Musch Trail Camp, a lone picnic table in the distal side of the campground

Topanga State Park Camping News – 1st Quarter 2023

Musch Trail Camp now open

Musch Trail Camp is open once again after waterline repair in the last part of 2022.  Everything is back to normal.  I tested the water flush toilets last time I hiked, and they seemed to work pretty good.  Or at least no worse than before the repair.  The potable water faucet and fountain at the camp seem to have decent water pressure to them.  

The only thing different at the campground is there are now signs saying you can not use any type of cook stove at the camp.  Before there was old signage that said portable gas stoves were okay.  The new sign at camp says, ‘Extreme Fire Hazard.  No fires of any kind [are allowed].  Violators are subject to arrest.  CCR 4311’.  Enjoy cold soaking your rice and beans.  

Related: Everything you need to know about camping at Topanga State Park

Musch Trail Camp's new sign, forbidding any type of fire, including backpacking stoves apparently.
Musch Trail Camp’s new sign, forbidding any type of fire, including backpacking stoves apparently.

Rain continues, but may make for an interesting wildflower season in the Spring

Currently California is experiencing extreme rain events due to the Jet Stream being parked at a higher amplitude than normal, making it fit more inside the state’s geography.  This then works as a conveyor belt to just drop moisture all up and down it.

This won’t last forever and won’t change the secular drought the Midwest is in.  But the extra rain very well could super charge the wildflower season in Topanga in the Spring.  I’m currently hiking the Backbone Trail in sections but will be stopping by Topanga from time to time to see what’s up with the wildflowers, and possibly adding to my picture collection of them.  It may also be a good time for a poppy super bloom up at the Poppy Reserve in Lancaster. Super blooms tend to be associated with unusually rainy seasons.  

Check out my Topanga Wildflower picture collection here to see what’s available on specific trails in the park.

Further Reading

And check out my Topanga State Park page for more info on the park from a regular hiker.

Official Topanga State Park website.