Cameron Nature Preserve Breezeway
A short, steady climb on a wide fire road leads to a clearing with stunning views of the Malibu coast. Take a seat on the bench nearby and enjoy ocean breezes while taking in the rarefied surroundings: you are in the middle of a pristine swath of public parkland linking hundreds of acres within the Santa Monica Mountains. Three central watersheds and a diverse ecosystem of chaparral, coastal sage scrub and native grasslands attract mule deer, gray foxes and the occasional bobcat and mountain lion to the area.
This bench is the first of two, about a half-mile apart, that can be found just off Puerco Canyon fire road. The pigs that once roamed the canyon are long gone. Now known as Cameron Nature Preserve, the protected land connects Corral Canyon Park with Malibu Creek State Park and the continuous 67-mile Backbone Trail. A second long-distance trail is in the works – the Zev Yaroslavsky Coastal Slope Trail – a 32-mile trek linking 15 distinct public spaces between Topanga Canyon and Point Mugu. It will take time to complete, but a visit here strengthens the belief that it will happen someday.
Bench coordinates - 34°02'39.7"N 118°43'34.7"W
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This 1.2-mile round-trip hike follows a dirt fire road (Puerco Canyon Motorway) to a clearing and bench with wide-open views of the Pacific Ocean and Malibu coast.
The well-maintained fire road is used by both hikers and mountain bikers. Leashed dogs are allowed.
There is no shade; bring sunscreen, hats and plenty of water. Expect some overgrowth and uneven terrain along the fire road and side trails in the spring following winter rains.
Cell phone and WiFi coverage is limited; bring printed maps or download maps in advance.
The Woolsey Fire swept through Puerco Canyon in 2018; more recently, the Franklin and Palisades fires threatened the area. Recovery has been slow and steady, and signs of regrowth were evident in spring 2026: “Fire followers” such as bush mallow and lupine were growing along the fire road and side trails, while stalks of giant wildrye grass towered over non-native mustard and clusters of milk thistle. Laurel sumac and narrowleaf milkweed, an important host plant for Monarch butterflies in California, had returned, green and robust.
At the intersection for the first bench, a wooden post on the left marks the Zev Yaroslavsky Coastal Slope Trail. It is part of a long-term project to create a contiguous trail connecting public spaces between Topanga State Park and Point Mugu State Park in the far western Santa Monica Mountains.
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3501 Puerco Canyon Road; free parking on Puerco Canyon Road before the gate (be sure to stay behind the white lines); 1 port-a-potty at trailhead.
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The trail begins at the fire road gate and Santa Monica Conservancy sign at the end of paved Puerco Canyon Road.
The trail steadily ascends north along a wide dirt fire road (Puerco Canyon Motorway). After about a half-mile of climbing, you will pass an unmarked turnoff on the right for De Bell Ranch Trail. Continue straight on the fire road
Continue straight on the fire road another 0.1 mile. To the left is a clearing and trail marker for the Zev Yaroslavsky Coastal Slope Trail.
Turn left and walk toward the clearing. The bench is along a single-track trail just beyond the clearing facing the ocean. In spring it might be shrouded by tall grasses and some overgrowth.
From here, you can return to the fire road and retrace your steps back to the trailhead for a total 1.2-mile hike.
Those looking to extend their hike may return to the fire road and continue north another 0.6 mile to a second bench at a higher perch within the preserve. Look for the bench marker at a fork in the trail and follow the trail to the left a short distance.
From here, you may also continue to climb another 1.8 miles along the fire road to a turnoff for Mesa Park Motorway, which is part of the Backbone Trail linking Will Rogers State Park to the east and Point Mogu State Park to the west.
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Follow Pacific Coast Highway north toward Malibu. Approximately 2.8 miles north of the Malibu Pier, turn right on Puerco Canyon Road and follow it through a residential area approximately 1.2 miles until the paved road ends at the trailhead gate.
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