Southern California - Malibu Canyon Road

Any opinions on riding it from PCH to Piuma? I know you have to go through the tunnel. It seems like it is the quickest route from PCH to Piuma. I would be riding it on a weekend morning.

Having just descended it today, it looks like it would be somewhat unpleasant to ascend, but doable. That said, hopefully someone who has climbed it will chime in. Also, the elevation gain to Piuma is only about 500 feet or so, so you wouldn't be stuck ascending for too long.

Traffic aside, it's not a bad climb. Piuma will get you before MCR will.

Just to clarify, my "unpleasant to ascend" remark was in reference to the traffic level/speed. The grade is easy on MCR.

Thanks for the responses.

I was wondering how the traffic would be on the road. I think its like 5 miles from PCH to Piuma. The distance and elevation gain are not that bad, I just don't want to get run over.

You might not get run over but you might get stuff thrown at you. A hot afternoon is the worst time to climb that road, after the idiots have had a chance to get drunk.

I'd avoid it at all costs - heavy traffic in a hurry (and during the summer beachgoers returning full of beer).

Good point! I would be riding it in the morning, so hopefully people are not loaded on beer by then.

Good point! I would be riding it in the morning, so hopefully people are not loaded on beer by then.

They could still be drunk from the night before.

I think it would be OK early. There should not be much traffic. The only bad part is the tunnel. It is tight in there.

I ride up Piuma at least twice weekly. On weekday mornings (before 8am), via PCH Malibu Cyn is okay if you stay as far right as possible. Prevailing traffic is in the opposite direction weekdays early. Yes, you have to go through the tunnel, but best to block the lane and if you acknowledge any motor vehicles that you may be blocking, they are usually okay. Another route to Piuma involves more climbing, but that's what these ascents are all about. Early Sunday mornings turn on Topanga Canyon from PCH and climb up, left on fernwood-pacific, right on saddle-peak to top (great view of valley and ocean). Then you can either descend Stunt to Mulholland, left on Cold Cyn, left on Piuma...up, up, up. Or descend Schueren from saddle peak, right at the "T" which is Piuma...up, up, up to top of Piuma (another great view) and decend down to the bottom which becomes Malibu Cyn. I was actually out there this morning and it was about 102 degrees on Stunt.

Note: during weekdays from 7am to 3pm they are doing road construction on saddle peak and will not let you through to Schueren/Stunt. However, you can on weekends but be careful, there is loose dirt, gravel, and uneven terrain. Similarly, going up Las Flores is subject to 30 minute road construction delays at the point where the steepness starts, so trying to remount on a 14% grade is difficult if not impossible.

Riding Malibu Creek is fine before 11AM on weekends. It does have much more traffic than the other mountain roads though, and will get increasingly traffic-heavy as it gets later. For sure, before 9AM, it's totally fine to ride. The unfortunate part is the traffic goes fairly fast, but it's no worse than the narrow parts of the PCH (actually, safer.)

The better approach to Piuma is via Mulholland Highway from the non-PCH side if you can get over there. It's only about 3 miles off Mulholland. Again, lots of fast-moving traffic, but it's a fast ride to Piuma. This is a good route if you climb Encinal or Latigo to Kanan.