Circle X Ranch

A gem of a park with a superb selection of hiking trails. Used to be a Boy Scout camp years ago and also used to have a campground down the hill. Park in front of the ranger station or off the road near one of the trail heads up the road. If you hike up from the ranger station, you will be able to hike to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. Great view and yes there can be insects if you pick the wrong season. If you hike down from the ranger station, you will find a trail to the grotto, a beautiful hike with some boulder hopping at the end. A couple of picnic tables by the ranger station and you can get water there. My favorite, kinda hidden park in the Santa Monica Mountains. To get there, turn on Yerba Buena Road off PCH by the roadhouse Neptune’s Net. You will not be disappointed.

Gorgeous trail, pretty strenuous, and you’ll be met with some fun water caves at the end of the trail… :) There are some great pastures for you to walk through, and it’s just a picture perfect place (even for engagement photos) to hike and take photos.
It does seem «remote» when you first arrive, but there are always a couple of people on the trail, so don’t be afraid! :)

This is a really easy hike to find. Other the other side of Malibu just entering Ventura and with large signs. The only part that was confusing is the paying for parking or not. We did not pay. Lol.
The hike is just over 2.5 miles and most of it covered from the sun. It is also not very steep of difficult. The semi hard part comes at the end when getting over and around large rocks. Luckily it rained a few weeks ago and the steam and waterfall was still going.

Great hike although it’s a little short. The nice thing is that there are other hikes close by if you feel like pushing yourself. I recommend it!

This hike is great. Hidden away in the mountains of Malibu you would never know this place existed had it not been for other Unilocalers and google. I love that there are quite a few trails to choose from as opposed to just 1 and that they are all moderately easy to difficult. Plus side is that there is a restroom right by the entrance just in case you have to go before you start your hike. I have hiked 2 trails on this hike but the grotto is probably the cooler of the 2. Not too bad, pretty easy and not strenuous. I would definitely recommend this to first time hikers and advanced hikers.

Great hike. Once you hit the giant boulders keep goin. The Grotto is about another 10 minute hike from there. Once you see a little pond you’ve made it. Duck down and you might just see the cave of wonders.

Loved this hike! The grotto is absolutely beautiful and the trail is pretty adventurous

This is a very good moderate hike. Wouldn’t recommend for beginners unless you like challenges.
I thought this hike was a good challenge for me. On the way back to the car, I wanted to give up a few times. Total time for our hike took about 2 hours total. We arrived at 10:15 and finished at about 12:30pm. I would recommend for you to come early since the parking lot is small. When we got there, there Were still some spots left.
Be careful if you’re heading to the grotto, there’s lots of rock climbing. But trust me, it’s worth it. Make sure you are wearing comfortable shoes that you can rock climb with.
If you are using the GPS here, keep driving until you see the Circle X Ranch sign, if you don’t see it, just keep driving. It’ll be on your right.
Note:
Bring bug spray!!! I regretted not bringing any. There are these HUGE fat ugly flies that bite you. I’m telling you, they are fat, not scared of people! I really hated them on the way back. Actually hate insects in general…
I also heard some rattle snakes on the way back at where the high dead grass area. Try to stay on the trail and be careful with your dogs.
We went on 6÷21÷14 and The Grotto didn’t have much of a waterfall. There was still some water but since we’re in a water drought, if you want to see more water, come after a rain season. To me, it was fine, it’s not like I’m going to swim in it.
Overall I would say the hike had 70% shade. The 30% would be killer if you don’t bring plenty of water, sunblock and I would recommend a hat, mostly in the summer. The view is very mice throughout the hike. I really enjoyed it for the most part. The hike back to the car almost killed me. My dog name Taco barely made it. We had to pour some water on his belly since he was getting very tired, he almost gave up and we had to carry him some of the way back. But then again, he has very short legs since he’s a dachshund mix at about 25 pounds.
Again, bring plenty of water! I would recommend AT LEAST 2 bottles a person. Stay hydrated everyone! Make sure you bring extra water for your dogs too & give them plenty of breaks in the shade. The ground gets very hot during the summertime.
Last of all, HAVE FUN!!!

Was pretty fun. Kinda creepy at first when we arrived but ultimately we had a good time. It was a new adventure that’s for sure.

Visited Circle X yesterday. If you’re headed north on PCH just make a right where Neptune’s Nest Restaurant is and follow the road about 5.5 miles. Overall it was a great hike, I’m in semi decent shape so I would say this hike was easy to moderate as the first leg down is pretty easy with some moderate boulder traversing towards the end by the Grotto (so the way back will be more challenging). My fiancée and our 12 year old had no problems managing through the hike and loved their experience. I saw some families with children as young as 5 years old so that gives you some insight In terms of the difficulty of the hike. The Grotto wasn’t too exciting as we are currently in somewhat of a drought but I heard it gets very nice post rainy days. Everyone I met during the trail was very nice and shared the trail. We did the short hike which was 3.5 miles I believe. The parking lot is hard to miss where you park and the trails are very easy to find and follow. I will definitely return soon to run the longer trails with my buddies. I recommend to anyone looking to get out of the city and play outside.
Tips:
— Come early to get free parking (we got there at 10am and the parking lot had 4 cars, came back and it was filled)
— Look up the website to Circle X, lots of good info
— Have Fun!

