Backbone Trail: Kanan Dume Road to Mishe Mokwa

Kanan Dume Road to Mishe Mokwa is a moderately trafficked 15 mile section of the Backbone Trail located just outside of Malibu, California and about an hour's drive from Los Angeles. The trail features wildflowers, waterfalls, wooded canyons and stunning vistas and is popular amongst hikers, trail runners, backpackers, and mountain bikers. For this point-to-point trip, parking at the start and finish does not require a permit, but two cars are necessary (or a prearranged shuttle service). Kanan Dume Road to Mishe Mokwa is a shorter section of The Backbone Trail which, in its entirety, spans for 67 miles along the Santa Monica Mountains. The single track trail is well maintained and nicely graded with rolling ups and downs. Impressive scenery is endless on this route with views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands to the west and views of the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and Downtown Los Angeles to the east. The Santa Monica Mountains are a Southern California coastal mountain range that borders the Pacific Ocean. The area has been designated as a National Recreation Area and is noted for its Mediterranean-style climate of mild winters and dry, warm summers, which makes the area suitable year round. It is also possible to easily shorten and extend the route, which provides adventure opportunities for people of all levels of experience.