Leo Carrillo

Leo Carrillo State Park Our Mission The mission of California State Parks is to provide for the health, inspiration and education of the people of California by helping to preserve the state’s extraordinary biological diversity, protecting its most valued natural and cultural resources, and creating opportunities for high-quality outdoor recreation. Leo Carrillo State Park is an inviting treasure trove of tide pools, offshore reefs, canyon streams and challenging California State Parks supports equal access. Prior to arrival, visitors with disabilities who need assistance should contact the park at (310) 457-8143. If you need this publication in an alternate format, contact interp@parks.ca.gov. CALIFORNIA STATE PARKS P.O. Box 942896 Sacramento, CA 94296-0001 For information call: (800) 777-0369 (916) 653-6995, outside the U.S. 711, TTY relay service www.parks.ca.gov Discover the many states of California.™ Leo Carrillo State Park 35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 (310) 457-8143 © 2002 California State Parks (Rev. 2014) backcountry. L eo Carrillo State Park—an inviting treasure trove of tide pools, offshore reefs, canyon streams and challenging backcountry— is located in the Santa Monica Mountains 35 miles northwest of Santa Monica. Its variety of recreational activities is limited only by the visitor’s imagination. From traditional beach recreation like sunbathing, fishing, whale watching and swimming to more strenuous pastimes such as surfing, hiking, diving, windsurfing, kayaking and camping, Leo Carrillo is a haven for adventurers. Who was Leo Leo Carrillo Carrillo? Leo Carrillo State Park is named after a star of Broadway, television and film. Descended from prominent early California families— his great-grandfather was Carlos Antonio de Jesus Carrillo, a governor of California in the last years of Mexican rule— Mr. Carrillo’s talent lay in entertainment. He began as a vaudeville comedian; his prolific film career lasted from the late 1920s well into the 1960s. One of his more recognizable roles was the comic sidekick in the television series “The Cisco Kid.” Leo Carrillo served 14 years on the State Beaches and Parks Commission; he was instrumental in the state’s acquisition of much of the property between Malibu Lagoon and Point Mugu, including the area named after him. PARK History Archaeologists believe that the Chumash people, superb artisans who excelled at basketry and elaborate rock art, lived in the area as long ago as 6000 B.C.E. They enjoyed playing games, singing, dancing and trading with other tribes. Their plank boats carried them to the Channel Islands to trade, fish and gather mussels and abalone. In the late 1700s, Spaniards settled the area, forcing dramatic changes on the Chumash and their way of life. Native American labor built Mission San Buenaventura, but the regimented mission life and the effects of European diseases took a toll on the Chumash. After inhabiting this land for thousands of years, they had nearly disappeared by 1920. Today many Chumash descendants still celebrate and share their vibrant cultural traditions. THE LAND The Mediterranean climate and varied topography support chaparral, coastal sage scrub, riparian woodland, wildflowers and coastal strand plant communities. Higher inland regions support dense brush, fire-adapted chaparral species such as chamise, manzanita, ceanothus and scrub oak. Lower elevations are home to the sage scrub plant community — prickly pear cactus, buckwheat, giant coreopsis, California sagebrush and bush sunflower. Riparian plant communities — California bay, willow, black walnut and sycamore trees — grow in the cool, moist environment along Arroyo Sequit. Rabbits, bobcats and coyotes thrive here, along with squirrels and scrub jays. Hikers often see acorn woodpeckers, horned owls, quail, warblers and redtailed hawks. Mule deer, gray foxes and raccoons forage in the riparian woodland at night. Amphibians and reptiles include salamanders, toads, lizards, rattlesnakes, gopher and king snakes. An interpretive walk through coastal sage scrub habitat and nearby Staircase and County Line beaches are especially popular. Swimming, boogie boarding and sunbathing are also favorite activities. Know your limits and learn about weather and ocean conditions. If you get caught in a rip current that causes you to drift from shore, do not swim against it. Instead, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim back towards shore. OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES Small coves await discovery. THE SEA Small beach coves in this year-round paradise offer privacy and ocean access for anglers, divers, surfers, wildlife watchers and beach walkers. Tide pools — During seasonal low tides, visitors may spot sea stars, anemones, mussels, crabs and other tide pool creatures. Tide pool animals are fragile and need your help to protect them. Picking up