This is a pretty easy to moderate 6 miles hike (round trip). On a clear day you get a beautiful view of green Malibu mountains during hike. At the end of your trail you reach the Grotto. Here there are lots of cool rock climbings to do. Explore and spend time relaxing on the rocks, having a snack break. However, so sad no waterfalls this year because of the little or no rain we got this year in LA. There are some little ponds here and there in Grotto but no major waterfall as it should be.
Still, it was fun to explore the Grotto.

This was such an extreme/​awesome hike. We came across the first little waterfall inside the cave, but it wasn’t all that, but just seeing the cave was pretty cool. So many big rocks everywhere. It’s a very good leg workout because you got to climb down and back up. The trail definitely started off easy and it got harder as we kept going. Without a doubt I’ll be coming back here again.

Wow. This place is stunning! We did the usual mile and half walk to the grotto. Which is aiight cuz it didn’t rain before we came making the waterfall not that great. BUT after that we ventured off the track and went rock climbing for about a mile! Nothing crazy like mission impossible stuff, but legit climbing involved. Save some juice for the walk back. Especially if you rock climbed a bit like we did. We would have went further in, but didn’t wanna get lost. Definitely going back and going on another adventure! Bring snacks and a lot of Agua.

My boyfriend and I decided to hike this trail this past weekend it was absolutely Gorgeous! We met with a Ranger at the Circle X Ranch to start our hike and he was very helpful and even provided us with maps and some tips on avoiding snakes. We began the trail through the whisper of dry shrubbery on both sides of us. It was certainly an extremely dry summer and no Campfires are allowed anywhere at this time of year. It was so quiet that you could seriously hear them whispering. Truly lovely!
As we kept on going through, the trail became quite narrow as it trailed around a mountain. There are some beautiful cliffs that you can stop and take photos at and some beautiful trees along the trail as well. The terrain is extremely rocky, so wear comfortable shoes that can grip. We noticed lots of Spider Webs along the trail and snake holes so be careful where you Step and place your hands. My boyfriend slipped at one point and nearly place his hands over a Web with a Spiral web down at the bottom. They are pretty huge and quite scary.
The fun began when we finally reach the Grotto. There is even a spot where you can rope climb down into the grotto. Bring your own rope! What an exciting rock climbing adventure! We must have spent over an hour just climbing the rocks and enjoying views of larger mountains and the rocky terrain around us. I love this hike! I can’t wait to go back. We could have spent our whole day hiking these trail.
Warning: The hike back is an uphill climb and can be quite difficult in the heat. Make sure you take lots of water! I kept telling myself that If I didn’t keep going, a snake was going to come out and bite me! That helped! I made it to my car and passed out in my trunk. YES, I was that tired! Great hike but if you are not used to the uphill climbs, it can be challenging! Remember, every time you notice you are going downhill at steep inclines, you must know that at some point, you will have to go back up!
Love this Hike!

This is a challenging hike. So when you get here you’re going to laugh at me and think I“m a joke because It starts off easy– all down hill and you got lots of shade on it too and there are some rocky parts so do bring the hiking shoes to avoid turning an ankle. Once you reach the Grotto 1.3 miles in– it is dried out right now and there is just a stream of water in it so you get the best work out by climbing the rocks at the end. Damn that was an adrenaline rush for me because it’s these big boulders with drops to broken limbs most likely. It’s once you get passed the climbing like a ninja across these boulders to get to the bottom of those rocks that you find a cave! Yes a CAVE/​The Grotto with water and at this time of the year a stream is coming out of it. Before you go all the way down you can climb half way down the rocks in the middle and find the cave best place to see how big it is inside. I was all by myself at the Boulder part and I went in for the photographs but I was very afraid. It’s the cold breeze that creeps up your spine when your in it all alone and it’s dark in there as the sun was heading down the mountain side. So if there was an animal in there I have no idea but I didn’t go in further for that reason. I think during the winter season there is a heavy water flow through here and you most likely can’t get passed the big rocks without them being slick. So go now for some rock climbing its soooooo much fun. The campground itself is closed, not sure why but it is and it’s not heavy in traffic at all — loved that! The way back to the car is where you climb and it’s a great leg work out.
Unfortunately my cave pics came out crapy and you will have to go see for yourself. ;P
Getting here was a pain the butt. Here’s what to look out for…
1.) Don’t follow Unilocal maps directions I ended up in a residential neighborhood far away.
2.) You will lose signal in here-​your GPS will tell you that you have arrived at your destination when you actually end up at someone’s house, ignore and keep going.
3.) You will pass two ranch’s before hitting this ranch.
4.) Come after a rainfall if you want to see the waterfall, but if you want to do the rock climbing to the cave go now it’s just a stream right now and you can go in there… it’s dark in there. Climb in between the rocks at half way point through the boulders to get best view of it. Once at the bottom you can get to it too but the climb to the bottom and back up is tough and you can really hurt yourself. With no phone service in the area too… is something to think about.
OH and big plus– you can get to Mishe Mokwa Trail from here. Take the turn off at Canyon trail split and you can go to the peak. :)

So we went in July, so there was not much water.

