Camping in California: Malibu
Creek State Park
By
Armando Ortiz
This little oasis of rolling
hills, slanted mountains and oak trees is a stone’s throw away from the big
city. This is what Malibu Creek State Park is to me and ought to be to
everyone. It’s located less than an hour from downtown LA offering miles of
trails to enjoy. There is a creek that runs through the park which makes a
popular rock pool. I decided to check this place out a few weeks after going
there with a friend and enjoying a long hike that took us to the M.A.S.H. set.
This is a great place so its best to arrive early, set up camp, set up a picnic
table, and enjoy all that is to do there.
I
missed my check in a day before, but arrived before noon the next day. Set up
my tent, had lunch, read a book, went to buy firewood (there’s an Albertsons
nearby). After returning I went for a short walk, and after that cooked an
incredible dinner over the fire. I went to sleep a bit early, a bit weary that
the neighbors would keep me up, but everything pretty much quieted down after
10pm. Though I do recall two lines that I heard from my someone nearby, one, “I
need my Starbucks, lets go get some Starbucks,” and two, “I want to go home, I
don’t like being here.” Needless to say the majority of the people leave by 8
in the morning.
Woke
up early, made breakfast and went on a long hike. Returned to my spot, took
down my tent and packed my car. I was out of the park by noon. Great spot to
enjoy what was once common all over Southern California, arid environment where
oasis of desert shrubs and plants shared the earth with imposing oaks.
This is definitively a
place to visit if you like hiking, because there are lots of trails. There are
different levels of trails for different levels of difficulty from beginner
walks where you follow a flat trail that takes you to information panels giving
you a history lesson of the place. Some of the more challenging trails can be
steep and long, which are perfect for the trail runner and long distance hiker.
