Hike-in primitive trail camp on the Backbone Trail, reached only by single-track trail. Not bookable online. Parts of Topanga State Park remain closed after the Palisades Fire. Check the park page before planning a trip.
“Eight tent spaces with running water and a flush toilet, a mile and a half from Trippet Ranch, and no reservation system at all.”
Plan your Topanga State Park trip here, then get your permit from the agency.
Walk-up permit
How to get Musch Camp
Musch Camp is issued by the agency rather than through a booking calendar. Their page has the current process and any dates.
Official permit pagePlanning another trip? See the permits we alert on.
Musch Camp permit season
- route distance, out and back
- 1.5mi
How to get a Musch Camp permit
No reservation. You get the permit when you arrive.
Arrive in person
Fill in the permit and pay
See the fees below.
Head out
1 to 2 nights is typical.
Topanga trailheads and fees
- Trippet Ranch
- Dead Horse
- Day-use parking runs 8:00 AM to sunset; arrange overnight parking with a State Parks ranger.
The two Topanga trailheads in full
Primary
Trippet RanchThe main trailhead and parking area. A quarter mile of paved road, then 1.25 miles of single-track Musch Trail to the camp.
Parking
Trippet Ranch vehicle day use is $10.00, plus a $10 per night parking fee for campers. For overnight parking at state park lots, talk to a State Parks ranger and pay them the camp rate and parking fee.
Getting there
From Pacific Coast Highway travel north on Topanga Canyon Boulevard, past the post office, then turn right on Entrada Road and keep left at every opportunity for about a mile. Day-use parking 8:00 AM to sunset.
Nearest services
Topanga village. Address 20828 Entrada Rd.
Alternate
Dead Horse TrailheadAlternate parking lot on Entrada Road.
Parking
Dead Horse Lot vehicle day use is $10.00; hourly parking $3.00.
Getting there
From Topanga Canyon Boulevard, turn onto Entrada Road; the lot is shortly after the turn.
Nearest services
Topanga village.
As of September 2026, Musch Camp in Topanga State Park, California requires a permit issued via walk-up. Musch Camp is a high-demand permit, rating 7/10 on PermitSnag's demand index. The Musch Camp route covers 1.5 miles, rated easy.
- Type
- Overnight
- Location
- Santa Monica Mountains, CA
How this permit is issued
Get this permit in person at the trailhead or ranger station, or by phone.
Official permit page →Step 1: Check the agency page for the process
This permit is not sold online. Confirm where and when it is issued (and any fee) at California State Parks before your trip.
Step 2: Arrive early
Walk-up permits are issued first-come, first-served. Where the agency sets a daily quota, popular trailheads can run out on weekends and holidays.
Step 3: Have backup plans
Popular trailheads fill fast. Know alternate routes or dates.
More on Musch Camp: Live availability activity
The Musch Camp hike
- Distance
- 1.5 miles
- Route Type
- Out & Back
- Duration
- 1-2 nights
- Difficulty
- Easy
Musch Camp landmarks
- 1Trippet Ranch
Once a gentleman's ranch for a weekend getaway from the city, now the main trailhead and parking area.
- 2Musch Trail Camp
Eight tent spaces with tables, running water and a flush toilet.
- 3Backbone Trail
67 miles across the Santa Monica Mountains. Camping is only allowed at designated campgrounds.
Eight tent spaces with running water and a flush toilet, a mile and a half from Trippet Ranch, and no reservation system at all.
About this permit
Musch Trail Camp is hike-in primitive camping at Topanga State Park with room for 8 tents, tables, running water and a flush toilet. It is not reservable and is on a first come, first served basis, at $7 per person per night with self-registration, plus a $10 per night parking fee. No campfires or smoking are permitted, no pets and no bicycles; horses are permitted and a corral is available.
The walk in is short. From the Trippet Ranch kiosk it is a quarter mile of paved road then about 1.25 miles of single-track Musch Trail. State Parks describes the overnight facilities as hike-in primitive camping only, with access via a single-track trail leading in and out.
