Musch Trail in Topanga State Park provides the most diversity of landscape, terrain, grade, flora and fauna that the hiker can observe in the park, out of its many trails. There is a bridge cross near the trailhead; there are an abundance of wildflowers that vary as a function of the several micro eco-systems the trail experiences; there are shadowy, closed, forested areas, with streams that run in the wet winter season after it rains, hiding a few – a very few – unlikely deciduous trees near these waters; there are large open grass fields with constellations of wildflowers the trail runs directly through; there is a campground shaded by Eucalyptus trees, which keeps a two head bathroom with running water, and simple, pole-work made horse stables in its periphery; there is dense chaparral that hosts its own unique set of flowers, and once one emerges from this dense matter near the end of the trail, they are to observe the many sandy outcrops that crest through the horizon in all directions of the park.
Where Does Musch Trail Start in Topanga State Park?
Musch Trail starts a minute’s walk from the Trippet Ranch parking lot. Its trailhead is at the edge of one of the large grass fields adjacent to the lot. Detailed directions and a map are below.
Trippet Ranch Parking Lot
In order to access the trailhead, one must park at the Trippet Ranch parking lot inside the park, or park on the side of Entrada Road, right before the park entrance, and hike into this parking lot. Entrada Road is the connecting road between the park and N Topanga Canyon Blvd. (CA-27).
First timers don’t get fooled by the first parking lot you see on the left, when you first turn onto Entrada. That’s the Dead Horse Trail lot, and a different story for a different day. You’ll need to keep ascending the steep (but paved and maintained) Entrada Road for a bit longer to get to the park entrance. Just watch for the brown Topanga State Park sign that guides you to turn left to stay on Entrada, as you near the top of your ascent.
Connecting Road from Trippet Ranch Parking Lot To Musch Trailhead
Once in the parking lot, locate the large, white, running water bathroom building. Also locate the relatively smaller rest area, made of red brick walls and covered by open, wood beam rafters that utilize arches to carry their load. This rest area has some park information on it, regarding how fire revitalizes the ecosystem, and currently has an appeal to hikers to please water the baby oak trees they’ve recently planted.
Above: 1) Red brick resting area; 2) Baby Oak tree sign; 3) Duck pond – often runs dry in the summer; 4) Musch trailhead info stand – don’t be fooled by the ‘Backbone Trail’ moniker, you’re actually at the Musch trailhead (Musch Trail being a section of the Backbone Trail); 5) Mule Deer that like to hang out at Trippet Ranch around dusk.
Between the bathroom area and this bricked rest area, indeed right next to that rest area, there is a paved road you must walk down to get to the Musch trailhead. Going forward, there will be a duck pond on the right, and the ending of the fence-lined Dead Horse Trail on the left. Thereafter, you will find the massive grass fields of Trippet Ranch, that attract mule deer at dusk! Continuing further, the Musch trailhead is on the right, directly after a small, derelict water fountain. I will add a Google Map marker near the trailhead below.
Musch Trail Specs and Parameters
Distance
From Trippet Ranch lot to the end of Musch Trail, at the Eagle Junction, the distance traveled will be 2.31 miles as measured by the Strava app on an iPhone. If one wants to loop back around to Trippet Ranch via E Topanga Fire Road, then the total distance is 3.84 miles.
Elevation and Elevation Gain
The trail starts at an elevation of 1,026 feet above sea level, and continues up to approximately 1,680 feet, again, as measured by Strava. If one wants to loop back around to Trippet Ranch via E Topanga Fire Road, then total elevation gain is 720 feet, topping off at 1,746 feet.
With respect to elevation, the first 2/3rds of the trail are relatively easy, with only about 270 feet of gain, up to the end of the Musch Meadow, directly past the campground. Up to the meadow, is an easy hike for those that might not be in the best of shape or are not looking for heavy cardio. However, the last 1/3rd up the Eagle Junction will punish you if you’re not in shape.
Above: Musch Trail starting at Trippet Ranch parking lot, through Eagle Junction, through East Topanga Fire Road, and back to the Trippet Ranch parking lot.
Immediate Water Requirements
Cooler season (40 to 70°F): ~750mL of water or fluid for this 3.84 mile loop (Trippet Ranch to Eagle Hub Junction to Trippet Ranch, via Musch Trail and E Topanga Fire Road)
Warmer season (70 to 85°F): ~1.5L of water or fluid for this loop. At this level of intake, you’ll need to also take in sodium, via a snack or sports drink.
These are general requirements, and may not apply to you if you have a high sweat rate. The goal is to prevent dehydration and/or reduced hiking performance; not to immediately replenish all fluids lost on the hike. You can take in recovery fluids after the hike, if you get a deficit from it.
For a more in depth look at hiking related water and fluid requirements, read my article entitled How Much Water Do You Need For Hiking? by clicking the link.
If you want to know how to calculator your sweat rate, for better water planning for a hike like this, read my article on How To Calculate Your Sweat Rate When Hiking.
Trail Features and Conditions
- The trail is of a single file width; walking side by side is not an option.
- The trail can have dry, powdery dirt on it, so be sure to wear dedicated hiking shoes so as not to slip. I’ve gone over which hiking shoes work best for these Topanga State Park trails in my Hiking Gear section of this site. After it rains, parts of this trail become small water runways, so it can also be muddy and sticky. Further, after it rains, the stream crosses may be a little bit harder so make sure you have waterproof hiking shoes (also covered in the link) during the wet winter months.
- The trail does have both natural, rock-made steps, as well as those made by man with heavy lumber, and will require a full 90 degree bend to the knee to step up on these parts.
