Park service extends closure of Solstice Canyon in Malibu

Woody Smeck, the acting superintendent for the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA), has announced that construction projects will require the extended closure of Solstice Canyon in Malibu.

The projected date for the opening is April 30.

"Sensitive cultural resources have been discovered," said Smeck. "We regret the inconvenience to our visitors, but the discovery requires sensitivity, protection and mitigation. Consultations with other agencies and the Native American Indian community are in progress. The National Park Service has stepped up patrols which are now in place to assist visitors who have not heard about the extended closure of the canyon."

Located just off Pacific Coast Highway on lower Corral Canyon Road, Solstice Canyon is a unit of the SMMNRA noted for its year-round stream and "Tropical Terraces," an easily-accessible site that features the remnants of the once lushly-landscaped former home of the Roberts family, who were the last private owners of the canyon.

Their architecturally-noteworthy home and exotic plants burned in a fire––but interesting "rubble" remains. The site is also close to the park’s most popular waterfall. Other trails meander through meadows and hills that offer ocean views on clear days.

For more information, call the National Park Service hotline for a recorded message on the closure at (805) 370-2331.