Willow Creek Trail to Nicholas Flat Loop is a 6.9 mile heavily trafficked loop trail located near Malibu, California that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options.
Please note: parking area opens at 8am. Beautiful trail in Leo Carillo State Park that takes you from the beach to the mountains. Nothing too steep or technical, and you'll be rewarded with amazing views. Be sure to check out the wildflowers here when they are in bloom.
$12 parking in the state park lot, free along the highway on the ocean side there is camping and showers at the state park
Take the PCH (highway 1) to near the Ventura/LA county boundary, the park entrance is on the mountain side.
January 17, 2021
January 17, 2021There is almost no shade on this trail, so bring something for sun protection. It was 85° today, so the creek was pretty dry and no waterfall.
January 16, 2021Great hike! Beautiful today. A bit windy but better than too hot. Second mile elevation gain was rough. But overall great hike!
January 2, 2021Difficult continuous uphill but doable especially on a cool morning. Gorgeous views. Lake is a wonderful pause.
January 2, 2021Jax lost her sunglasses so I went back 1/2 mile to find them, so my recording is a mile longer than the trail.
January 2, 2021
January 1, 2021The trail was well-maintained. Fairly rocky in parts. Definitely a climb up so not for beginner hikers. The descent was tough on the knees but not unbearable. Super windy on the way out. Cold wind at Nicholas Flats pond. Almost no wind on the return. The trail itself isn’t anything spectacular, but the views of the ocean and rock formations are worth the effort. A great way to start 2021!
January 1, 2021I loved this trail. Took the left for all loops. It was incredibly clear day. I could see the southern edge of Los Padres, Channel Islands, Catalina and even a sliver of the San Bernardino range. Also a remarkable view of Sandstone Peak which was really enjoyable. The reserve area was very peaceful. Saw some ducks enjoying the little pond. Nice spot to stop for a few mins. I’ll definitely be back.
December 16, 2020December 13, 2020December 11, 2020Leo parking lot(or you can park on pch and run across highway.). Go early or on a cool day—no shade at all. Trail was all but empty—a great hike! Hiked clockwise. Good uphill at the start. 10:25. Car. Elevation: 25 10:50. Ocean vista, elevation: 628 11:35. Tallest trail spot w/market Elevation: 1719 12:00. Pond. Elevation: 1405 1:15. Car
December 6, 2020November 29, 2020Great trail. Hot, very little cover. Avoid the heat of the day. Went clockwise on each loop.
November 18, 2020November 15, 2020Grueling start.
November 15, 2020Not the hardest of hikes, but definitely a workout. Would not recommend for people who do not hike regularly. All incline for the first part of it, and then the back is mostly decline, which can make it hard on the knees. But if you're up to it, it's worth it. Gorgeous views—especially on a clear day, you can see all islands. Like others have said, make sure to bring lots of water and sunscreen since there is no shade. The pond on the second loop is a great place to stop under some trees and have a mid hike snack.
November 1, 2020Really great accent. I would go lefts on the loops so you get the views on the way down. Watch out for rattlesnakes- they’ll warn you. The views were incredible.
October 28, 2020October 20, 2020Beautiful trail, but as said in many reviews, it’s a serious hike. I didn’t do the “loop” section at the end but still ended up hiking 7 miles. The first half is ALL uphill. Bring water and sunscreen, no shade on this trail. Afterwards I crossed the highway (bridge tunnel) and let my feet cool down in the ocean. A great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday.
October 16, 2020Amazing views! This trail is strenuous so you will need to bring your hiking bag with water and snacks! We didn’t go up the whole trail because we didn’t bring everything we needed but it was beautiful and 100% recommend!
October 10, 2020October 2, 2020Nice trail. Warm day, but ocean breeze made it doable for the most part.
September 28, 2020This is not a hike for the faint hearted. Constant incline and very little shade. The pond was the perfect spot for a pit stop to rest and have a snack. There’s a few trees for shade. Great hike but can be a bit grueling for some. Worth it for the views and the reward of finishing it. Get there early to avoid the heat and enjoy the beach after!
September 18, 2020September 8, 2020Peaceful and relaxing. The lake was a perfect spot to catch my breath and enjoy some snacks. You have the beach to enjoy if you start early.
September 5, 2020Hiked this starting by 6:30. Left one car up at Nicholas flats trailhead so only hiked up. That was the way to go on this super hot day. Climbing the rock ledge gets you to a great resting spot in the shade looking down at the lake.
September 5, 2020Waaaay to hot at 8am. Need to be out by 6
August 30, 2020It is a gradual climb to a great view and upper valley. No shade so it should only be done on a cool day. It was a workout. Very few hikers today.
