Sullivan Canyon Loop

Dogs Unknown

Features River/Creek · Views

Using the Sullivan Canyon Trail, Sullivan Fire Road, Mulholland Drive, and Westridge Fire Road, this 10+ mile loop takes you through the base of Sullivan Canyon and onto the ridge tops for spectacular views and an all-around rewarding hike.

Starting the hike from Bayliss Rd., follow Queensferry Rd. as you make your way downhill past a green gate and onto a service road. At the end of the service road, you'll arrive at the bottom of Sullivan Canyon, at which point you'll turn right onto the wide Sullivan Canyon Trail that's there. The trail then makes its way through forests of oak and fields of lemon grass as it follows a stream bed.

The trail will slowly gain elevation as it moves up the canyon over the next couple of miles. Then, once you're 3.5 miles into the trail, the path will turn toward the northwest to go up a side canyon that's smaller than Sullivan Canyon. The trail then becomes significantly steeper as it climbs up the hillside. After this ascent, you'll reach a juncture with the Sullivan Fire Road.

At this point the Sullivan Canyon Trail comes to an end and you turn right to join up with the Sullivan Fire Road. After 4/10 of a mile of gentle climbing, you'll reach Mulholland Drive. Take a right to follow the dirt path of Mulholland Drive east for 1.2 miles, at which point you'll reach San Vincente Mountain Park.

San Vincente Mountain Park boasts spectacular views of the surrounding area, as does the remainder of the hike. When ready, follow the Westridge Fire Road downhill to the south for roughly 3.6 miles and you'll reach a small parking area for the Westridge Trailhead. From this trailhead, you can follow the paved Westridge Road for 1/2 of a mile until you reach Bayliss Road, and then follow Bayliss Road for another 1/2 mile to Queensferry Road, which brings you back to the original trailhead of the Sullivan Canyon Trail, thus ending the hike.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.

San Vincente Mountain Park is home to the retired Nike-Ajax anti-aircraft missile launch areas that were active from 1956-1958.