- The trail does have lots of wildflowers blooming in the Spring, and there can be bees going about these so be cautious for those with allergies. The bees generally are indifferent to you, and I’ve never been stung walking through the meadows with flowers taller than myself, hugging on both sides of me. But I can hear the buzzing sound of hives in the woods here and there, so bring an Epi-Pen if you have a history of anaphylaxis from bee and insect stings.
Sun Exposure
Sun exposure: Most of this hike is through the woods or dense chaparral, so it’s one of the most shady hikes in the park. However there are plenty of openings where you will be subjected to the direct sunlight, so it’s still advisable to wear sunscreen, especially in the summer, when the light travels through less of the atmosphere to shine directly down onto you from above, avoiding many of the shading obstacles its winter position has to go through.
EWG Sunscreen
The Environmental Working Group always publishes their annual guide, and best sunscreens to use for the current year, and each year the ones they list as being the safest, and having the most scientific backing regarding effectiveness, are the ones with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide. A Zinc Oxide based, fragrance free sunscreen like Attitude Mineral Broad Spectrum lotion is safe and effective, if you’re not interested in looking through the entire EWG set of recommended products (282 products currently).
Further I went through the EWG list and figured out which ones you can buy off Amazon so check out my articles, EWG Best Sunscreens for 2022 That Can Be Bought on Amazon and EWG Best Face Sunscreens That Can Be Purchased on Amazon.
Common Wildflowers seen on Musch Trail
The most common wildflowers seen on Musch Trail are Black Mustard (tall invasive plants with small yellow flowers), Bush Sunflowers, Purple Nightshade, Sticky Monkey Flower, Heartleaf Keckiella, Morning Glories, Wild cucumber, Italian thistle, Cobwebby thistle, Purple Sage, etc. The best time of the year to see these is in the Spring.
Trail FAQ
Can You Ride a Mountain Bike on Musch Trail?
No. Mountain bikes are only allowed on the larger trails like E Topanga Fire Trail. This trail is a single file trail with sharp turns in places and large steps in places. It’s not set up for mountain biking.
Can You Take Your Dog on Musch Trail?
No. Dogs aren’t allowed on the trails in Topanga State Park. They are allowed in the Trippet Ranch Parking lot, so if you want to picnic with your dog in the picnic areas around the parking lot, that’s okay, according to a Topanga ranger I asked a few years ago.
Are There Bathrooms on Musch Trail?
There is a running water bathroom (4 rooms) at Trippet Ranch parking lot near the Musch Trail trailhead. A mile or so down the trail, there is Musch Campground, which also has a running water bathroom (2 rooms). If you need to run to the bathroom often, this is the one trail for you in the park!
One other bathroom friendly trail is the Deadhorse Trail, which has a running water bathroom (2 rooms, but the park usually only keeps one room open) at the trailhead. This trail runs to Trippet Ranch which, as stated above, has the 4 room running water bathroom adjacent to the parking lot. I’ve covered this trail in my How to Hike in the Shade at Topanga post.
Is There Poison Ivy or Poison Oak on Musch Trail?
There can be, but it’s not extensive. As long as you keep an eye out for it in the forest areas of the trail you’re able to avoid it.
Are There Snakes on Musch Trail?
There can be, but encountering one is very infrequent. I’ve come across one Pacific Rattlesnake on Musch Trail, on the last 1/3rd of the trail, towards Eagle Junction, in the last 15 years. Most of the Pacific Rattlers I’ve seen in Topanga have been near the Trippet Ranch parking lot, on the trails directly around it.
Can You Smoke on Musch Trail?
No. Topanga State Park is a risk zone for wildfire and is super dry, especially in the summer and fall. Consider vaping or the IQOS heated tobacco system, if it’s necessary to smoke. However, I’ve never seen anyone smoking in my decade and a half of hiking at Topanga.
Are There Waterfalls on Musch Trail?
No. During the wet winter months, there are streams on the trail, but no waterfalls. Supposedly there are waterfalls on the Santa Yanez trail, but I’ve never seen them with dozens of hikes on that trail.
Did the Recent Arsonist’s Fires Affect Musch Trail?
Only the last 1/8th of the trail shows any lasting fire damage. The smaller annual plants, the the Morning Glory and the Wild Cucumber, are making their way back and re-greening the Spring hillsides in those areas though. The larger bushes, like the Toyon and the California Sagebrush, that are a staple of the Topanga chaparral will likely take a long time to regrow.
Do You Need Reservations For the Musch Campground?
No. The Musch Trail Camp does not take reservations. It is first come, first serve only. Luckily not that many people use it, so the odds are in your favor that you will get a spot, if you hike into the campground from Trippet Ranch or the Backbone Trail (thru-hiking trail).
How Long Does it Take to Hike Musch Trail?
My last hike, from the Musch Trail trailhead, to Eagle Junction, then back to Trippet Ranch parking lot by way of E Topanga Fire Road, took 1 hour and 21 minutes (moving time, not counting the time spent taking pictures), covering a distance of 3.84 miles. Musch Trail is a bit longer than the Topanga Fire Road, so I’m guestimating around 50 minutes.
Further Reading
If you liked this comprehensive overview of Musch Trail, then check out my similar articles on Eagle Rock Trail (Trippet Ranch to Eagle Rock by way of E Topanga Fire Road) and Deadhorse & Topanga Nature Trails (a more shady hike for the sun averse). I also have an article on cheap and easy hike-in camping at the Musch Trail Camp, and best picnic spots in Topanga which includes a few Musch spots.
Also check my Topanga State Park page for more articles as they come out.
Thanks for reading! We’ll see you out there!