Malibu Creek Campground Permit
Malibu Creek State Park · California
Campground with Backbone Trail access in Malibu Canyon.
70% of the openings our scanner caught on Malibu Creek Camp were gone within 10 minutes.
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Malibu Creek Camp Quick Facts
Malibu Creek Camp Permit Facts
- As of September 2026, Malibu Creek Camp in Malibu Creek State Park, California requires a permit issued via reservation.
- Malibu Creek Camp is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index.
- The Malibu Creek Camp route covers 1.5 miles, rated easy.
- Cancelled Malibu Creek Camp permits are re-released on the booking system; PermitSnag monitors availability and alerts watchers when dates open.
Key Information
Permit Details
What to Expect
Route Details
Highlights
- •A drive-in campground with drinking water, flush toilets, showers and a dump station
- •Select sites allocated by the monthly Reservation Draw rather than sold outright
- •A tiered fire policy posted daily at the entrance — wood, then briquettes, then nothing
- •Rock Pool, Century Lake and the M*A*S*H site all within a short walk
- •The Backbone Trail crossing 1.5 miles away, with the next camp 14.9 miles on
- •Dogs in the campground only, never on trails or dirt fire roads
Best Time to Visit
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming — the NPS names exactly this window for the Backbone Trail. Summer is hot and shadeless with the highest fire-danger restrictions. Because select sites go through the monthly drawing, apply eight months ahead or watch for unclaimed inventory landing back on the six-month window.
Hazards & Considerations
- !Watch carefully for poison oak and ticks.
- !Swimming in Rock Pool is unhealthy due to high bacteria levels, and diving and jumping from rocks is prohibited.
- !Century Lake and the Rock Pool on Malibu Creek have poor water quality due to urban runoff from surrounding communities.
- !High fire danger days close the fire rings entirely, and the park posts Red Flag closure protocols.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 7: Extreme heat (98°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
84°
67°
Sun
86°
62°
Mon
88°
64°
Tue
85°
69°
Wed
87°
69°
Thu
94°
72°
Fri
98°
77°
How to Get This Permit
Create an account before permits drop
Find this permit on the managing agency's booking system and set up an account with your payment info ready.
Know the release schedule
Permits typically release on a rolling basis. Check the specific release time for your desired dates.
Be ready when permits drop
Log in a few minutes early. Have your dates, group size, and payment ready to go.
Monitor for cancellations
If your dates are sold out, people cancel all the time. Set up PermitSnag alerts to catch openings instantly.
Difficulty Assessment
Fitness and endurance required
Climbing, scrambling, or specialized skills
Steep dropoffs and fall potential
Route finding and trail clarity
Difficulty of bailing out mid-route
Best For
Los Angeles families, Backbone Trail hikers wanting a shower and a resupply, and anyone who wants oak-and-chaparral canyon country an hour from the city.
Recommended Experience
None. The one thing to understand before you plan is that select sites here are now drawn by lottery rather than sold, so the booking strategy is entry eight months out plus watching for unclaimed inventory at six months.
Not Recommended For
Anyone hoping to hike with a dog — dogs are barred from every trail and dirt fire road — and anyone counting on a campfire in summer.
About This Permit
Malibu Creek State Park extends across the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, encompassing over 8,000 scenic acres of craggy canyons, gorges and meadows, with 35 miles of fire roads and trails. The campground is a drive-in base in the range, with drinking water, flush toilets, showers, a dump station and fire rings, plus a walk-in group camp taking 10 to 60 people.
The headline change is how you book it. Select campsites at Malibu Creek State Park are now part of California State Parks' monthly Reservation Draw program, described by the agency as a lottery-style system offering all visitors an equal chance to apply for reservations every month. You enter through the Camping and Lodging page on ReserveCalifornia, or by phone. The wider drawing rules apply: free to enter, applications up to eight months ahead with drawings seven months ahead, winners have 30 days to claim and pay, and any unclaimed inventory is released for reservation during the normal six-month rolling window. That last clause is the part that matters for anyone who did not win.
Fires here follow a published tier. Firewood may be burned in the fire rings on LOW (green) fire safety days; firelogs and charcoal briquettes are allowed at MEDIUM (yellow) when weather permits; on a HIGH (red) day, wood, firelogs and briquettes are all prohibited. Check the sign near the campground entrance for the day's level.
The Experience
Why It Matters
California State Parks expanded its Reservation Drawing beyond the Steep Ravine cabins, and the park page confirms it: select campsites at Malibu Creek State Park are now part of the monthly Reservation Draw program. That puts a Los Angeles drive-in campground in the same allocation bracket as the Steep Ravine cabins.
The Route
The campground sits above Malibu Creek, split in the reservation system into a "Creek Campground" and a "Lower Loop," plus a walk-in group camp for 10 to 60 people. Sites have fire rings, drinking water, flush toilets, showers and a dump station.
The walking is short and the destinations are famous. Rock Pool and Century Lake are both rated easy by the park; the M*A*S*H site and the Lookout Trail are rated moderate. Malibu Creek slopes from west to east through the middle of the park, and the creek was dammed in the early 1900s to form the seven-acre Century Lake. The bridge to the M*A*S*H site was reinstalled in April 2026.
The Backbone Trail crosses Malibu Canyon 1.5 miles from the campground, which makes this the practical resupply and shower stop on a 67-mile route where camping is only allowed at designated campgrounds. From here it is 14.9 miles to Musch Trail Camp and 30.2 miles to Circle X Ranch.
