Guide to Easy and Cheap Camping at Topanga State Park

Welcome to my guide on budget Topanga State Park camping! The park has one small campground, Musch Trail Camp, located on the Musch Trail, which is part of a larger, thru-hiking trail called The Backbone Trail.

We’re focused on easy camping here, so we’re no going to go into thru-hiking the Backbone, but I’ll let you know up front, you do have to hike into this campground, and it’s about a one mile hike to do so. If that doesn’t sound easy – as you will be packing in all your stuff on your back – then stop right here and read my articles on Prius Prime + Tent camping at drive-up, reserved campgrounds, as that’s probably more your style.

What makes it easy is:

1. the hiking path from your parked car, at Trippet Ranch, to the campground is an easy hike with only a little over 100 feet in elevation over around 1 mile, and
2. the camp has a potable water fountain and spigot, and running water bathrooms, which means you’re not carrying heavy water, and extra stuff on your back, like a trowel, TP, wag bag, hand sanitizer, etc., into the camp.

FYI, bikes are not allowed on Musch Trail and thus you won’t be able to bikepack in. Musch Trail is basically a single file trail with lots of turns inhibiting forward visibility. Bikes are only allowed on Topanga’s fire trails, which are long, wide trails with lots of forward visibility.

Where To Park and How To Get To Topanga State Park’s Campground

Where Do You Park to Camp at Topanga State Park?

To hike into Musch Trail Camp, you will have to park at Trippet Ranch. Trippet Ranch’s parking lot is located off Entrada Road, Topanga, CA, which can be accessed from Topanga Canyon Blvd. Follow the brown park sign once you get towards the top of the hill on Entrada.

20825 Entrada Rd, Topanga, CA 90290 is the Trippet Ranch address.

Where is the Trailhead to Get to Musch Trail Camp?

Once you park at Trippet Ranch, you will need to find the Musch/Backbone Trailhead located in Trippet Ranch’s large field, adjacent to the parking lot. Look for a paved road that is between the Trippet Ranch bathrooms and a red, brick wall structure, covered by open, wood beam rafters that utilize arches to carry their load, which has park information attached to it. Walk along that paved road, past the duck pond on the right and the Deadhorse Trail on the left, until you see a water fountain and a covered information kiosk that says ‘Backbone Trail’ on it, which is on the right. That is the trailhead for Musch/Backbone Trail.

For detailed instructions on how to find the parking lot, and the trailhead, with a Google map pin of the trailhead, and pictures, visit my article on Musch Trail hiking. There you can also find detailed instructions on trail conditions for your trail.

Do I Need a Reservation To Camp At Topanga?

No. The camping at Musch Trail Camp is walk-in only and no reservations are needed. Worried about walking a mile with a full pack of gear on your back, only to find the campground full? Don’t be, it’s rarely ever used by one camper, let alone enough to exceed the max capacity of 40 campers in 8 campsites. I’ve hiked Musch trail hundreds of times over 15 years. I’ve only seen campers there maybe a handful of times.

Basic Camping Information for Musch Trail Camp

• Parking is $10 per night, and camping is $7 per night per person. There will be an electronic payment kiosk powered by a solar panel in the Trippet Ranch parking lot, that will let you pay for both parking and camping. (If you’re thru-hiking the Backbone trail, there are some paper envelopes at the campsite to fill out, stuff with some money, and deposit in a metal payment tube at the back wall of the bathroom. You’ll have to bring your own pen to fill the envelope out though.)
• Payment is due at time of arrival to the camp.
• Check-out time is 12pm noon, and if you go past this time, the park will want you to pay another $7 per person.
• Portable gas stoves/backpacking stoves are no longer allowed as of 2023, so leave your backpacking food for a hot meal at home. Further there are no fire pits and no wood/charcoal burning is allowed. The countryside is a high fire risk zone since everything is super dry in the summer and fall.
• No smoking is allowed so bring your nicotine gum, IQOS, vape or otherwise, if need be.
• There are running water bathrooms, but there are no soap dispensers to wash your hands.
• There is a 3 day camping limit and cumulative 12 days per year limit. After 3 days, you cannot use the site again for 48 hours.
• You cannot cut, or dig up, vegetation or collect debris from the forest floor to burn.
• Campers 17 and under must be accompanied by an adult; if their parent or guardian is not present, they must have a signed permission slip in lieu of such.
• No dogs are allowed at camp or on the Topanga hiking trails. Dogs are only allowed at the Trippet Ranch parking lot picnic area, according to the ranger I asked, at the park’s entrance kiosk.
• No weapons or hunting is allowed. No firearms, traps, bows/arrows, pellet guns, sling shots, large knives, spears, or anything else that could harm people, animals or vegetation.
• No electronic devices or tools that make enough noise to disturb others are allowed.
• Quiet hours start at 10pm.

