Trail of the Month ~~ June 2012
updated on or about the 1st of each month
LOWER ZUMA -
An Equestrian Adventure in the mountains of Lower Zuma Canyon by Patti Keenan
The following is reprinted by permission of the author, Milt McAuley. You can discover more hikes like this in his books on the Santa Monica Mountains or, visit this page for a new trail each month. Remember to always: contact park agency for area specifics, practice the "buddy system", consult a map, wear appropriate clothing, take extra water, and don't disturb or remove anything. Did we mention, Enjoy Yourself!
We began our ride at 2:20 pm on Monday, September 14, 1998.
Our aim was to begin earlier – but at the last minute, decided to pony a pack horse. We chose Puzzleberry. This turned out to be a grand idea for three reasons: 1) it would save our mounts the extra burden; 2) Puzzleberry wanted to go; 3) we learned how to use my pack equipment.
This trail loop is only advisable if your horse and you are in good condition. It reaches elevations of 1,700 ft. Gentle though it might be, it requires great stamina and endurance. A few pinches of bicarbonate of soda before a strenuous ride will assure your horse's chances of not "tying up" out there on the trail. This can cause serious liver damage if left untreated. If your horse has ever trembled after a hard ride – this home remedy will likely resolve the problem.
Our journey kicks off at the Edison/Kanan Dume Road's trail-head staging area, recognized by large boulders lined up along the bottom of the hill. This is located just north of Cavalleri Rd and north of the white house surrounded by the white wrought iron fence, on Kanan Dume Road. Our maximum speed is walk/trot. The day is glorious – with views of mountain and ocean forever! In eight minutes we reach the first junction. The signage points left for the Ocean View Trail. This takes you into Bonsall Canyon, aka, Zuma Canyon – and gently drops you into the canyon below. Two more minutes and we are at the junction of the Canyon View Trail, to the left. We fork right, to the Zuma Canyon Connector, staying on the Edison Road. The fireroad is wide and newly graded. It is maintained by the National Park Service and they have done a superb job this summer on all the trails here.
Around the first bend the ascent begins and we will parallel Kanan as we wind slowly upwards to 1,700 feet. The mountain and ocean views only get better by the minute. In about 25 minutes we reach another junction. The sign indicates Edison Road continues right. We turn left up onto the newly cut Zuma Canyon Connector Trail. We begin a switchback that will carry us right to the top of a mountain ridge. Now you will see a resplendent white water view of Zuma Beach that, besides this experience, only flying can provide. Traveling along this mountain ridge we are headed due north and we're probably at our 1,700-foot level. With the ocean breeze at our backs we have the feeling we are on the top of the world! There is only chaparral at this height. At the end of this ridge the sign points left. It's 3:30. We have made several stops up 'til now – taking advantage of shady spots and photo ops. Now we are headed due West and the breath-taking sights of Point Dume and Zuma Beach lie below in all of their splendor.
Now we begin our descent, gently working our way into the canyon below. There are a few places of caution, where the trail may narrow, but not badly. Mostly, it remains a nice wide fireroad. Obstacles, such as soft shoulders, rocks, water seepage and erosion, can appear from one ride to the next -- on any trail. Always be alert. We noticed water coming from the rock face at one point and it travels along, leaving a thin slice down the trail. We stopped and offered the horses a chance to wet their lips but it didn't smell like home, so they passed. The little stream finally crossed our path and dropped over the edge into the canyon to join the creek below.
It's 4:00 now and we've stopped one last time before our rest stop at the creek. We stop at the red painted culvert, where we find a large boulder that has fallen from the rocky mountain side, a lovely sycamore, and three oak trees casting a welcome shadow of shade across the trail. We jump down, tighten our saddle girths, adjust Puzzleberry's lopsided saddlebags and pack saddle and take a cool swig of water (we froze our water bottles) providing ice water all day.
We pushed off and moving at a great downhill pace, we arrive at the most lush and fragrant part of the trail ride as we enter a grove of bay laurel trees. It is now 4:15. Two more minutes and we are at the creek. Lovely shade, running water, huge rocks and sand. Our horses gladly step into the stream, but still aren't interested in drinking. We tied to assorted branches and shrubs, loosened the girths and lightened Puzzleberry's burden of snacks and drinks, threw down the old lace tablecloth and found a comfortable rock to sit on. There is a "proposed" hitching post -- but it must first go through all proper channels of government before final decisions on priority, location, etc. can be established. We hope for sooner than later. The importance of hitching posts should be emphasized. The equestrian would much prefer a safe hitching post rather than damage a tree or trample the flora, or rub against poison oak!
At 5:25 all parties rested. We loaded Puzzleberry -- a lighter burden now -- and began our ascent. Initially this trail is a bit rough -- due to overgrowth and erosion -- but nothing you can't step over. After a while it's a breeze! The horses are happy at a fast trot. About a half mile before the top there is water for horses only, on your left. It's a big white barrel and sports a nose-press waterer. It bears a warning "Not fit for human consumption." It runs very slowly and the horses only lick at it, but don't have the patience to work at it.
It is now 6:10 and we've reached the west ridge above Zuma Canyon. We are now on the Zuma Ridge Fireroad and the sign ahead indicates a right turn takes you to Encinal Canyon Road, toward Buzzards Roost -- left will take us down towards Bonsall and Zuma Canyon, to the Busch Trailhead. We head left, back to the ocean breezes and views forever.
It's 7:00 when we reach the Busch Trailhead. We make a sharp left, toward the step-over and the sign reads Zuma Canyon Connector Trail. This trail too has been cleared and repaired by NPS and the California Conservation Crew. It is a lovely switch back, that drops you right onto the canyon floor. From there we veer left, following the signage to the Ocean View Trail. We travel along the canyon floor, cross the creek and pass through lush and assorted shrubs and plants. Sycamore, walnut and sumac are the dominant trees. Wildflowers abound. This trail now becomes a switchback that climbs back out of the canyon on the eastern-most side. At the top we find ourselves right back where our journey began, on the Edison Road trail. Turning right, we head downhill to the staging area on Kanan Dume Road. It is 7:45 and we pull out our trusty flashlights for the last few minutes. Your other option of course, is to begin and end your loop in the parking lot at the end of Bonsall Drive.
When we arrived home we were so exhilarated by our day of fun and sun that everyone was ready to go out again! Except Puzzleberry!
THINGS TO PACK: collapsible bucket, snacks, water/for horse & rider, flashlight, halter & lead rope, hat/visor, long rope (for a picket line), sun block, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, chaps, bug repellent, camera
Participants of this ride are: Patti Keenan, riding Bart; Sandy Mitchell, riding Hailey; Jennifer Skophammer, riding Blackfoot.
Archives of select past Trails of the Month:
July 2006: Forest Trail, Malibu Creek State Park
November 2005: One-way bike ride on Backbone, Bulldog Motorway