The park is currently open with restrictions. Following the Palisades Fire, some areas of Topanga State Park remain closed to the public; as of 12 June 2026 day-use facilities, backcountry service roads and backcountry trails are open with the exception of the Rogers Road Trail, Bent Arrow Trail, Josepho Spur Trail, Rustic Canyon Trail, Lower Topanga Day Use Area and Trails, and Temescal Canyon Trail. Check the park's alert page before planning a route.
The route
From the Trippet Ranch kiosk you walk the paved road for a quarter mile and take the single-track Musch Trail on your right; the NPS describes a wonderfully diverse 1.25 miles from there to the camp. State Parks says the overnight facilities are hike-in primitive camping only, accessed via a single-track trail leading in and out, and that the Musch Trail leads north to Musch Trail Camp, winding in and out of sun and shade where plant assemblages change with every subtle difference in light and moisture.
The camp has room for 8 tents, with tables, running water and a flush toilet, more than most trail camps in this region offer. It is not reservable and is on a first-come, first-served basis, at $7 per person per night plus a $10 parking fee, by self-registration. No campfires or smoking are permitted. Horses are permitted and a corral is available; bicycles and pets are not.
On the Backbone Trail, Malibu Creek State Park is 14.9 miles away.
Why it matters
Musch is the easternmost camp on the Backbone Trail, sitting inside what California State Parks calls the world's largest wildland within the boundaries of a major city. It is first-come, first-served with self-registration, which makes it one of the few Los Angeles-area overnight options you cannot be locked out of months in advance.
The feeling
Oak, grassland and chaparral with the Pacific somewhere below the ridge. Los Angeles is right there and completely out of sight.
Musch Camp hike highlights
- Eight tent spaces, first-come and self-registered, with no reservation to win
- Tables, running water and a flush toilet, which is unusual for a trail camp
- $7 per person per night plus a $10 parking fee
- No campfires and no smoking
- A short 1.5-mile approach on single-track from Trippet Ranch
- Post-Palisades-Fire closures still affecting several park trails
How hard the Musch Camp hike is
- Physical DemandFitness and endurance required2/5
- Technical SkillClimbing, scrambling, or specialized skills1/5
- Exposure RiskSteep dropoffs and fall potential2/5
- NavigationRoute finding and trail clarity1/5
- CommitmentDifficulty of bailing out mid-route1/5
Best for: Anyone in Los Angeles who wants a spontaneous overnight: no booking window, no lottery, just turn up and self-register. Also the eastern staging camp for Backbone Trail section hikers.
Recommended experience: None. Check the park's closure list first, since several trails remain shut after the Palisades Fire.
Not recommended for: Dog owners, cyclists, anyone wanting a campfire, and anyone who needs certainty. With eight spaces and no reservations, a full camp is a real possibility.
When to hike Musch Camp
Best time to visit
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and vegetation is green and blossoming. The NPS names exactly this window for the Backbone Trail. Summer is hot with little shade and the highest fire-closure risk.
Weather Forecast
Trailhead (5,000 ft)
Backcountry Tips
- Day 4: Extreme heat (97°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 5: Extreme heat (101°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
- Day 6: Extreme heat (102°F). Carry extra water, start at dawn.
Today
89°
60°
Wed
88°
60°
Thu
93°
64°
Fri
97°
82°
Sat
101°
85°
Sun
102°
87°
Mon
100°
87°
Musch Camp photography guide
Golden Hour
Sunset west along the ridge toward the ocean, with the marine layer usually sitting below.
Best Light
Late winter to early spring, when temperatures are cooler, days are longer and the vegetation is green and blossoming.
Beat the Crowds
Trippet Ranch carries day traffic; the Musch Trail is single-track and thins immediately. Eight tent spaces is the whole camp.
