Hiking to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

Hiking to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

One of the great parts about visiting the Los Angeles area is all of the Hollywood history that is available. While most people stick to the museums or the walking tours, for me, it was getting out into nature where Hollywood and hiking combine. Hiking to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park is a great way to see the past while appreciating the amazing landscape of southern California. The moderate hike should be doable for many people and the history of the site is something that will always be with me.

Getting Started

I have to admit, I got a little confused trying to start this hike. They don’t really advertise the M.A.S.H. Set when you pull into the park. Instead, it is best to park at the second parking lot from the main entrance. This is a very large parking lot that connects to the High Road which is what you will need to get to the set. I kept driving around looking for “High Road” thinking I could park further down the road. However, the road itself was blocked to auto traffic and was only available to hike. Once you find yourself on the High Road, the trail becomes easy to follow but getting started took me a bit.

The Long Road

To make it to the M.A.S.H set, you have to wind your way down a long dirt road that follows next to the Malibu Creek. After starting under some trees, the road pretty quickly gets out under the bright California sun and reveals a stunning park! I was really impressed with the surrounding terrain and how pretty the entire area was.

The creek was really low and the area was dry but that didn’t take away from the landscape. Green trees were still visible, along with some bushes and brush on the hills. It made me feel at home as a Colorado hiker. The hills were also really impressive and show the diversity of the land.

The road itself is fairly easy to manage. It is flat for the majority of the start of the hike and then there is one big hill that covers about 200 feet of elevation gain in a tenth of a mile. That was probably the most challenging part of the hike. It still wasn’t too challenging as the road is wide and easy to walk on.

Just over a half mile away from the M.A.S.H. set, the road ends and a small bridge is used to cross over the creek. After the bridge the path turns more into a trail. It gets a little rocky and much more narrow, still following the creek until it finally opens up to the set. This still isn’t too challenging but the terrain definitely changes to more sandy and rocky.

Planet of the Apes Location

About 1.3 miles into the hike I came to a little surprise. On the side of the road sat a small info graphic that told me that I was standing in the location of the “town” in the original Planet of the Apes film. There was nothing left from the set, just the plaque and an empty hillside. However, the graphic had old set pictures on it that showed exactly where all the set pieces were and it was really cool to see how they could turn this little hillside into a fully functioning “town.”

The M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

If the Planet of the Apes was an appetizer, the M.A.S.H Set was definitely the main course! Now, I’m not going to lie and tell you that there was a fully functioning set. However, when I came around a little bend and saw the restored Jeep sitting there, I was so excited. The set has the iconic sign left, a small tent. A rusted out jeep and the Helipad sign. It has seen better days but I have never seen anything cooler!

A little back story, M.A.S.H. is an amazing show that still holds up, but more importantly, when I would go back to visit my parents, my Dad would always turn on M.A.S.H. after dinner and we would sit around and watch it. He loved the show and in his last few years we probably watched it more than ever. So for me, this was a step into the past but also a place that was very special for me because I knew how much he loved the show. I have never gotten emotional about a hike but this one did it.

There are a ton of info graphics, showing how the area was used as a set. Even ways to find out what scenes were shot there! There is a selfie station set up at the signpost and otherwise I just kind of wandered around the area. Under the tattered tent are some picnic tables and it is a nice place to take a break. Finally, I hiked up the hill to the “helipad” and found this amazing rock display someone has made that was the perfect finale to the hike! A hike that will stick with me forever.

Video of the Hike to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

I have put this time-lapse video together of hiking the M.A.S.H. set at Malibu Creek State Park so other hikers can get a feel of what the hike is like. If you enjoy this video make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel. It is free to subscribe and you will get the latest outdoor content.

Distance and Elevation

If you don’t have the AllTrails app you might want to check it out, I really love mine. It records your progress and is a great way to search for hikes that are nearby and gives you difficulty measurements. According to AllTrails today’s hike was around 5.67 miles and had a total elevation gain of about 407 feet including undulations. That put the high point at around 771feet. I was also moving for a total 2 hours and 5 minutes.

I am a Pro member of AllTrails and love it. If you are interested in the platform, please consider using my affiliate link for AllTrails. It gives me a small commission with no extra cost to you.

Effort

The hike to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park isn’t the most challenging but there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First, the distance. The trail is just over two and half miles to make it to the set. Secondly, there are a couple of hills that you will have to hike up and down that have a grade around 15%. Those can be a challenge for those who aren’t used to hiking hills. Overall, I am going to rank this as a moderate hike. Many people will be able to do it but you do need to be comfortable with long walks and some hills.

Terrain

The hike out to the M.A.S.H. set is pretty easy as far as terrain goes. A dirt service road is the path for the first two-thirds of the hike. The road stops at a small creek that has a small bridge to walk across. As you get closer to the set, the trail narrows and becomes much more rocky. The biggest problem is the exposure. There are a couple of areas with tree cover but a majority of the hike is exposed to the sun and the weather so make sure you have sun, wind and rain protection depending on the season and forecast.

Finding the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

Malibu Creek State Park is located at 1925 Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas, California. The second parking lot past the entry station is large and has a restroom facility. There is a fee to use the state parks.

Wrapping up the hike to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

What an incredible hike. This was my first hike in California and probably the best way to start my visit. The hike itself isn’t super challenging, other than one steep hill, but the views were amazing. I couldn’t believe the landscape around me with every step. The river basin, the hills and surrounding mountains were all great. Then we came to the set!

Hiking to the M.A.S.H. set at Malibu Creek State Park was so special. It flooded back the memories of watching the show with my dad. Even though there wasn’t much left, I could still smell the Gin from Hawkeyes tent, and hear Col. Potter yelling. It all came back on that sunny spot of land in Malibu Creek State park.

I have added this hike and all of my hikes to the interactive map page you can find here. If you have any suggestions for hikes or comments feel free to email me at fatmanlittletrails@gmail.com or you can follow me on any of the below social media platforms. Happy Hiking!

Gallery of the hike to the M.A.S.H. Set at Malibu Creek State Park

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