Eagle Rock Loop

To access this featured hike, head to the Trippet Ranch parking area off Entrada Road. Locate the Trippett Ranch Trailhead at the southeast corner of the parking lot and start onto Eagle Springs Fire Road as it heads east and then north away from the East Topanga Fire Road, which heads to the Park Mesa Overlook. Slowly but surely, this well-maintained trail heads upwards out of the oak groves, passing the Santa Ynez Canyon Trail off to the right (east). From here, the trail continues up for just over a mile along the ridgeline to the Eagle Junction. Remember this spot, as you'll be returning from the northern loop before heading west on the Musch Trail. For now, continue to the northeast on Eagle Springs Fire Road along a well-deserved downhill section before the final one-mile climb up to the Hub Junction. The Hub Junction is aptly named as it is the central location for a number of trails. Some even refer to this spot as the crossroads for the Eastern Santa Monica Mountains. For this hike, head northeast on the Eagle Rock Fire Road as it bends back to the west and south toward Eagle Rock from above. From the Hub Junction, it's almost exactly a mile to Eagle Rock, where there will be an obvious spur trail out to the rock itself. Eagle Rock is a large, exposed section of sandstone that shows a number holes and cracks that represent varying erosion patterns. From Eagle Rock, continue south as the Eagle Rock Fire Road descends to Eagle Junction. This time, instead of heading down the Eagle Springs Fire Road that you came up, turn right onto the Musch Trail. If Eagle Rock wasn't enough, this beautifully scenic singletrack is the cherry-on-top reward for the journey. With seasonal wildflowers, intact chaparral, and shaded oak groves, it's truly the perfect way to end an already amazing hike. The trail winds to the south through Musch Camp for just over two miles, ending back at the Trippett Ranch parking area.