Backbone Trail: Corral Canyon Trailhead to Tapia Trailhead

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E-Bikes Unknown

This segment of the Backbone Trail starts at the Corral Canyons Parking area. The first half mile traverses a large granite outcropping with some interesting wind-carved rocks. The rock surface is very grippy, so with proper line choice, strength, and finesse, this makes for a fun and challenging first half mile.

If you don't like the looks of this section, take the Castro Peak Motorway towards the southeast and then after a quarter-mile turn right onto the Mesa Peak Motorway.

After this first half mile, the Backbone Trail joins the Mesa Peak Motorway for the next four miles. You ride gently up and down along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains enjoying awesome views for the next mile and a half or so.

At around three miles, you reach a promontory with a picnic table. This is a good place to stop to take in the views. After that, you start a 2.5 mile, 1350 ft descent towards Malibu Canyon Road. (Well hopefully. If you're doing the trail from east to west, at least you've got the promontory point to look forward to after most of the climbing is through).

At 4.8 miles, the Backbone Trail turns off of Mesa Peak Motorway onto a 0.6-mile long singletrack that takes you down to a parking area off Malibu Creek Road. The singletrack is fairly steep and with loose rocks, so watch your speed in case there are hikers.