🌤 Trail Weather — Plan Your Hike
Updated every 6 hrs · Trailhead coords
🥾
Trail Ready
89°F, Broken Clouds. Layer for elevation. Summit conditions may differ from trailhead.
☁️
89°
Broken Clouds
Feels 95°F
💨 Wind
8 mph SSE
Gusts to 6 mph
👁 Visibility
0.7 mi
Poor — fog or smoke likely
☁️ Cloud Cover
55%
Mostly cloudy
🌅 Sunrise
6:00 am
Ideal start time
🌇 Sunset
8:02 pm
Off trail by this
Today — 3-Hour Intervals
2 pm
☁️
89°
Feels 95°
💨 8/6
5 pm
☁️
88°
Feels 93°
💨 5/4
8 pm
☁️
81°
Feels 84°
💨 4/6
11 pm
🌥️
70°
Feels 70°
💨 2/3
5-Day Forecast
💧 Humidity
54% Comfortable
👁 Visibility
0.7 mi — Poor — fog or smoke likely
☁️ Clouds
52% Mostly cloudy
🟡
Warm & Humid — Extra Water
💧 Humidity
82% High humidity — pace yourself
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
3% Clear — full sun exposure
🟡
Warm & Humid — Extra Water
☁️
Sun, Jul 26
Overcast Clouds
💧 Humidity
78% High humidity — pace yourself
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
✅
Good Conditions — Go Hike
☁️
Mon, Jul 27
Scattered Clouds
💧 Humidity
90% High humidity — pace yourself
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
40% Partly cloudy
🟡
Warm & Humid — Extra Water
💧 Humidity
87% High humidity — pace yourself
👁 Visibility
6.2 mi — Good visibility
☁️ Clouds
19% Clear — full sun exposure
🟡
Warm & Humid — Extra Water
Trailhead elevation only. Conditions change at altitude. Check weather.gov before heading out.
Jul 24, 2:34 pm
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 — 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 — 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.
👞
The Trail Report — Real Conditions. No Hype.
40 years on California trails. Biweekly trail conditions, seasonal hike picks,
and June's Dog Report — straight to your inbox. Free.
✅ You're in! Check your inbox to confirm.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Powered by beehiiv.
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 — 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 — Carry All Water — No water on trail. Carry 2 liters.
Views: Outstanding
Crowds: Moderate — 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.
