across from the old Navy Seabee gunnery range (with the tower across the street).

There is no parking pass needed here.

Hike Mugu Peak Trail 1 — The trailhead is at the end of the parking lot.

This hike is best done at sunrise or sunset when the crowds and temps are not too bad.

Gear For the Hike

This isn’t a long hike, and you are best served with light hiking gear or fitness clothes. You’re going to want good footwear for the dirt and rocks, and trekking poles will be helpful on the steep slopes. The coastal weather is often variable, it can be foggy or clear depending on the winds and season.

Garmin InReach Mini 2
I’m a firm believer in carrying a satellite communications device which works where cell phones don’t. I use a Garmin InReach which lets me send text messages back and forth to my family to let them know that I’m okay or if my plans change when I’m out in the backcountry. It also has an SOS subscription built-in so that you can reach first-responders in an emergency. The devices also offer weather reports, GPS, and navigation functionality (what’s the difference between a GPS and satellite communicator?). For a few hundred bucks they could save your life, so for me it’s a no brainer to have something like a Garmin InReach. If you use a smartphone to navigate and want a more affordable option that integrates with your phone easily, check out the ZOLEO.
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Latest Prices: Amazon | REI

Altra Lone Peak 6
For most people, the Altra Lone Peak is a solid choice that will leave your feet feeling great at the end of any hike. The feel is cushy and light, and if it had a car equivalent, this would be a Cadillac or Mercedes Sedan. The grip is great and they’re reasonably durable for this type of trail runner, which I think is better in most conditions than a hiking boot, and here’s why. The downside of this shoe is that it won’t last as long as something like the Moab 2 (see alternate footwear choices at the bottom of my gear page). I’ve been using mine for many miles and my feet always feel great. I have a video on the details of the Altra Lone Peak 6 here.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon

Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
I’ve gone back and forth on trekking poles, but I think for most people they are a good investment. They help you dig in on the uphills, provide stability on loose downhills, act as a brace when crossing streams, and can probably poke away aggressive wildlife in a pinch. The Trail Ergo Cork poles are a good balance of light weight, durability, affordability, and ease of use. If you want something ultralight and a little more pricey, I’ve had great luck with the Black Diamond Z Poles too.
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Trail Ergo Poles: REI | Amazon
Z-Poles: REI | Amazon

Gregory Zulu 30 & Jade 28
After testing quite a few backpacks, the Gregory Zulu 30 (and Jade 28 for women) is, for most hikers, the best all-season day-pack. First off, it’s very comfortable, and the mesh “trampoline” back keeps your back dry. Its 30L capacity is enough for all the essentials and plenty of layers for winter hiking. External pockets make it easy to grab gear. It’s hard to find something wrong with the pack; if anything, it could be a bit lighter, but overall, it’s not heavy. And its price-point makes it not only affordable but generally a great value.
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Women’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon
Men’s Latest Prices: REI | Amazon

Here’s my complete gear list that I personally use, have tested, and recommend, updated May 2022.

My May 2022 Top Gear Picks

No company pays me to promote or push a product, all the gear you see here is gear I use and recommend. If you click an a link and buy gear, I get a small commission that helps keep the website ad and promotion free. There is no cost to you.

Mugu Peak Trail Maps

Explore Map on CalTopo View a Printable PDF Hike Map Download the Hike GPX File

If you try to download the GPX file and your browser adds a “.txt” or “.xml” extension to it, simply rename it as a “.gpx” file.

How Are You Going to Navigate This Hike?
Here’s what I use. If you are a hardcore hiker and/or hike in extreme conditions, I recommend getting a dedicated GPS like a GPSMAP 66sr or 66i, or a wrist-based GPS with maps like the Garmin Fenix 7 or Epix. If you only hike in fair weather and a touchscreen is fine, or just want a solid tool, I highly recommend downloading the smartphone app, Gaia GPS. It’s a piece of cake to use and very powerful, just make sure your phone is in airplane mode so the battery doesn’t drain. You can also check for wildfires, weather, snow, and choose from dozens of map types with a premium membership (HikingGuy readers get a big discount here). Note that I also carry a paper map with me in case the phone dies or gets smashed.

To access this guide when out of cell phone range on the trail, simply save the webpage on your phone ( iPhone – Android ).

Elevation Profile

Hike Mugu Peak Trail Elevation — Not many climbs in SoCal do 1200 feet of climbing in 1 mile, but the Mugu Peak Trail does. On the way back down, we’ll take a gentler slope so that we can enjoy the ocean views.

3D Map

Hike Brief

Chumash Village — Point Mugu and the valleys above it were originally Chumash lands. The Chumash would hunt and fish along the coast, and then bring it up to villages in the valleys behind Mugu Peak. Image Museum of Ventura County

The trail we’ll take up the climb is called the Chumash Trail, named after the native peoples who originally lived here. It is believed that the Chumash used this trail as early as 7,000 years ago. It is the only (open and accessible) native trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Mugu is named after the Chumash village Muwu, oncelocated by the trailhead. It was the largest coastal settlement in the area and is even noted by the Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in his 1542 journal. By the early 1800s the village was gone, a victim of western encroachment and expansion.
It’s not uncommon to see Naval aircraft flying in the area. North of the trail is Naval Base Ventura County, originally the major staging base for the Navy Seabees construction force during World War 2.
The 1943 movie “The Fighting Seabees,” starring John Wayne, had some scenes shot here. Mugu Peak is in the background in this photo. Photo US Navy Seabee Museum.

Mugu Peak Hike Directions

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