Finding Renewal on the Trails of the Santa Monica Mountains
The January 2025 Southern California wildfires were devastating on a scale that defies measurement. The loss of life—human, animal, and plant—alongside the destruction of property has had an unquantifiable impact on all of us in the community. As we all work to put the pieces of our lives back together, I've found myself gravitating toward the things I missed most.
As an outdoors enthusiast and runner, the long closure of our local trails in the Pacific Palisades, Santa Monica, and Malibu felt like a profound loss. For months, the simple rhythm of hitting the dirt—the ability to run, hike, and bike on the incredible trails that define this region—was completely out of reach.
Now that most of the trail network has finally reopened, I am thrilled to revisit and re-explore every single mile.
Returning to Old Favorites
Getting back out there has been nothing short of incredible. I've recently returned to a few of my favorite routes, each offering its own unique perspective on our local landscape:
- Temescal Canyon: Re-entering from the top of Bienveneda Avenue.
- Paseo Miramar Trail
- Saddle Peak
- Trailer Canyon (in Topanga State Park)
On a clear morning, these trails offer breathtaking, panoramic views up and down the coast, stretching from Malibu all the way past Manhattan Beach. As you climb, you can look deep across the valley, trace the skyline of downtown Los Angeles, and see all the way to the snow-capped peaks of Mt. Baldy.
A Landscape Reborn
For a runner who knows these paths by heart, the physical transformation of the terrain is striking. It is deeply inspiring to see life aggressively reclaiming the scorched earth. Brilliantly colorful wildflowers of all types and vibrant, low-lying plants are flourishing in ways I have never seen before. It's almost difficult to believe how quickly and robustly this plant life has managed to reappear from the ashes.
The fires also uncovered elements of the terrain that were previously hidden beneath dense brush. Many streams and waterways that I never knew existed are now visible along the routes. Massive rocks and boulders of all colors and sizes, once buried in undergrowth, now stand sharply perched along the sides of the trails.
While the tragic loss of mature trees has fundamentally altered the vistas, this alternate, raw perspective on the landscape carries its own stark kind of beauty.
Sharing the Path Forward
I know I am not alone in the excitement of having these trails back. On every run, I've been greeting many familiar faces from before the fires, all of us sharing that same sense of relief and joy to be back on the dirt.
We owe an immense debt of gratitude to the crews responsible for safely reopening these zones, as well as the tireless community volunteers who help maintain them. To everyone who put a shovel in the ground or cleared a path: a sincere thank you.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the world's largest urban national park right at our doorstep. But as runners and hikers, it's a privilege that comes with a shared responsibility to protect, respect, and preserve this environment while we enjoy it. See you out on the trails.