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 I use a lot of links, and only thumbnail images open in a separate window. Middle-click or right-click a link to open it in a new window or tab.  

I've never been a beach person - nor much of a water person for that matter - there are only lakes and rivers in the land-locked Prairies scoured out of the ground by the glacial action of the last ice age and the meltwaters of the Rocky Mountains .

But, I think I could be...

Place name links like Carolina Beach, NC go to Wikipedia. Place name links like Carolina Beach use the local tourism or government website.
 
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2013.04.10 Tuna Canyon Road, Las Flores Canyon Road
 
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    The Santa Monica Mountains have a lot of canyon roads, some of which are used only by locals and a few recreational drivers, if at all. I scanned Google Maps for roads I haven't driven yet and today I'll try a couple.

Tuna Canyon Road is known as a world-class bicycle course. The last 2/3 of the road down to the PCH is one-way - there's no access off the PCH .

Las Flores Canyon Road winds through one of the first residential settlements in Malibu.

Being my first time on these roads, I didn't take any pics while driving. And they look about the same as other canyon-road pics anyway. Segment A-B is Topanga Canyon Road that I've driven already a few times. With the uphill lane of Tuna Canyon Road closed at C the best access for me is at B - Fernwood Pacific Drive, a road used mostly by locals. And for good reason: it's narrow, winding, and elevates - sometimes all three at once. I don't know if there's a name for an ascending right-turn hairpin but it has to be the busiest turn to make - brake, downshift, crank the wheel, gas it, feel the compression from driving into a rising road. Oh, and people live along these roads; someone might be around the corner so be prepared to brake. When Fernwood turns into Tuna the driving relaxes.

From just off Fernwood Pacific Drive -->

 

From this spot you can see Topanga Canyon, part of downtown, and the ocean.
 

   

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
Tuna Canyon Road is a pretty relaxed drive because it's mostly one-way and not populated from about half-way down. However, it's mostly one-way because the uphill lane has washed out in spots, and there are large signs warning of possible impassability because of rock slides. So maybe not so relaxed. :) But a route I quite liked and will take again.

Along the PCH and then off it onto Las Flores Canyon Road which eventually leads up to a scenic vista at E which straddles this portion of the Santa Monica Mountains . I took the long route here - it's possible to get here from B and I almost did but I turned back to continue along Tuna Canyon Road to complete it first.  
 


 
   
The Backbone Trail
Along the Spine of the Santa Monica Mountains 
One side looks into the valley, the other at the ocean.

 
 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

 
 

 
 

 
 

 

From here I headed down Stunt Road, just to the left of the marker, back to the Mulholland Highway . Maybe I'll get some pictures of Stunt Road another time.

 
 
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Jerome's
Blogs
     Beach    Tuna Canyon Road, Las Flores Canyon Road   
                 Here                                  There           
50    Clippings    Galleries    Golf   Bristol    Beach    Valley
  
Mail
Browse Me
Google
Document ELG/KUJZ/0.1:2013.05.22    A branch of The BRIDGE Tree