Image
Sycamore Canyon Trail, Pt. Mugu State Park, California

Trails Begin
(1 of 27) (13460 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103257_BCX_9022.jpg

The trails began where the fire road through the campground exited at its rear, furthest from the beach. The fire road itself was best for bicycling, whereas the narrower trails that led off sideways from the road were more suited to hiking.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:32:57 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9022
Add a comment or report a mistake

Distance Annotated On A Sign
(2 of 27) (8752 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103321_BCX_9023.jpg

A sign posted alongside the fire road listed the distances to the various trails. The sign read:

Pt. Mugu State Park
Sycamore Canyon Fire Road
Scenic Trail0.1 MI
Overlook Fire Road0.4 MI
Fireline Trail0.8 MI
Serrano Canyon Trail1.1 MI
Wood Canyon Vista Trail 2.9 MI
Wood Canyon Fire Road3.0 MI
Rancho Sierra Vista7.4 MI


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:33:21 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9023
Add a comment or report a mistake

No Dogs And No Smoking
(3 of 27) (8696 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103341_BCX_9024.jpg

Just under an, "Authorized Vehicles Only," sign were found three icons prohibiting fire, dogs, and smoking. There were also warnings posted on either side to be aware of raccoons and poison oak.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:33:41 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9024
Add a comment or report a mistake

Scenic Trail Began
(4 of 27) (8721 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103548_BCX_9028.jpg

Scenic Trail began with stone stairs leading off from the Fire Road. This trail was 0.75 mi (1.2 km) long and rose 430 ft (131 m) gently enough for the average person to hike.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:35:48 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9028
Add a comment or report a mistake

Scenic Trail Was Narrow
(5 of 27) (8697 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103553_BCX_9029.jpg

Scenic Trail was narrow enough to discourage bicycles, yet wide enough for a non-stressful hike. The foliage in October was green from recent rain storms.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:35:53 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9029
Add a comment or report a mistake

Grand Views
(6 of 27) (8693 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103721_BCX_9031.jpg

Scenic Trail rose high enough to provide scenic views of the interior hills and valleys.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:37:21 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9031
Add a comment or report a mistake

Great Clusters Of Berries
(7 of 27) (8713 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_103919_BCX_9032.jpg

Full bunches of huckleberries grew alongside the trail.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:39:19 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9032
Add a comment or report a mistake

Dense Foliage Atop The Rise
(8 of 27) (8803 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_104035_BCX_9033.jpg

As the trail crested the top of its first hill, it became enclosed in dense foliage.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:40:35 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9033
Add a comment or report a mistake

A Lizard On A Step
(9 of 27) (8703 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_104427_BCX_9037.jpg

A Lizard rested on one of the wooden steps that appeared on the steeper portions of the trail.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:44:27 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9037
Add a comment or report a mistake

Across The Valley Another Hill
(10 of 27) (8688 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_104748_BCX_9042.jpg

Another hill rose steeply across the valley opposite the trail. In the foreground was a tree full of large pods.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:47:48 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9042
Add a comment or report a mistake

Looking Back down
(11 of 27) (8757 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_104828_BCX_9044.jpg

Scenic Trail as it appeared when looking back down it and back toward camp.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:48:28 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9044
Add a comment or report a mistake

Above Camp And The Beach
(12 of 27) (8665 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_105439_BCX_9051.jpg

Scenic Trail overlooked the campground and the beach. The campground was nestled into a valley that opened to the beach.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:54:39 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9051
Add a comment or report a mistake

Scenic Trail Continued
(13 of 27) (8733 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_105609_BCX_9053.jpg

Scenic Trail crested the top of the hill and curved left and slightly downward. Beyond the trail laid the Santa Monica Mountains.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 10:54:39 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9053
Add a comment or report a mistake

Dried Brush Near The Top
(14 of 27) (8758 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_111437_BCX_9061.jpg

Dried brush began to appear alongside the trail as the trail neared its top. Birds could be heard singing but were difficult to spot.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:14:37 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9061
Add a comment or report a mistake

