Safe Streets Map
LA, Ventura & Orange County

Malibu Canyon, Mulholland Highway and Decker Canyon

A loop through the Santa Monica Mountains from the coast: up Malibu Canyon, west along Mulholland Highway, the steep descent of Decker Canyon, and back along the coast on PCH.
Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road to Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road
36.7 mi
Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road to Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road
of climbing
4,080 ft
of climbing
highest point
2,020 ft
highest point
motorcycle crashes along it, 2021–2025
73
motorcycle crashes along it, 2021–2025
This week's road conditionsCaltrans closures

The route

Map of the route from Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road to Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road
S: start and finish, A: The Rock Store. Map © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap.
  1. Malibu Canyon Road north from PCH through the canyon to Mulholland Highway
  2. Mulholland Highway west past the Rock Store and Kanan Dume Road to Decker Road
  3. Decker Road (SR-23) down to the coast
  4. Pacific Coast Highway east back to Malibu Canyon Road

Is this ride safe on a motorcycle?

We don't rate rides as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a road is, and popular roads have more crashes partly because more people ride them. What the records show: 73 motorcycle crashes were reported along the route from 2021–2025, 27 of them serious or fatal. What to watch for: Mulholland Highway is crowded with riders, cyclists and spectators on weekend mornings, with blind corners and riders crossing the centre line. Decker Road is steep with decreasing-radius corners. Gravel washes onto these roads after rain, and PCH has heavy traffic and parked cars along the beaches.

This week's weather

Weather

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Roads and stops on the way

Mulholland Highway (incl. "The Snake")Riding roadDecker Canyon RoadRiding road
The Rock StoreRider hangout

Common questions

How long is the ride, and how much does it climb?
About 36.7 miles from Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road to Pacific Coast Highway at Malibu Canyon Road, with about 4,080 ft of climbing. The highest point is about 2,020 ft.
Are the roads open?
Mountain roads here close for snow, rockslides, fire and roadwork. Check the riding-roads conditions page and Caltrans QuickMap (quickmap.dot.ca.gov) before you go.
All rides

Route: drawn along © OpenStreetMap roads; length and climbing from USGS 3DEP elevation, so they are estimates. Crashes: motorcycle crashes reported within 25 m of the route, 2021–2025, from the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS); 27 were serious or fatal. Weather: National Weather Service. How the data works.