animals may injure them. Marine mammals — Gray whales migrating down the coast venture in close to the beach. In April and May, gray whales may be seen from the beach as mothers (cows) and babies (calves) return north. Dolphins, harbor seals and sea lions can also be seen swimming along the beach. Sea birds — Pelicans, gulls, grebes and cormorants glide overhead. Many species of gulls and shorebirds feed along the shoreline while other birds fish in the waters offshore. Pelicans and cormorants are commonly seen resting on rocky outcroppings. Fishing — Anglers over age 16 need a valid California fishing license to fish for kelp (calico) bass, surf perch, California sheephead, halibut and white sea bass. Diving —The clear waters of the park are good for scuba diving and snorkeling. Dive with the proper certification, equipment and training, and never dive alone. Ask a lifeguard about ocean conditions and the best diving areas. Surfing—Swim and surf only in areas with lifeguards, and go with a friend. Sequit Point Hiking Hikers have a choice of gentle or more energetic walks. Yellow Hill Fire Trail offers panoramic views of the beach; on a clear day, you can see Anacapa, Santa Catalina and Santa Cruz, three of the Channel Islands in the distance out at sea. The steeper Nicholas Flat Trail meanders through wildflowers and various plant communities to a seasonal pond. A short nature trail loops near the campfire center at the rear of Canyon Campground. Camping The Canyon Campground has 135 family sites, each with a table and fire ring. Restrooms and coin-operated hot showers are nearby. Hike-and-bike campsites are located near campsite #1. The Group Campground at the back of the canyon accommodates up to 50 people. It has picnic tables, two barbecue pits, and restrooms with coin-operated hot showers. Camping reservations are recommended from May through October and on holiday weekends. To reserve, call (800) 444-7275 or see www.parks.ca.gov. Interpretive Programs Campfires, Junior Ranger and nature walks are offered from Memorial Day through Labor Day. A small visitor center is open on the weekends. School field trips must have reservations. For information, call (310) 457-8185 or visit www.parks.ca.gov/leocarrillo. Accessible Features Seven campsites are accessible, with restrooms and showers that are generally accessible. Accessible picnicking, parking and restrooms are available at North Beach. Beach wheelchairs may be checked out at both North and South Beaches. Accessibility is continually improving; for updates, visit http://access.parks.ca.gov. Please Remember • All natural and cultural features are protected by law and may not be disturbed or removed. • Do not disturb tide pool creatures. • Watch out for rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak; stay away from seals and sea lions. • Stay on the trails and carry plenty of drinking water. Protect the tide pools; observe with care. • Use caution when fishing from slippery rocks during a rising tide or big surf. • Ask the lifeguard or park ranger about ocean conditions. • Only vehicles with less than eight-foot overhead clearance can enter the North Beach parking lot. NEARBY STATE PARKS • Point Mugu State Park 15 miles south of Oxnard on Hwy. 1 • Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach 10 miles north of Malibu on Hwy. 1 This park is supported in part through a nonprofit organization. For more information, contact: Santa Monica Mountains Natural History Association 9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway Malibu, CA 90265 www.smmnha.org 00 0 Mal i 50 0 00 1500 Ar r o y o 100 0 1000 50 Nicholas Pond 0 ll Ye ow see detail map above left Hi ll Fir e to Oxnard Nich o l as Fl a t Trail Willow Cr e ek S TAT E PA R K 500 De c k 1500 LEO CARRILLO Secos Rock Scho 1500 0 Entrance Station NICHOLAS F L AT N AT U R A L P R E S E RV E er Rd S e q ui t 15 00 150 10 ol 100 Mulhollan d Hwy A r r oy o S pr F or k il Tra lla nd H Pacific Ocean 1 1 Ea s t 00 to Santa Monica 0 it 10 s ing S eq u Malibu bu 0 101 ork 150 tF 15 Kilometers 0 es 10 Miles 5 23 State Park W to Los Angeles 1 Leo Carrillo SP Canyon Campground 10 150 1 Mulholland Hwy Port Hueneme Leo Carrillo 00 118 Thousand Oaks Oxnard Sa to Santa 1500 Barbara 0 15 ul ho nt 126 a M 00 Ventura a ar Cl wy 15 33 500 l 10 00 i Tra 1 P A C I F I C Legend Staircase Beach Visitor Center North Secos Rock O C E Beach A N 50 Park Entrance 0 Pac i South Beach fic Coa s 50 t Hw y 1 Sequit Point Paved road Hike/Bike Campground RV Sanitation Station Unpaved road Lifeguard Station Showers Trail Locked Gate Swimming Accessible Feature Nature Trail Viewpoint Campfire Center Parking Vistor Center Campground Picnic Area Group Campground Restrooms 0 0 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.4 0.6 0 to Los Angeles 0.5 Miles 0.8 Kilometers © 2008 California State Parks (Rev. 2014) Map by Eureka Cartography, Berkeley, CA County Line Beach