Malibu Creek State Park (Ryan Hendrickson)

Reviewed by: Ryan Hendrickson, Biology Teacher Westlake High School.

From the Beach: Take Pacific Coast Highway north / west to Malibu Cyn. Road and turn right past Pepperdine University . In the canyon, pass through the tunnel and go past the light at Piuma Road. Just before the next light at Mulholland Hwy, turn left into Malibu Creek State Park.

From the 101 Freeway: Exit at Las Virgenes Rd. in Calabasas and head south for several miles where the first light / intersection is Mulholland Hwy. The park entrance is just past Mulholland on the right.

Park Hours: Every day from Dawn til Dusk

Dogs

Dogs are allowed in the parking lot and campground only. They are not allowed on the backcountry trails.

Parking

All day parking is $12.00 (current as of March 2010). On weekdays, there is no one at the entrance booth, so the honor system is employed through a self pay system. Your day fee covers same day access/parking to ANY California State Park and/or Beach!

Safety

• FIRE is a constant danger,especially in summer and fall. Smoking and all fires are prohibited outside of the parking area, picnic area and campground. The park is also closed during high wind conditions that spreads fire quickly. For fire closure information, call (805) 488-8147.

• DOGS and other domestic animals are not allowed beyond the parking and camping areas. They may both injure and be injured by park wildlife and may acquire diseases from them.

• SUN Even on short visits, please protect yourself. Wear sunscreen or long, lightweight clothing. A wide brimmed hat creates shade where ever you are!

• WATER Especially for active park users, carrying water or sports drinks is important for staying hydrated, comfortable and energized. One quart per person for short walks, more for longer hikes. .

• SNAKES seen mostly in Spring months, they have been in the park for thousands of years. The best way to avoid them is to stay on the trail. If you come across a rattler, slowly walk around & away from it.

• HIKING Trails have loose rocks. Watch your step and don’t try to make a full hike in sandals or flat shoes with no grip. Do not hike off trail. Ticks, snakes and other creatures hide in the tall grass.

• SWIMMING For your safety, please do not jump or dive from the rocks above the pools

• TICKS are plentiful. Some of them carry diseases. Check your clothing and exposed skin after hiking.

• POISON OAK can be identified by its clusters of three shiny green or red leaflets. The best way to avoid it is to stay on the trail.

Audience:

• An environmental science teacher would benefit visiting Malibu Creek State Park because it provides local examples of chaparral and mixed coniferous forests, mountain building (transverse ranges), rock cycles, and many other phenomenon.

• A biology teacher would benefit visiting Malibu Creek State Park for obvious reasons. The variety of trees, flowers, and animals provide examples of adaptations.

Science Concepts Addressed:

• Biomes and Ecosystems: One travels through chaparral and mixed coniferous forests when traveling to Malibu State Creek Park.

• Energy Transfer: Evidence of producers, consumers, and decomposers along with evidence of the 10% rule.

Study Guide:

• Tasks:

  • • Walk a few miles in the park observing, recording and explaining adaptations that flora and fauna have that allow them to thrive in what appears to be a difficult environment.

• • Observe the differences in flora and fauna in various locations in the park, relating the differences to proximity of resources and/or direction in terms of the sun (i.e. north facing)

  • Finding evidence of producers, consumers, and decomposers and explaining how energy is transferred in this ecosystem.

• Observations:

• • 1. Walk toward down the steps toward the “backcountry trails”. As you walk you should notice that you are walking almost due west, so south is on your left. Keep track of which way you are facing, the difference between the northern aspect (side of the hill that faces north) and the southern aspect is dramatic.

    2. 2. Going down the steps you pass under a scrub oak. Look at the leaves and list three characteristics that help it thrive.

    3. 3. Continue walking toward the water crossing, just before reaching the crossing you will find a valley oak on the left and a coast live oak on the right. The coast live oak is an evergreen, while the valley oak is deciduous. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of being evergreen or deciduous.

    4. 4. Walk to the river crossing. What trees do you find here and nowhere else? What adaptation has allowed these arroyo willows to thrive? This is best seen in May and June.

    5. 5. Walk up the hill and continue on. Look both North and South. What is the difference between the two aspects?

    6. 6. Follow the road that crosses the stream, assuming it is passable, water flow varies greatly with the seasons. There are really only two seasons in a Chaparral biome, rainy and dry. Follow the trail leading West toward the nature center running parallel to the creek. Observe plants growing in the meadow. What are some of their adaptations?

    7. 7. As you approach the nature center you will notice large western sycamore trees. These are deciduous trees. How have they adapted to this difficult environment. Hint: look where these trees are located.

    8. 8. If the nature center is open, go inside and check out the animal specimens. Photograph two and list some adaptations for each that allow them to thrive.

    9. 9. Locate an Oak on or near the trail. Locate an Oak Gall (pictured below) and list three observations.

    10. 10 Directly near the main walking path should be the remainders of several Oak tree trunks. Looking down at the tree trunk, list two observations? Approximately how old was this tree when it was cut down?

Bird Watching

The San Fernando Valley Audubon Society sponsors bird walks for beginning and intermediate birders the third Sunday of each month at 8 AM starting in the day-use parking area of Malibu Creek State Park. Walks are conducted at a leisurely pace through the oak woodland and riparian forest before heading through more open, grassland habitat toward the visitor's center. Depending on the season and conditions, 35 to 45 species may be seen. Participants are free to come and go as their schedules and interest permit. Walks usually conclude between 11:30 AM and noon and are cancelled in the event of rain. For more information: www.sfvaudubon.org

-Arthur Langton

Trees

From the creek to the northern border of the park, much of the area is oak savannah: sloping grassland dotted with valley oak trees—some of the southernmost of the California valley oaks. Sycamores also grow in abundance – especially in lower Tapia Park. Many of the slopes are covered with chaparral—a mixture of drought resistant, fire-adapted shrubs. A line of redwood trees thrives today in the park in a climate that would typically be too warm to support them. In 1910, they were wisely planted beside Century Lake to give them a plentiful water supply and shade from the Goat Buttes they grow below keeps them from getting too hot.

Flowers

The best wildflowers are found in the oak woodlands south of Mulholland Drive in the northwest area of the park, along the road to the lake, and along Las Virgenes Creek in the northern Liberty Canyon area. From the campground, visitors will find easy access to oak woodlands over Tapia Spur Trail. For a real challenge, visitors can try the Bulldog-Mesa Peak Loop. The Tapia Park section is a preserve of old oaks with a beautiful view of rocky peaks to the west, with wildflowers along the stream and under the trees. A trail that connects Tapia to Malibu Creek State Park has a variety of flowers and shrubs.

Animals

"Lions and tigers and bears - oh my!" -The Wizard of Oz

Well, one out of three ain't bad, but it's a junior lion, the mountain lion, that roams here. Here's what else you may find:

Reptiles & amphibians: salamanders, newts, toads, frogs, turtles, lizards and snakes including the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake

Birds: loons, boobies, cormorants, herons, egrets, vultures, geese, ducks, hawks, eagles, falcons, quails, terns, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, owls, ravens, larks, sparrows, cranes, thrush, bluebirds, wrens and swallows

Mammals: bats, raccoons, skunks, badgers, coyotes, foxes, bobcats, mountain lions, squirrels, chipmunks, gophers, mice, voles, rabbits and deer.

Photographs: Include a minimum of four good, unique photographs that highlight iscience concepts listed above.

For additional information:

Ventura County Trails (Malibu Creek State Park)

Parks.CA.gov

Malibu Creek State Park