This was an extremely beautiful hike. It is a pretty easy trail but bring water because it gets pretty warm (especially in the summer!) I have not been in the winter or after a rain so unfortunately The Grotto was completely dry. :(However if you hikes but further (slightly off the trail) you can find a natural spring with water coming from in. I was lucky to see a fee different animals in the water including salamanders, a water snake (not poisonous) and various water bugs. It is beautiful and I would definitely recommend it for a relatively easy hike. Last little side note… The trail is mostly downhill on the way there and therefore uphill on the way back. Be prepared! :!
If you have not tried these yet, I also recommend Escondito Falls and Corral Canyon (go off trail to get the full experience! ;))

Absolutely GORGEOUS!
I came here with my husband to do the grotto trail hike, and it was so scenic and so lovely and so amazing. The ~3 mile round trip hike was fairly easy, but become more difficult with some bouldering/​scrambling near the end by the grotto (the trail ends before you reach it and you have to forge your own path). This hike is best right after a good rain or when there is still water in the creek, because otherwise the grotto can dry up, which is less than exciting.
If you want to avoid the crowds, come early! This trail is extremely popular; as we were leaving a group of about 25 obnoxious pre-​teens were making their way to the grotto. You have been warned!
I highly recommend this area; there are various hiking trails all around. There is a campground right next to the grotto trail head, but it looked extremely lackluster. We came just for a day hike, as should you!

Was planning to go to Malibu for a day trip. I found that there were also decent hiking locations in Malibu. We decided to do the Grotto hike since it wasn’t too long and seemed to have a «purpose.»
Once you pass Neptune’s Net if you’re coming from the east, you’ll make a right onto Yerba Buena Road. Keep driving for about 15 minutes until you see the Circle X Ranch entrance. The drive to Circle X Ranch can be kind of scary depending on the traffic. Surprisingly people live on the road to Circle X Ranch; if anything happened to them it would take forever for anyone to rescue them.
When we got Circle X Ranch, we kind of felt like we were in a movie and someone was going to come get us since there weren’t any other cars there. Nonetheless we didn’t feel like it was haunted since no one has reported that. After you pass the campgrounds and the restrooms (which are pretty clean for nature grounds), you’ll see a sign for the Grotto Trail. The Trail is about 1.3 miles and is mainly slight downhill and some actual rock climbing. When you begin to see a LOT of big boulders and hear water sounds then you’ve almost reached the Grotto. After climbing down the boulders strategically you’ll begin to see the Grotto.
The Grotto itself isn’t super spectacular as some photos may show. However, it is nice to see a natural attraction. The water doesn’t look super sanitary but some people have dipped into the cold water and didn’t get sick. Also on a hot day it’s just nice to cool down with some cold water. There isn’t anything on the other side of the boulders. The hike back is a little more strenuous since it’s mostly uphill.
Overall, the hike is something to try if you’re in Malibu. People drive out over an hour to hike this. It’s not the most exciting ending but it’s not too hard of a hike and it makes a day at the beach after worth it.

Drive through the long, winding canyon roads of the Santa Monica mountains and you’ll eventually come across Circle X Ranch. The drive alone provides you views of the stretching valleys and the ocean in the distance. It makes you feel far away from the urban landscape of Los Angeles.
Circle X Ranch has a dirt parking lot right at the entrance. Make your way down the dirt path to find the The Grotto trail. The trail is 1.3 miles and it takes less than an hour to get to the grotto. The path to the grotto isn’t really much of a challenge, but it is fun. It just goes downwards until you finally hit the grotto. The beauty of this trail is being surrounded on all sides by the towering peaks of the mountains, coming across streams that turn into waterfalls, looking over cliffs to get views of the canyon, and climbing up and down to explore the boulders surrounding the grotto.
The path will eventually just start following the stream. You’ll know you’ve hit the grotto when stream goes through these huge boulders. I spent a good amount of time hopping between boulders and climbing them. Watch your step because you could fall down into the shallow pools of the grotto. There are actually two grottos: One is at the bottom of the boulder path and I’ll leave the other one as a surprise to find. Once you find them, the grottos become a good place to just relax and take everything in.