○ TIER 1 — SOURCED & RESEARCHED
5.6 miRound Trip
1,100 ftElev. Gain
ModerateDifficulty
2.5-4 hoursEst. Time
1,700 ftHighest Point
Out-and-BackRoute Type
YesDogs
NonePermit

Zuma Ridge Trail

๐ŸŒค Trail Weather โ€” Plan Your Hike Updated every 6 hrs ยท Trailhead coords
โœ…
Good Conditions โ€” Solid Day to Hike
56ยฐF, Broken Clouds. Wind 3 mph. Standard 10 Essentials apply.
โ˜๏ธ
56ยฐ
Broken Clouds
Feels 56ยฐF
๐Ÿ’จ Wind
3 mph NE
Gusts to 6 mph
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
90%
High humidity โ€” pace yourself
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
N/A
โ˜๏ธ Cloud Cover
79%
Mostly cloudy
๐ŸŒ… Sunrise
7:06 am
Ideal start time
๐ŸŒ‡ Sunset
6:12 pm
Off trail by this
Today โ€” 3-Hour Intervals
8 am
โ›…
57ยฐ
Feels 57ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 2/7
11 am
โ˜๏ธ
65ยฐ
Feels 65ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 1/8
2 pm
โ˜๏ธ
72ยฐ
Feels 72ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 5/13
5 pm
โ›…
67ยฐ
Feels 67ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 6/13
8 pm
๐ŸŒ™
61ยฐ
Feels 61ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 2/7
11 pm
๐ŸŒ™
62ยฐ
Feels 61ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ 5/15
5-Day Forecast
โ›…
Today
Few Clouds
57ยฐF
feels 57ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ Wind/Gust
2/7 NNE
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
90% High humidity โ€” pace yourself
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
0.4 mi โ€” Poor โ€” fog or smoke likely
โ˜๏ธ Clouds
24% Partly cloudy
๐ŸŸก Warm & Humid โ€” Extra Water
๐ŸŒ™
Sat, Oct 24
Clear Sky
58ยฐF
feels 57ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ Wind/Gust
4/13 NNE
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
72% Humid โ€” heat feels stronger
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
6.2 mi โ€” Good visibility
โ˜๏ธ Clouds
0% Clear โ€” full sun exposure
โœ… Good Conditions โ€” Go Hike
๐ŸŒ™
Sun, Oct 25
Clear Sky
59ยฐF
feels 57ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ Wind/Gust
1/4 NE
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
63% Humid โ€” heat feels stronger
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
6.2 mi โ€” Good visibility
โ˜๏ธ Clouds
0% Clear โ€” full sun exposure
โœ… Good Conditions โ€” Go Hike
๐ŸŒ™
Mon, Oct 26
Clear Sky
60ยฐF
feels 59ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ Wind/Gust
2/4 NNW
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
66% Humid โ€” heat feels stronger
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
6.2 mi โ€” Good visibility
โ˜๏ธ Clouds
0% Clear โ€” full sun exposure
โœ… Good Conditions โ€” Go Hike
๐ŸŒ™
Tue, Oct 27
Clear Sky
59ยฐF
feels 58ยฐ
๐Ÿ’จ Wind/Gust
3/6 ESE
๐Ÿ’ง Humidity
72% Humid โ€” heat feels stronger
๐Ÿ‘ Visibility
6.2 mi โ€” Good visibility
โ˜๏ธ Clouds
0% Clear โ€” full sun exposure
โœ… Good Conditions โ€” Go Hike
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out. Oct 23, 6:06 am

A wide ridgeline fire road that climbs the western flank of Zuma Canyon with non-stop Pacific Ocean views. No shade, constant ocean breeze, and a relentless uphill grade make this an honest cardio benchmark.

Trail Overview

Zuma Ridge is a training trail. No shade, no technical interest, just a consistent climb with ocean views the entire way. That is not a criticism โ€” it is exactly what some hikers want. The ocean views start from the first step and do not stop. The wind is constant and can be significant. Good choice when other trails are too hot. Bring a wind layer regardless of how warm it looks at the car.

This Hike Is For You If…

Hikers who want a predictable cardio workout with excellent views. Good training for bigger objectives. Dog-friendly.

Skip This Hike If…

Skip if you need shade or technical interest. This is a fire road workout trail.

What to Expect on Trail

Terrain: Wide fire road entire route. Consistent grade. No shade.

Shade: Fully Exposed

Water: None โ€” Carry All Water. No water on trail. Carry 2 liters.

Views: Outstanding

Crowds: Less crowded than more accessible Santa Monica trails.

Dogs: Yes, dogs are welcome on this trail.

Best Arrival: Before 9am on weekends. Mornings best before ocean haze burns off.


This is a Tier 1 sourced review. Trail information is based on published sources and research. Andrew has not personally hiked this trail yet. Photos and firsthand sensory detail will be added when upgraded to Tier 2.

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5.6 miRound Trip
1100 ftElev. Gain
ModerateDifficulty
2.5-4 hoursEst. Time
1700 ftHighest Point
Out-and-BackRoute Type
YesDogs
NonePermit

Trailhead & Logistics

Address: Zuma Ridge Trailhead, Encinal Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265
Parking: Small free lot at trailhead on Encinal Canyon Road. No fee. Street parking available.
Bathroom: None
Cell Service: Partial
Best Arrival: Before 9am on weekends. Mornings best before ocean haze burns off.

Trail Reality Check

Zuma Ridge is a training trail. No shade, no technical interest, just a consistent climb with ocean views the entire way. That is not a criticism โ€” it is exactly what some hikers want. The ocean views start from the first step and do not stop. The wind is constant and can be significant. Good choice when other trails are too hot. Bring a wind layer regardless of how warm it looks at the car.

Terrain: Wide fire road entire route. Consistent grade. No shade.
Shade: Fully Exposed
Water: None โ€” Carry All Water โ€” No water on trail. Carry 2 liters.
Views: Outstanding
Crowds: Moderate โ€” Less crowded than more accessible Santa Monica trails.
Who should do this: Hikers who want a predictable cardio workout with excellent views. Good training for bigger objectives. Dog-friendly.
Who should skip this: Skip if you need shade or technical interest. This is a fire road workout trail.