CIRCLE X RANCH - Canyon View Trail & the Quest for the Grotto

In the waning hours of 2011, I went for a hike with my mom and decided to start a blog.  Good lord, save us all.

Circle X Ranch is a former Boy Scout camp in the western Santa Monica Mountains, and it's a local region that's eluded me for years.  I now regret not getting my ass out there sooner, because, turns out, this is one cool spot.

We approached from the north via Westlake Blvd 23 (a windy but spectacular drive), but it's also accessible from the South via PCH.  Click here for a map of the area.  We parked at the Sandstone Peak Trailhead, which is one of three free lots, and it's one of the most obviously labeled trailheads I've ever seen...

The elevation at the trailhead is 2030', and it's where you can begin your ascent to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains at 3111'.  However, we opted to take the less traveled Canyon View Trail, whose trailhead actually begins on the opposite side of the street from the parking lot...

The trail is nice and narrow (1-3 ft.), and it's mostly downhill for the entire 1.5 miles.  The path offers some great vistas of the surrounding areas...

I typically fly solo when I hike, but I had a co-pilot for this trek.

A few notes about my traveling partner: 

She gave birth to me 26 years ago.  She introduced me to the splendors of hiking as a wee lad and taught me the finer points of photography when I was 14.  She's a television executive, a cancer survivor, a Northwestern post-graduate candidate, and a tough little cookie with a vestigial NY accent.  At the risk of coming off as soft wussyboy right from the get-go, I'll admit I love her dearly, and we're pretty tight.

This being said, the same drama seems to play out every time we hike together.  All starts well, but at some point she freaks out, fearing she's in too deep and has no idea how she'll be able to make it back.  Her melodramatic side is then displayed in all of its theatrical glory: the panicky breathing, the childlike monosyllabic requests ("Food," "Drink," "Break"), and the inane barrage of questions about the remaining distance and elevation gain, which of course I can only estimate.  Spoiler Alert: she always makes it out alive and is quick to boast about the day's physical achievements upon arriving home.  Today was no different...

The trail continues down, down, down and at 0.9 miles, you'll hit this fork in the road.  Keep left to stay on the trail...

Not long after (0.6 miles to be exact), you'll come upon another fork.  The Canyon View Trail ends, and you can access the Grotto Trail.  Elevation at this intersection is 1568'.  I don't believe I've ever seen a grotto before, so I naturally assumed it would look very similar to the one at the Playboy Mansion and would likewise filled with busty Playmates.  Thus, the quest for the Grotto began...

The trail opens up pretty quickly to a small, open meadow -- not a bad place for a respite if necessary...

This section of the trail provides some relief from the sun.  (Even in December/January, it can be pretty warm on the trails. Gotta love SoCal).  The descent continues, and this portion of the road is a bit steeper and has quite a bit of loose rock.  Come equipped with the proper footwear...

Not a ton of awesome flora to speak of, but there's a ton of this white stuff, and I smelled it from beginning to end...

You'll cross a creek bed (it was dry when we went) and see another sign that points to the Grotto (0.6 miles).  Pretty smooth sailing from there as you approach the Grotto...

After the little marshy woodland area, a patch of large loose rocks leads you to what seems like a dead end.  However, this marks the final descent to the Grotto, which requires you to scramble down a series of large rocks.  My mom wisely bailed there, and I recommend the same for anyone who is not fit to use all fours to climb down (and back up) the final 20-30 feet.  Begin the descent on the right side of the rocks.  From there, my best advice is to take your time and find your own safe path down.

I was pleasantly surprised by my ability to navigate the terrain with speed and strength.  I felt like a monkeyjungleboy, using the available trees and boulders to swing my way down, which proved to be a rewarding primal experience.  There was a middle-aged woman behind me who was baffled there was no water over the rocks and seemed disoriented because of it.  Not long after, I smelled the smoke from the joint she was sharing with her friends.  Perhaps she was disoriented for another reason.

Finally, I made it to the Grotto (Elevation approx 1125'), which turned out to be completely worth the trek, despite the absence of Miss January and her fellow Bunnies.  A slow trickle falls into a cove, two sides separated by a massive boulder.  I wish I had some pics that would accurately depict the scene, but I'm sad to report that I completely botched this one.  I forgot to switch lenses with my mom before I started the scramble, so I was left without wide angle glass, which would have been key in accurately presenting the Grotto.  I sincerely apologize, but I promise I'll get better at this...

 

Of course, what goes down...must come back up.  The 900 foot ascent was not an easy one for my mom, whose toes I had to tape with gauze because of some nasty pain caused by her shoes.  Famished and flustered, she ate both of our rations of snacks.  Despite the frequent stops and requests to leave her dying on the mountain, my mom eventually made it back to the car with a smile on her face.

Overall, this is a rad spot with a cool payoff, and I'd love to come back in the spring when the water may be rushing.  It was a great way to ring in the New Year, and I wish peace, happiness, and prosperity for you all in 2012.