How to get to Parker Mesa Overlook, California

Hike from Los Liones Canyon Trailhead to Parker Mesa Overlook

Hike from Los Liones Canyon Trailhead to Parker Mesa Overlook

Weekends have been my source of joy for the past few months here in California.  I get to enjoy my time with my husband and being outdoors.  Our destination this time is the Parker Mesa Overlook to see the grandiose coastline of Malibu.  Let’s go! 


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Travel Tips
  • For flights, Skyscanner is excellent for comparing the best airline deals.
  • For accommodations, our family trusts Booking.com for reasonable prices.


How to get there

Location: Paseo Miramar Trail, Malibu, CA 90265
Entrance fee: Free
Parking: Free

Route: From Los Liones Canyon Trailhead to Parker Mesa Overlook via Los Liones Trail and Paseo Miramar Trail
Distance: 4.9 miles
Elevation: 1,171 feet
Duration: 3 hours (back and forth, depending on pace)

The gateway to the overlook is where you start the hike. 


It begins with a narrow trail then it slowly expands as the path ascends up the mountain. An easy path thanks to the guided and clean road. 


The first bench you see is just the beginning of the hike but the view here is already awesome.  If you want to push yourself harder then hike further for the overlook. 


Water breaks as much as possible. We hiked during the first week of August and the heat was excruciating. 


We turned around here to have our snacks and to get away from the road.  Most people would keep going straight so there aren't many people around this turn. 


We only saw one couple and shared the view with them as we devoured our sandwiches.  There's a zen pile of rocks in this viewpoint too.  Make sure to add in your piece of rock for attendance. 



Going uphill in the summer heat is not a good idea.  It will leave you tired and restless. However, if you're determined and bring lots of water and some snacks, you'll make it to the top.  For us, we had the motivation and some snacks.  What we did wrong was we underestimated the heat and the amount of water we needed. 

After our snack break, we went back to the turn and went straight up the mountain.  There's no shade along the way nor trees to take refuge, so better bring a hat with you and, once again, lots of water and some snacks.



There's a washroom before you get to the viewpoint.  This is a good indicator that you're almost there.  When we saw the two benches from afar, I was running with ecstasy in my heart.  My husband was relieved. 

It wasn't a very difficult climb, but being thirsty made it more challenging.  I guessed we learned our lesson the hard way. This is a great climb for beginners as it gradually ascends up to the mountain, giving that extra exciting kick.


The two benches sit perfectly overlooking the coast.  It was beautiful.  We got to see the San Gabriel Mountains and even Catalina Island somewhere there too. 


Enjoy the rest stop and the amazing view.  An early hike is always recommended to avoid the heat and the crowd.  We were lucky enough to get there with no trace of other human life forms. 


After a few minutes, a trail runner passed by to greet us and even took our picture.  A perfect weekend hike away from the city but still relatively nearby.  


Hubby impatiently waited as he looked down at the ground and back at me in this final course of our day. I said with a big smile on my face, "OK babe, I'm done let's go home."


Don't forget your trail while heading back down the mountain.  We had our snack break here on the left side.  Make sure to time your return hike before sunset as there are no lamp posts or phone signals on this hike. 

Need some nom noms? 

Have fun and be safe ^__^


Do you want more adventure?
If you still have one more day to spare why not go Parasailing in Marina del Rey, California.

Where am I going next?

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