Malibu Canyon Road

Las Virgenes Road · Loop from Malibu Canyon Road

Sweeping5.9 mi10 min1,100 ft climbHigh point ≈ 700 ftLoop

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The drive

Malibu Canyon Road runs north from Pacific Coast Highway up Malibu Creek canyon, through a short rock tunnel and past tall sandstone walls, to Las Virgenes Road. It was built in 1951 and is County Route N1, known as the road from the Valley to the Sea. The southern section, from Pacific Coast Highway to Lost Hills Road, is a State Scenic Highway.

Landmarks along it include Malibu Bluffs Park, Pepperdine University, the Backbone Trail, a water reclamation facility, the Malibu Hindu Temple and Malibu Creek State Park. The drive climbs about 1,100 feet in 5.9 miles in mostly gentle bends with two tighter stretches. It ends where the road becomes Las Virgenes Road, near the foot of Mulholland Highway, where the Mulholland Highway drive begins.

Along the way

Malibu Canyon Road (Pacific Coast Highway)
Malibu Canyon Road (Las Virgenes Road)

Elevation

1,100 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 700 ft

Malibu Canyon RoadMalibu Canyon Road

Curves

Mostly gentle, with two twisty stretches

mi 1–3mi 2–4

Malibu Canyon RoadMalibu Canyon Road

GentleHairpins

Good to know

Rockslides have closed the road after heavy rain, including near the tunnel; closures have lasted from hours to about a day.
It is a commuter road, so it is busiest at rush hours, and cyclists use the canyon.
Watch for boulders in the lanes north of the tunnel after storms.

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 Malibu Canyon Road take?

Malibu Canyon Road from Pacific Coast Highway to Las Virgenes Road is 5.9 miles and takes about 10 minutes.

Does Malibu Canyon Road close for rockslides?

Yes. Rockslides have closed Malibu Canyon Road several times after heavy rain, for hours to about a day while crews clear it and check the slope.

Is there a tunnel on Malibu Canyon Road?

Yes. The road passes through a short rock tunnel in the canyon, and rockslides have closed the stretch north of it.

What is Malibu Canyon Road known as?

It is County Route N1, nicknamed the road from the Valley to the Sea, and part of it is a State Scenic Highway.

What you get in the app

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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