Classic Shots
- Ocean views from the open grassland above camp
- Live oaks along the Musch Trail
- A Backbone Trail junction sign on the ridge
- Spring wildflowers in the chaparral
- City lights from the ridge after dark
Musch Camp rules, gear and safety
Gear checklist
Required- Camp stove: no campfires are permitted
- Cash or the means to self-register on arrival
- Sun protection for exposed chaparral
- Headlamp
- Water containers, though the camp does have running water
Recommended gear
- Long sleeves and long pants against ticks and poison oak
- A backup plan, since sites cannot be reserved and may be full
- Layers for cool ridge nights
- Trekking poles for the single-track climb
- A check of the park's current closure list before you go
Rules & regulations
- 01First-come, first-served with self-registration; the camp is not reservable.
- 02No campfires or smoking permitted.
- 03No pets. Dogs are not allowed on the park trails, fire roads, or in the back country.
- 04No bicycles. Horses are permitted and a corral is available.
- 05Room for 8 tents.
- 06Day-use parking runs 8:00 AM to sunset; arrange overnight parking with a State Parks ranger.
- 07Camping on the Backbone Trail is only allowed at designated campgrounds.
- 08Groups of 50 or more require a permit to hike the Backbone Trail.
- 09Park closure protocols apply during Red Flag Warnings.
Hazards & considerations
- The NPS names the three trail threats here directly: rattlesnakes, ticks and poison oak.
- Bring plenty of food and water. Water from streams is not safe to drink.
- Guard yourself against ticks by wearing long sleeves, long pants and light colors.
- Park closure protocols apply during Red Flag Warnings.
- Several trails remain closed from the impacts of the Palisades Fire.
Safety & planning
Emergency Info
Emergency contacts, ranger station locations, and satellite communicator tips for Musch Camp.
Food Storage
Bear canister requirements, approved container lists, and rental locations for this permit.
Gear Checklist: Required and recommended gear for Musch Camp · Shuttle Services: Trailhead transportation options · Guide Services: Experienced wilderness guides
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Musch Camp FAQ
How do I get a Musch Camp permit?
Musch Camp is issued directly by the agency. It is issued in person or by phone, so there is no reservation to book and no cancellation to catch. Bring backup dates and check their page for the current process.
When is the best time to visit Musch Camp?
Season dates are on the agency's page. Weekdays have better availability than weekends.
How competitive is the Musch Camp permit?
This permit has a demand score of 7/10, making it highly competitive. We recommend having backup dates and reading the official permit page for how this one is issued.
What if I can't get a Musch Camp permit?
The agency awards this permit directly. Bring backup dates and check the official page for the current process and any closures.
Musch Camp trail conditions and trip reports
Trail Conditions
No active conditions reported
Sign in to report trail conditions.
Questions
No questions yet
Be the first to ask about Musch Camp.
Trip Reports
Write ReportAlternatives to a Musch Camp permit
- Same AreaPermit required
Malibu Creek Campground
A drive-in campground 14.9 miles along the Backbone Trail, with drinking water, flush toilets, showers and a dump station.
Tradeoffs
Showers and a real campground, but select sites there are now allocated by monthly lottery rather than sold outright.
- Similar ExperienceNo permit needed
La Jolla Valley Hike-In Campsites
Three tent spaces half a mile off the Backbone Trail in Point Mugu State Park, no water and no fires, auto-pay at the Ray Miller parking area.
Tradeoffs
Also first-come with no reservation, and far more remote. But three spaces instead of eight, and no water at all.
- Easier AlternativePermit required
Danielson Ranch Group Campground
A group campground in the Point Mugu backcountry with drinking water, flush toilets and showers, for 10 to 50 people.
Tradeoffs
Reservable and far better serviced, but it only takes groups and carries a $100 non-refundable application fee on top of the nightly rate.
Where to stay near Musch Camp
- Chilao Campground - Little Pines LoopAngeles National Forest
- Coulter Group CampgroundAngeles National Forest
- Meadow Group CampgroundAngeles National Forest
- All California campgrounds
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