Other Stuff to Know About Musch Trail Camp:

• The water fountain at the Musch trailhead has pretty low pressure, making it a little tricky to fill up a water bottle, so at least pack enough water to do the one-mile walk to the camp.
• The bathroom toilets don’t flush that great so don’t try to flush any trash with them. Sometimes you have to flush them twice.
• There is AT&T cell service at Musch Trail Camp. I don’t know about the other carriers.

Which Campsite is Which at Topanga State Park?

The park has delineated each site with a picnic table and large sawed up logs, marking each one’s borders. Originally each picnic table had a metal number nailed on it, to tell which campsite was which, but vandals have yanked some off as trophies. The sites are quite close together, so bring friends to avoid screaming children up in your business (again, really you’ll likely be alone out there, so bring friends to avoid being alone).

Site number 1 is the best out of all the sites, as it has shade from the camp’s eucalyptus trees, flat areas in that shade for a tent, and is closest to the bathroom and water fountain/spigot. The only drawback is it’s sort of in the path from the hiking trail to the bathroom so you’ll get hikers and other campers walking through your site to reach such.

Site number 2 has shade but not on flat ground for your tent. There is a little bit of flat shade next to the picnic table, but probably only an ultralight 1 person tent would fit there.

Sites 3 and 4 have no shade and are small.

There is some shade on sites 5 through 8, but those are a little far from the bathroom.

What Gear Do You Need To Camp at Topanga State Park?

Since it’s only a mile hike on relatively flat terrain to get to the campsite, and the weather in Los Angeles is usually cordial, rarely rains, and not too cold at night, and further, you don’t need to pack in all your water, it’s not necessary to have premium gear that can break your wallet.

Let’s go through some decent budget gear options to get you, or your buddy, started on a Topanga backpacking trip.  These are items I either own, or plan on owning, based on research and reviews from reputable gear review sites like Outdoor Gear Lab.  

Top Budget Backpacking Backpack Choice For Musch Trail Camp – Teton Sports Series Packs

Teton Sports has two entry level packs that are of good quality and consistently get good reviews on Amazon and independent review sites.  The smaller Scout 3400 fits both male and female average torso sizes (it’s adjustable between 15 to 19.5 inches), while the Hiker 3700 also works for larger than average male torso sizes (adjustable between 16 to 21.5 inches).  

If you don’t know your torso size, women (and youth) should go for the Scout, while men should go for the Hiker.  However REI has an instructional video on how to measure your torso size.  Check it out before you buy your pack.    

If budget isn’t a problem, I personally use and like my Gregory Paragon 58 liter pack, which is super comfortable, or if you don’t like a sweaty back from So Cal summer backpacking, there is the ventilated Osprey Exos 58.  I’ve done a head to head comparison of these packs in an article, where I go over why I ultimately chose the Paragon.   The woman’s version of the Paragon is the Maven 55.  

Top Budget Sleeping Pad Choice for Musch Trail Camp – Klymit Static V

Depending on the season, you can purchase the Klymit non-insulated Static V, or the insulated Static V at a budget price.  For the hot Topanga summers, I’d go for the non-insulated version, especially if you’re a hot sleeper.  For colder nights in the Spring and Fall, definitely go for the insulated version.  

I personally own the non-insulated version for summertime camping in So Cal. I also have a 25″ Exped foam folding sleeping pad that I can put under it for more loft, and because it adds around a r=1 worth of insulation (i.e. very minor insulation) to my summer sleep system.

Related: Check out my full review of the Klymit Static V Luxe Uninsulated sleeping pad, based on summertime usage.

I also use a Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad for Spring and Fall camping. It’s a 10 out of 10 for comfort. But because of its premium price, and that it has too much insulation, it’s way too hot for summertime Topanga State Park camping, and too expensive for budget colder season camping. I was up in Joshua Tree the other day with it, and ended up just sleeping on top of both it and my sleeping bag, because it was so hot. 

Top Budget Sleeping Bag for Musch Trail Camp for Summer, Late Spring, and Early Fall – Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy 45F/7C Synthetic Mummy Sleeping Bag

Let’s face it, in the dog days of summertime, when it’s in the 70’s and 80’s all night in Topanga, you probably could just get away with sleeping in a sleeping bag liner, sans the actual bag.  Been there, done that: Check out my video of my Big Bear Lake excursion, where I just slept in my liner all night in the summertime, and occasionally draped my bag over me like it was a quilt, in the cooler morning hours.

My bag liner is the Sea-To-Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme sleeping bag liner that not only works for hot summers but also adds a few degrees of warmth to my sleeping bag on colder Fall/Spring nights. It’s pretty compact – not much bigger than a Nalgene bottle. Theoretically it can add up to 25°F degrees of warmth to a sleeping bag, however it’s comfortable on its own, sleeping in the upper 60°F’s and 70°F’s with it.