A Bird In The Bush
(15 of 27) (8720 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_111816_TNT_9099.jpg

A Sparrow was almost invisible on its dried branch inside one dried bush of many that lined the trail.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:18:16 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #TNT_9099
Add a comment or report a mistake

Headed Back Toward Camp
(16 of 27) (8679 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_112135_BCX_9065.jpg

A couple passed us on the trail headed back down to return to camp and the parking lot and perhaps back to the beach.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:21:35 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9065
Add a comment or report a mistake

Overlook Trail
(17 of 27) (8678 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_112450_BCX_9071.jpg

Scenic Trail led to Overlook Trail that bordered the top of the hill alongside the highway and the beach. The view from up there was spectacular. Here, motorcycles could be seen heading back up north on Highway 1.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:24:50 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9071
Add a comment or report a mistake

The View North
(18 of 27) (8692 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_112507_BCX_9075.jpg

The view looking north from Overlook Trail. The beach lay below with campers and cars parked along it. Inland from the beach was Highway 1.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:25:07 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9075
Add a comment or report a mistake

Other Overlooks
(19 of 27) (8719 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_112710_TNT_9104.jpg

Many small side trails led out to the edge and thus provided many opportunities for other views. Here, a couple had just tired of the view.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:27:10 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #TNT_9104
Add a comment or report a mistake

A Choice Of Trails Back
(20 of 27) (8704 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_113424_BCX_9079.jpg

From Overlook Trail, there were a few choices of way's back. Below in the distance were hikers returning on Scenic Trail.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:34:24 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9079
Add a comment or report a mistake

We Chose The Fire Road
(21 of 27) (8715 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_115029_BCX_9084.jpg

We chose to return along the fire road. This was the road favored by folks on bicycle. It was wide and smooth enough for easy riding.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:50:29 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9084
Add a comment or report a mistake

Bicycle Fast Downhill
(22 of 27) (8752 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_115729_BCX_9094.jpg

A lone bicyclist rode fast down the fire road and back toward camp. Here he had just crested a rise and his wheels had briefly left the ground.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 11:57:29 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9094
Add a comment or report a mistake

A California Towhee
(23 of 27) (8704 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_120013_TNT_9110.jpg

A California Towhee was spotted alongside the fire road foraging for food. Note how their coloration allows them to blend into the dirt.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 12:00:13 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Terry Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #TNT_9110
Add a comment or report a mistake

Dried, Green and Red Bushes
(24 of 27) (8744 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_120045_BCX_9097.jpg

The fire road was lined with a gorgeous layering of dried bushes backed by red bushes and those backed by green bushes. Whole hillsides were striped in these colors.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 12:00:45 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9097
Add a comment or report a mistake

Land Surrounding The Fire Road
(25 of 27) (8695 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_120138_BCX_9098.jpg

The land surrounding the fire road appeared lush despite the dryness of that hot afternoon.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 12:01:38 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9098
Add a comment or report a mistake

Family On Bikes Neared Trail's End
(26 of 27) (8724 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_120818_BCX_9107.jpg

A family on bicycles peddled back along the fire trail in the direction of the campground and beach. Back on the valley floor, shade became available again.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 12:08:18 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9107
Add a comment or report a mistake

A Reminder Of Rain
(27 of 27) (8716 views)

./Pt_Mugu_State_Park_Sycamore_Canyon_Trails_20101010_121923_BCX_9115.jpg

A puddle on the valley floor was one of the few reminders that we were still in the middle of the rainy season. Shade and cool temperatures there in the valley under shade trees, despite the hot day.


Sycamore Canyon Trails   •  Point Mugu California State Park   •  Highway 1 south of Oxnard   •  (Photo posted Monday 10 January 2011)   •  (Photo taken 12:19:23 Sunday 10 October 2010)   •  © 2011 Bryan Costales Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License #BCX_9115
Add a comment or report a mistake


Subscribe to our mailing list for a Sunday summary of the week's stories.
* indicates required
Email Format
home contact topic guide top 25 photos video writing blogs upload terms privacy