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Latigo Canyon Road, Santa Monica Mountains, California
Photo: Kay Röllig · CC BY 3.0 · cropped

Drives California Los Angeles

Latigo Canyon Road

Santa Monica Mountains, California · Pacific Coast Highway → Kanan Dume Road

Intense9.1 mi25 min2,400 ft climbHigh point ≈ 2,100 ftOne way
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The drive

Latigo Canyon Road climbs from Pacific Coast Highway at Latigo Beach up into the Santa Monica Mountains and ends at Kanan Dume Road. In just over nine miles it gains about 2,400 feet through chaparral, in switchbacks and S-curves, with ocean views on the way. A turnout about 1.4 miles up the road is one of the first places to stop for the view.

The Drive calls it a wild, twisting road whose tight, technical sections keep a driver focused, and it is also a well-known climb for cyclists. Kanan Dume Road, where the drive ends, runs south to the coast at Malibu and north to the Mulholland Highway crossing.

Along the way

  1. Pacific Coast Highway (Latigo Beach)
  2. Latigo Canyon Road
  3. Kanan Dume Road
Elevation
2,400 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 2,100 ft
Pacific Coast HighwayKanan Dume Road
Curves
Twisty most of the way
Pacific Coast HighwayKanan Dume Road
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • A state advisory describes Latigo Canyon and nearby roads as narrow, with S-curves, blind spots and limited shoulders; expect cyclists.
  • Watch for rocks and debris that fall from the cliffs onto the road.
  • There are no gas stations along the way; fill up before you turn off Pacific Coast Highway.
  • Fog is common near the coast, so conditions at the bottom may not match the top.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check LA County Public Works: road closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does Latigo Canyon Road take?

Latigo Canyon Road from Pacific Coast Highway to Kanan Dume Road is 9.1 miles and takes about 25 minutes. Allow more if you stop at the turnouts or follow a cyclist.

How twisty is Latigo Canyon Road?

It is rated Intense: twisty most of the way, with tight switchbacks and S-curves as it climbs about 2,400 feet from the coast.

Is Latigo Canyon Road good for cyclists?

It is a popular road-bike climb from Pacific Coast Highway, which also means drivers will meet riders on narrow blind bends.

Where does Latigo Canyon Road start and end?

This drive starts on Pacific Coast Highway near Latigo Beach in Malibu and ends at the junction with Kanan Dume Road in the Santa Monica Mountains.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Latigo Canyon Road, from Pacific Coast Highway to Kanan Dume Road