Malibu Creek Campground

Care to take a spin on the Planet of the Apes, no time-travel required? This movie-licious park has awesome great bike trails that meander through the backdrop of some of Hollywood’s most famous scenes, not to mention the striking landscape of Southern California. So grab your bike and go hang out with the ghosts of movies past (it’s not scary at all, we promise).

Fishing isn’t the main event here, but if you are so inclined, feel free to drop a line in one of the freshwater streams or lakes found in the park. Be sure to snag a license before you go.

The dramatic, rugged countryside that made this park movie-set mecca in the early part of the twentieth century also makes for some truly spectacular hiking. Terrain ranges from airy, golden meadows to craggy peaks to cool, rushing waters running through valleys and gorges. Check out some great trails here and here. A walk through any of the above won’t leave much mystery as to why it captured the imagination of Hollywood directors of old. It’s hard to pick just one, but we are particularly starstruck by the MASH trail , which leads you through old sets and really cool, old props that definitely make you feel like Hawkeye is just around that other corner. And don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone if you start singing the theme song.

If you are really ready to get your old Hollywood on, hit the trails on horseback. In addition to being Ronald Reagan’s favorite thing ever (they are actually in the process of building an equestrian campground at the park), it’s almost impossible to suppress your inner cowpoke when you are swaying through landscape that once provided the backdrop to Daniel Boone’s western adventures (but seriously, that’s pretty cool.)

Even though it’s man-made, Century Lake still provides a lovely spot for a casual paddle. The park’s namesake is, actually, 20th Century Fox Studios, which owned the land before it became a park. A small finger lake, it is an easy mini-adventure, but be sure to stay away from the dam: that would be the kind of adventure we’re betting you aren’t looking for.

We know you aren’t sick of the movie references yet, because you are still reading. That’s good, because we have one more for you. When it comes to climbing, there are several really great spots to climb & boulder in the park, primarily centered around the Rock Pool, which range in difficulty from 5.8 to 5.10c. You can also find a solid list about climbing in the area here to satisfy all your climbing inquiries. The most easily accessible is the Apes Wall, named because — you guessed it — scenes from Planet of the Apes were filmed on and around it. Definitely worth a gander and, if you are so inclined, maybe recreate an epic cliffhanger (get it?) at the top.

If you don’t mind a short walk (and we know you don’t), there is an awesome swimming hole at Rock Pool (there is also some great climbing here as well, check out our climbing section for more info). You can also take a dip in Century Lake, located toward the center of the park (and the site of the famous jumping scene in Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid).

One of the reasons this park was such a popular place to film was because of its truly magnificent landscape, and the real sense of being in the wild a mere 25 miles outside of LA. As such, Malibu Creek is home to a wide variety of wildlife, which includes: the junior lion, salamanders, newts, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes (including the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake, so definitely watch where you step), loons, boobies, cormorants, herons, egrets, vultures, geese, and ducks. But wait, there’s more: hawks, eagles, sparrows, cranes, wrens, bats, raccoons, skunks, badgers, coyotes, foxes, rabbits and deer. It also once was known as the planet of the apes, so you should definitely keep your eyes open for those too.