The Feeling
Chaparral, oak and volcanic rock an hour from downtown, with a creek running through the middle of it and film history everywhere. The Rock Pool and the M*A*S*H site are the two things everyone walks to.
Trailhead Information
Malibu Creek State Park main entrance
Entrance and campground access off Las Virgenes Road, with trailheads for Rock Pool, Century Lake, the M*A*S*H site and the Backbone Trail.
Parking
Limit of 2 vehicles per site. Do not occupy any campsite until you have registered and paid for it, and all vehicles must remain on the pavement.
Getting There
Four miles south of Highway 101 on Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon Road. From the 101 exit at Las Virgenes Road and head south toward the ocean; the entrance is on the right past the Mulholland Drive intersection.
Nearest Services
Calabasas. Address 1925 Las Virgenes Road.
Rules & Regulations
- •Check-out time is noon.
- •Quiet hours are 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Generators may be operated only between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.
- •The maximum speed limit in the park is 15 mph.
- •Limit of 2 vehicles per site; park only in your registered campsite and keep all vehicles on the pavement.
- •Dogs must be on a six-foot maximum leash at all times and must be inside a tent or RV at night. Dogs are NOT permitted on trails or dirt fire roads.
- •Campfires are permitted only in the metal fire rings provided. Wood may be used during low fire danger, charcoal during medium; no fires are permitted when fire risk is high.
- •Diving and jumping from rocks is prohibited.
- •Climbing and bouldering at the Apes Wall near the Rock Pool is allowed, but do not place pitons or anchors in the rocks.
Gear Checklist
Required
- Sun protection — this is chaparral with little shade on the fire roads
- More water than you expect for summer day hikes
- A camp stove, since high fire danger days ban all fires
- Warm layers for cool desert-edge nights
- Leash for a dog that will be confined to the campground
Recommended
- Long sleeves and long pants against poison oak and ticks
- Rock shoes if you plan to boulder at the Apes Wall
- Firewood bought locally, in case it is a low fire danger day
- A printed campground fire-level check on arrival
- Trekking poles for the moderate M*A*S*H and Lookout trails
Plan Your Trip
Gear Checklist
Required and recommended gear for Malibu Creek Camp
Shuttle Services
Trailhead transportation options
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Key Landmarks
Rock Pool
A pool on Malibu Creek below volcanic cliffs, rated an easy walk. Climbing and bouldering at the Apes Wall nearby is allowed.
Century Lake
A seven-acre lake formed when Malibu Creek was dammed in the early 1900s. Rated easy.
M*A*S*H site
The filming location, rated a moderate walk. The bridge to the site was reinstalled in April 2026.
Backbone Trail crossing at Malibu Canyon
Where the 67-mile Backbone Trail crosses, 14.9 miles from Musch Trail Camp.
Malibu Creek Camp FAQ
How do I get a Malibu Creek Camp permit?
Malibu Creek Camp permits use a reservation system. PermitSnag sends lottery open, deadline, and results reminders; you can also enable cancellation alerts if spots open later.
When is the best time to visit Malibu Creek Camp?
Check with the managing agency for current season dates. Weekdays generally have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Malibu Creek Camp permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and using PermitSnag's cancellation alerts.
What if I can't get a Malibu Creek Camp permit?
Cancellations happen daily. Set up alerts with PermitSnag to get notified the moment a spot opens up. Pro and $19 single-permit alerts are checked about every minute, 24/7; free accounts are checked hourly.
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Write the First ReportPhotography Guide
Golden Hour
Late light on the volcanic cliffs above the Rock Pool, which glow when the sun drops down the canyon.
Best Light
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming.
Beat the Crowds
Rock Pool and the M*A*S*H site carry the day traffic. The Lookout Trail and the Backbone Trail sections either side of the canyon are far quieter, and campers get the park before the gates open.
Classic Shots
- 📍The Rock Pool beneath its volcanic walls
- 📍Century Lake from the fire road above
- 📍The M*A*S*H site props against the Santa Monica ridgeline
- 📍Oak savanna along Malibu Creek
- 📍The Backbone Trail climbing away from Malibu Canyon
Can't Get a Malibu Creek Camp Permit?
Consider these alternatives if your preferred dates aren't available.
Musch Trail Camp
Same AreaEight tent spaces at Topanga State Park with running water and a flush toilet, first-come, first-served with self-registration at $7 per person per night.
Tradeoffs
No lottery and no reservation to win — you turn up and self-register. But it is hike-in, has no campfires or showers, and it is 14.9 miles along the Backbone Trail from here.
La Jolla Valley Hike-In Campsites
Similar ExperienceThree tent spaces half a mile off the Backbone Trail in Point Mugu State Park, with no water and no fires, auto-pay at the Ray Miller parking area.
Tradeoffs
Genuinely remote and genuinely simple, with no booking system at all. But three spaces, no water, and you carry everything.
Live Oak Campground
Easier AlternativeTwenty-two drive-in sites at 1,450 feet, one mile above Mount Diablo's South Gate entrance, with showers at no additional cost.
Tradeoffs
Booked on the plain six-month rolling window with no drawing involved, so a cancellation watch works normally. But it is in the East Bay hills, far from Los Angeles.
Where to Stay
Nearby campgrounds to complete your Malibu Creek Camp trip
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