Fire. We all dread it. There's nothing like suddenly smelling smoke from a wildfire. Where is it? Is it close?
This one was just a few miles away. Car accident into a power pole.
HD Brushfires burn hot and fast in the bone dry chaparral in Southern California.
Our native oaks and black walnut trees have seen it before. They scorch, but still stand.
white ash covers the hill
the leaves may burn but the young walnuts survive
Using the highway as a firebreak, the firefighters stopped the 500+ acre blaze from burning homes and businesses. For more outdoor adventures, visit us at TheEarthMinute.com and subscribe today!
Looking for easy hiking terrain and great views of Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley?
Mulholland Drive / Hwy is a famous road in Los Angeles. It winds its way from the Hollywood Hills overlooking downtown, along the ridge of the Santa Monica Mountains and eventually to the sea near Leo Carrillo Beach. But a section has never been paved and is maintained as a fire-fighting access road. The wide dirt road is closed to vehicles and makes for easy walking with fantastic views.
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Walk the southern end of Mulholland's unpaved section with us in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Take in the colors of the chaparral hillsides. Keep your eyes open for wildlife, especially birds. And be amazed by the spring wildflowers even in a drought year.
Golden stars (Boomeria crocea) are a native California chaparral wildflower, most closely related to lilies. The small amount of rain we had this spring was enough to encourage these ephemeral blooms to send up a flower stalk.
Other chaparral wildflowers: coyote mint, buckwheat, bush monkey flower, and more. The manroot or wild cucumber (Marah fabaceus) is one of California's few native vines. It produces lemon-sized prickly seed pods that dry and burst open to spread the seed. The entire vine dies back, but the root lives on underground. Sometimes reaching the size of a person. It's a perfect adaptation for survival in a land of summer drought.
The dirt road is open to people, dogs, and horses.
Rattlesnakes can be present. For the safety of dogs and wildlife, PLEASE
keep dogs on a leash.
Without this bit of water flowing down to the ocean, many native plants and animal species would find it very hard to make it during a California drought season.
The park is located four miles south of Highway 101 on
Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road.
Or 6.5 miles north up Malibu Canyon Road from Malibu and Pacific Coast Highway {California Highway 1}.
Native Oak Trees
From the Malibu Creek State Park website...
Campsites
Hiking Trails
Horseback Riding
Some Accessible trails
Dogs on a leash are allowed in the Park's day use areas and campground.
Dogs are not allowed on the backcountry trails or dirt roads.
DAY-USE ACTIVITIES & FACILITIES
Historical/Cultural Site
Picnic Areas
Environmental Learning/Visitor Center
Exhibits and Programs
Interpretive Exhibits
Excellent Nature & Wildlife Viewing
OTHER FACILITIES & VISITOR INFORMATION
Pay Parking
Restrooms / Showers
Drinking Water Available
Sometimes an Earth Minute finds you. Take the walk up to The Getty Center in Los Angeles and discover the views and hidden beauties on a California hillside.
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Most visitors take the electric tram up to this world-renown museum and cultural center, but you can walk. If you walk you can take in the artwork, gardens, native vegetation, and spectacular views on your own time schedule.
The Acropolis in Athens, like the Temple of Aphrodite in Turkey, was designed for visitors to walk up and discover its different angles, silhouettes, and relationship with the world around it.
Like these ancient buildings, The Getty Center is organic to its hillside perch. Walking up allows you to leave everyday bustle behind, transition gradually, and meet this center of art, architecture, and natural splendor in your own moment of inspiration.
Enjoy the walk. Visit each week for a new experience at TheEarthMinute.com
