Rock Pool and Century Lake, Malibu Creek

The walk starts at the day-use parking by the main trailhead of Malibu Creek State Park, on Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas. Follow the High Road, which joins Crags Road, west along Malibu Creek to the junction near the visitor center, about a mile in. A signed side trail leads from there up the creek to the Rock Pool, a deep pool between walls of volcanic rock. Go back to Crags Road and follow it uphill over a rise. At the top the short Century Lake Trail drops left to Century Lake, beside the dam that made it. Return along Crags Road.

It is 2.9 miles (4.7 km) round trip with 250 feet (77 m) of climbing; allow about 1½ hours. The grade is Easy: wide dirt roads and one short hill.

Swimming in the Rock Pool is at your own risk, and diving or jumping from the rocks is forbidden. Watch for rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak, and carry at least a quart of water each: the valley is hot in summer. Dogs are not allowed on the park's trails.

Parking costs $12 a day, or $3 an hour. The park is open for day use from 8 am to 10 pm. The site where the television series MAS*H was filmed is a further mile and a half along Crags Road.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.