But on those summer nights where temperatures drop into the 60’s, and on those late Spring and early Fall So Cal nights, where it drops into the 50’s, then it might be time to start thinking about a warm weather bag like the Therm-a-Rest Space Cowboy, which is comfortable down to 52F°.  Warm sleepers can use it down to its lower limit of 45F°.  

Another bonus is this bag will compress down to just 2 litters and is only 1 and ½ pounds, as a summer backpacking bag should be.  

Top Budget Sleeping Bag for Musch Trail Camp for the Colder Seasons – REI Trailbreak 30

2023 Edit: This bag (REI Trailbreak 30) has been discontinued by REI, and replaced with a Trailmade 20 bag that is much bulkier and warmer. I’m now recommending a Nemo Forte 35 bag for colder So Cal camping down to the low 40°F’s. That’s what I’ve been using lately at Lake Arrowhead, San Simeon Hearst, and sort of at Big Bear Lake (used as a improvised quilt it was so hot).

I personally use a REI Trailbreak 30, and though it’s too hot for me to use in the summer, it’s great for colder temps down to the 40’s.  Mind you I sleep hot, and the Trailbreak’s 38F° comfort rating assumes you have an insulated pad, and area wearing clothes as you sleep.  

But for a cold sleeper, I could see this bag working for temps in the upper 40’s, 50’s, and lower 60’s even.  

Also keep in mind there is both a men’s and women’s version of this bag.  

Best Budget Tent for Musch Trail Camp – Featherstone Peridot 2P UL Backpacking Tent

Without a doubt, it’s going to be the Featherstone 2 person UL Peridot backpacking tent.  I’ve done a full review of this tent I’ve been using for solo camping at places like Lake Arrowhead, Joshua Tree, and Los Padres National Forest this summer.  It’s been a winner for both rain, wind and shine, and has kept spiders, ants, centipedes, and mosquitoes from getting to me as I sleep.  

You can’t beat the 5000mm hydrostatic head rating of the Featherstone, for its price range.  Most tents in this price range, and even one or two hundred dollars more, only have 2000-3000mm ratings.  It packs lighter than the cheap, waterproof Amazon sold tents also, and comes with its own footprint, which a lot of those don’t.  

Again you don’t have to worry about rain in Topanga. But you do have to worry about Pacific Rattlesnakes, ants that sting when they bite (as I know all too well), and curious Western Fence Lizards. The Featherstone has a nice tall, waterproof, critter proof, bathtub style floor on its inside body, so nothing can crawl in, when you’re sleeping or hanging out.

Further, the upper component of its body is comprised of tightly wound mesh, known as noseeum mesh, which gives you much needed air flow, without even the tiny, biter bugs getting through.

Fire and Food

We’re trying to pack light and avoid buying extra camping stuff, so let’s just plan on using those dehydrated backpacker’s meals as our main calorie source, and compliment that with some Cliff Bars, tuna packs, beef jerky, trail mix, and dried fruit.

Backpacking Dehydrated Food Cook Set Options

Edit: As of 2023, backpacking stoves are no longer allowed at Musch Trail Camp due to extreme fire risk. You will need to bring food that doesn’t need to be cooked using a backpacking stove.

Cheaper Option	More Expensive Option
Sea to Summit Alpha Light Long Spork	OUTXE Titanium Long Handle Spork and Spoon, 8.7-Inch
GSI Outdoors Glacier Camp Stove – High-Output Stove for Larger Pots Car Camping and Base Camp and GSI Outdoors – Halulite Boiler 1.1L and matches	Jetboil MicroMo Camping and Backpacking Stove Cooking System
Paper Towels, Sponge, Small Dish Soap Bottle	Sea to Summit Collapsible Kitchen Sink and MSR Alpine Dish Brush / Scraper and Concentrated Campsuds Outdoor Soap

Cooking and Cleaning Suggestions

Edit: Backpacking stoves are no longer permitted when camping at Topanga State Park, as of 2023.

All you going to do here is boil your water in your boiler pot, pour it in the backpacking food bag and stir it up, let it rehydrate, then eat right out of the bag. Afterwards just throw the bag away in the trash can furthest from your tent. This keeps the raccoons from bothering you, when you’re sleeping, if they’re on the prowl from smelling your food.

Wipe your spoon/spork clean with a paper towel and trash it, wet it at the outdoor sink at the bathroom, cleanse it with your sponge and a drop of dish soap, then rinse it in the sink, taking care not to leave the sink messy. Your boiler will just have boiling water in it, so no need to clean that. If you don’t want to use the sink, just fill your boiler and pour water onto your spoon/spork in the cleaning process. I’d go into the horse corral across from the campsite for that type of work.

