Sure you can pull in to Trippet Ranch parking lot at Topanga State Park, with the sub-sandwich you just bought on Ventura, and set up shop at one of the many picnic tables overlooking the lot. It’s okay. You get to eat, run to the bathroom, then hike.
But if you’re looking for a more private lunch, immersed in nature, on a picnic blanket that you’ve packed in with your pre-hike meal, then I’ve got a few suggestions. Most of these are still near the parking lot; that way you’re not doing an extensive, hungry hike before you get to eat, and your body is not in exercise mode, where digestion is diminished. I’ll leave the clickable Google Maps coordinates for each place in the run down below.
Top Pick – 34°05’27.1212″N 118°35’04.5024″W
Just a short walk from the Trippet Ranch parking lot, this secluded picnic area is in the deer park that overlooks the Pacific Palisades and the distal ocean.
From the lot, ascend onto E Topanga Fire Road, as were you hiking to Eagle Rock. As soon as you hit E Topanga Fire Road at the three-way fork, where there is a large brown park sign that gives you directions for Eagle Rock, Parker Mesa Overlook, Santa Ynez Trail, etc, you will be facing the deer park – a collection of coastal live oak trees that have walking paths wrapped around them. Walk into the park, on the path located next to the sign, and travel in a straight fashion to the canyon overlook at the back of the park, where you will see the Palisades in the distance. Once there, look rightward for a park bench dedicated to Tom Pecorelli; that is your spot!
34°05’33.6″N 118°34’57.9″W
A little bit up the road from my top pick above, this picnic spot is more of an improvised sort, and is best done with a picnic blanket that can handle the rocky, dirty terrain; perhaps something like this.
To get there, ascend towards Eagle Rock from Trippet Ranch, again on E Topanga Fire Road, and you’ll see a large hill on your right, just before the Santa Ynez Canyon trailhead. Walk past this hill, then climb it using the wide path on its back side, which faces the trailhead. This path is a bit steep, so be careful walking on the large supply of slippery gravel found there. Once at the top, find a patch of dirt wide enough for your picnic blanket, amongst the chaparral.
This area is best for picnicking in cooler temperatures, as there’s little shade, but the overlooking views of the deer park and fields are quite nice. Also, keep an eye out for ants: I’ve been bitten by a red Topanga ant (don’t know the true name) while sitting on the ground without a picnic blanket, in an area a few minutes from this one. Believe me, it stings!
34°05’25.8756″N 118°35’16.8468″W
This wooded area is another one that’s just off E Topanga Fire Road, but you approach it by hiking towards the Parker Mesa Overlook from Trippet Ranch, a few minutes away. Watch for two parallel logs on the right of the fire road (see picture above), marking the start of a less ventured side trail that leads to the spot. Don’t walk too far down the trail, as it eventually ends up on private property, behind a few Topanga homes. Travel just enough that you start to see some numbered baby oak trees, protected by chicken wire; they are part of the ‘Adopt a Baby Oak Tree’ program the park has going; pour some water on them if you have extra, and notice their surrounding ground is parched.
It’s best to set up your picnic actually on the trail, in areas where multiple trails meet, that such provides ample room for your blanket. No one else will disturb you since these side trails don’t get much action. Or if you see some dry grass that’s been flattened down by the deer, previously bedding there, you can probably get away with throwing a blanket down there, as a one time deal, but tread lightly; even the dead forest debris is protected by the park, as its part of the soil nutrient cycle that keeps these climate stressed, coastal live oak trees going.
Musch Trail Camp – 34°06’10.7″N 118°35’02.2″W
This one is a mile down the Musch Trail at Musch Trail Camp. It’s not a bad mile, though; only a 100 foot climb over that distance; just a little taste of the trail that might even spark your appetite.
The big advantage of this site is that you can use a portable backpacking stove in the area (confirmed by the rules posted on the outer back wall of the camp’s bathroom). So you could be eating a hot meal on a cold day before heading up to Eagle Rock. Plus you get a picnic table to eat at, so you need not pack a blanket. The second big advantage is there is a bathroom, and the third is there is potable water to rehydrate a backpacking meal.
If you’ve never considered a backpacking stove and dehydrated backpacking meals before, check out my Musch Trail Camp article and scroll down to the ‘Fire and Food’ section for some gear suggestions to get you started (my table in the article has both cheap and expensive options).
Entrada Field – 34°05’34.9″N 118°35’32.2″W
This unofficial site works good since you can park along Entrada Road, near Trippet Ranch Parking Lot, and be picnicking 5 minutes later in a private wooded area, away from the hiking traffic (not that Topanga has much hiking traffic to begin with). You’ll be picnicking at the dead end of a trail, so you won’t get in trouble with the park for disturbing the flora.
Drive up the last leg of Entrada, before the left turn onto the road that goes into the Trippet Ranch parking lot, then do a u-turn at that junction and retrace your path back down. Look for parking on your right, preferably near the coordinate 34°05’31.2″N 118°35’32.5″W, which is at the trailhead you’ll be starting on to get to the picnic area (see map above). However, don’t park in the immediate trailhead area, as that’s designated to allow horse trailers to load and unload, and you’ll get a ticket there, like I did once (be mindful of the ‘no parking’ signs). Rangers are on the prowl for that particular area; easy money!
Once past the trailhead, take a right onto the path that is marked with the ‘To Trippet Ranch’ marker, and walk through a small bit of woods, which holds a wooden bridge along the path. As you shortly emerge from the woods and find yourself in the field next to Entrada Road, there will immediately be a leftward fork off the field’s path, that you’ll want to walk down to get to the picnic area. Within seconds of pursuing this path, you’ll have reentered the woods and come face to face with a large coastal live oak tree whose branches sprawl out near the ground, as were it a giant spider (see picture). This is your picnic area; drop your blanket down an enjoy!
Rain Wash Area – 34°05’33.5″N 118°35’33.9″W
Another unofficial site, but this time off the trail, in a rainwater wash, very close to the last site mentioned above. Generally the park doesn’t want you to wander off the trails and disturb the flora, but this wash area will get significantly disturbed next time a big winter rain comes through anyway, and I’ve never see anyone from the park patrolling this area, so it’s probably okay to have a quick lunch here. Just keep in mind you theoretically could get a ticket for hanging out in the wash, though not very probable.
Again, start at the 34°05’31.2″N 118°35’32.5″W trailhead, but this time instead of veering rightward through the woods towards Trippet Ranch and the Entrada field, you’ll want to continue straight for a half a minute’s time, until you reach a bridge that runs over the wash area, cross that bridge, then exit the path on the right into that flat area.
Other More Distal, More Official Picnic Areas
There are park benches on Musch Trail (I think it’s here: 34°05’58.7″N 118°35’05.6″W), at Eagle Rock (34°06’28.0″N 118°34’17.0″W), at Parker Mesa Overlook (34°03’33.3″N 118°34’26.1″W), and the Hub Junction (34°06’28.4″N 118°33’29.6″W) which has a roof structure providing some shade, as well as a bathroom. These are all fine places to sit and snack, but with the exception of the Much Trail bench, which is only 1/2 a mile out from Trippet Ranch, you’re going to have to work to get to these.
Google Coordinates Tips
Make sure to download your Google Maps app and have your coordinates programmed in, before you get on the trail, or depending on your cell service provider, near the park. That way you’ll have a better chance at perusing your pin for the areas I’ve recommended.
Hope this helps you plan your next picnic in Topanga State Park. Take care!