Also notable is that you want to use biodegradable soap, when camping, to minimize environmental harm, and be a good steward of the land, for the next generation to enjoy.

Backpacking Stove Fuel

Edit: As of 2023, backpacking stoves are no longer permitted at Musch Trail Camp, due to extreme fire risk.

Also, if you’re new to cooking on a backpacking stove, you’ll need to pick up ISOPRO fuel at a local REI before heading to Topanga. The REI is on Topanga Blvd. in Woodland Hills, so not too far away from Topanga State Park.

Lighting

Headlamps

We’re going cheap with the lighting, using an Energizer Vision LED Rechargeable Headlamp. This lamp has a 400 lumen high and low spotlight mode, a high and low wide mode, a red mode to preserve your night vision, a flashing red mode to signal emergencies, and a green mode. Use the low wide mode inside your tent. You can keep it in the loft of the Featherstone tent I recommended, to use as a ceiling light.

I personally use the Black Diamond Spot 400-R Headlamp and it’s been a great lamp in terms of brightness, functionality, and battery longevity. I also use it to walk the dogs every night, and can’t remember the last time I needed to charge the battery.

Tent Lights

When I’m camping alone, I like to keep a tent ‘porch light’ on all night as I sleep, just to feel safer. For this type of trip I would probably go for a Oirtmiu USB Light Bulb – 2 Bulb Set with my old Anker Portable USB battery bank. I personally use an Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger, 26800mAh External Battery that has around 18Ah of usable charge. And if you toggle those oirtmiu bulbs to their 5W configuration, both would pull 2 amps, leaving you with 9 hours of lighting at night, for a one night trip.

Coyotes and Topanga Camping

Topanga State Park does have a significant coyote population. I’ve heard a large group communicating with one another in the wooded outskirts of Trippet Ranch at dusk; it actually sounded similar to a wild group of kids playing, until I got closer to it. They’ll also howl at ambulances or other emergency vehicles with sirens, making their way through Topanga Canyon Blvd. I’ve seen one the size of a German Shepard check me out on E Topanga Fire Road (see picture below). And I’ve spooked one, coming up that same trail, near the Santa Ynez trailhead, who subsequently ran away from me.

What I’ve noticed about these particular Topanga coyotes, is they’re a bit more skittish of humans than their city dwelling counterparts. The ones in my neighborhood aren’t spooked by your presence. I’ve run towards a neighborhood coyote, screaming at him, to run him away, with my small dog in my hands, and he did back off, but just enough to hide in some bushes until I passed.

But the real question is: Are the Topanga coyotes going to bother you while camping? After all, you’re not allowed to have a fire at Musch Trail Camp, so that deterrent isn’t an option.

There is an extremely low chance they’re going to bother you. They’re skittish around humans, and unlike other prey animals, they don’t try to take down prey that’s larger than themselves. They’re more interested in mice, rabbits, and such. I’ve actually seen one in Yellow Stone trying to scare a small animal out of its underground den, using its front legs to jump up and down near it. He cared less about me watching, as he was apparently hungry.

Coyote Hazing

Now if you do see one curious about your camp (likely the food in it), use this hazing guide from the US Humane Society to run them off. Sometimes it takes a few attempts at annoying them for them to completely leave, so don’t give up if they just back off a little. And if you’re camping solo, it might be worth the emotional comfort to pack some bear spray or an air horn to have a solid insurance plan against the unlikely straggler.

If you’re worried about them, or other critters, snooping around and grabbing your breakfast while you’re asleep, just put your food (including dehydrated food) in one of those odor reducing ziplock bags (Opsak), then find a tree not near your camp, and use a Selkirk Design Ultralight Food Bag Hanging System to hoist it up away from hungry mouths. Again discard your food trash in the campsite’s trash bin furthest from your camp. If you’re in site number 1, then use site 5 to 8’s trash can.

Activities When Camping at Topanga

You want to do things that day hiker’s can’t do:

• bring your flashlight/headlamp and watch the sunset (or sunrise) at Eagle Rock
• watch the nightlife: I’ve accidentally been out in Topanga at night and there are lots of deer hanging out in the fields on the sides of the trails at night. That Energizer 400 lumen headlamp I talked about above should be more than enough to spotlight the fields, next to the Topanga trails, and see some wildlife.
• do a little star gazing if the sky is clear in the meadow adjacent to the camp.

I’ve also covered hiking to Eagle Rock, and the Deadhorse/Nature trails in Topanga, so check those articles out for a little more insight into the park. Also check my general Topanga State Park page for more articles as they come out.

I hope this helps get your started on planning your next Topanga camping adventure. Take care!