Great video, brings back so many memories of my childhood. I lived in Topanga canyon in the late 70’s and early 80’s and worked at the local market. Survived the Topanga flood, and learned to drive a car in this canyon. I know every single corner of Topanga from pct to the valley. I moved out of Ca almost three years ago, but come back about once a year just to drive Topanga, hike in Malibu, and eat at Fromin’s in SM, and Johnny’s Pastrami in Culver City. My wonderful wife knows about my nostalgia and will humor me and accompany me on the trips. Great part of childhood memories. Well done video. Many of the Topanga Business names have changed since the 80’s and there are some new ones. But Joes market is still there for those old timers that know what I am talking about. The “S” curves were washed away during the flood. The nudist camp is long gone, American Legion hall is now a restaurant, and the “Corral” is now a dirt lot, and the Embassy Liquor store is still at Dumetz. Time has moved on, but the Canyon looks much the same as it did 40+ years ago. Thanks for helping keep the memories alive.
Dude, your comment just hit me right in the feels! It's amazing how a place can hold so many memories. Topanga Canyon sounds like a special place for you. Keep making those nostalgic trips with your wonderful wife and keep those childhood memories alive! Cheers! Check out my video of Malibu Cayon Road and PCH through Malibu - ua-cam.com/video/ZkYCd_EmSpE/v-deo.html
I grew up in Woodland Hills in the 60's through the 80's. I've bicycled from Woodland Hills to the beach (and back) quite a few times. Sometimes through this Topanga Canyon route, once on Las Virgemes Rd, once on Kanan Rd, and a couple of times through the hills near the Hollywood Bowl and then all the way along Santa Monica Blvd to the beach. Long grueling and dangerous rides, but exciting and adventurous none-the-less.
One of the beauties of cycling is the intimate connection the rider makes with the road. Topanga Canyon is a road I would love to bond with in that way, but I am too old to be cycling any longer. I hope my video brought you back to the rides you had there before.
Great video as always. I think I forgot to mention in my comments about a day ago how much I enjoy the music. So suitable. Needless to say I have subscribed and rang the bell.
Well done! Was in Topanga, in early August for a 2 week vacation. Love it there. Have made that drive many times. Thanks for putting this together. Was very well done and cool to watch!
I and my boyfriend prepared Mexican and American Cuisine at the Topanga Corral Nightclub in 1977-1978, and we also were the on site groundskeepers living behind the building in RV Bus. I enjoyed the many musical performances and made friends with one of weekend regular house bands known as Canned Heat. Neil Young and Linda Ronstadt frequented and Arlo Guthrie was a friend to us. The Topanga Corral Nightclub is no longer due to fire. I have many fond memories of our time there including filming scenes of movies such as Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie starring Kim Darby and Annie Potts, I was an extra in the bar scene fight. The only bad memory I have is from when two men attacked me behind the building which I saw a young woman trapped in their car but I was lucky to run from them, the tall lanky foul mouthed man and his accomplice I later in January 1979 seeing them on the TV news were the Hillside Stranglers. I have never returned to Topanga Canyon. Watching this drive tour videos brought back memories good and bad.
Soory about the bad memories, hopefully the good memories outweigh them. You were in the canyon at a unique time, it was still a counter-culture hotbed. Thanks for sharing your time there, and I am so glad to be able to transport you to the good memories!
My husband and I traveled to socal last June. We had the pleasure to take a ride on Topanga Canyon blvd to Red Rock Canyon. It was quite a ride, but we really enjoyed the scenery. I didn't know about the story behind Topanga. Thank you, Scott, for giving us such an insight 👌
I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your feedback. I have a lot more of thoses same kinds of road trips right here at the channel, so stop back by and explore!
I'd forgotten to thank you for making/posting the video, it truly captures everything I'd loved about driving Topanga (but was too rushed to stop and record myself) and I will be revisiting this video again in the future just as a reminder/homage to how much I'd loved my recent trip out to LA from New Jersey. Thank you.
Thanks for making this video. I have spent so much time in Topanga Canyon, Topanga Beach, hiking, surfing, driving our trucks on the fire roads, hiking up to Big Rock before there were houses around it. We'd take our dogs and walk the trails and swim in Topanga Creek and to the waterfalls. I remeber trying to skateboard down Rambla Pacifica Road and going way too fast and crashing into someone's fence. So we decided a bicycle would be a little safer, but it wasn't much. LOL One of my best friends and mc brother in law and another friend hiked to the bottom of a small canyon off Old Topanga Road and decided to climb the rock cliff face that was probably 100 ft high and they got within 20 feet from the top but couldn't get up or down and were stuck on a little rock with a Manzanita bush and my brother in law, who wasnt my brother in law yet but an 18 yr old kid was smart enough not to climb the face with the other two .so after about an hour of being stuck the guys said they needed help..so Mark ran to the fire watch tower and told the ranger what happened and the next thing my friend Scott, 17yrs old told me was he was cold and scared and then he heard a helicopter and a small LA County Sheriffs helicopter came around the corner and over the speaker said " do not move. Do not panic the big bird is coming to get you. And a few minutes later a very large Sheriffs rescue helicopter came around and a Deputy was lowered down to them by a cable on a winch and the Deputy unhooked himself and put the harness on the guys one at a time and raised them up and into the helicopter. Whiile flying back to the station, one Deputy said that it wasnt a very good idea for them to try to go down that cliff because that is where they train their mountain rock climbers rescue team and it is very dangerous. That's when they told the Deputy they weren't climbing down, that they had climbed up from the bottom of the canyon and got stuck going up. The Deputy told them they were crazy. Good rock climbers but be smarter and don't try climbing that cliff again. Myself and my friends and family have had many adventures in all the different canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains from Pacific Palisades to Ventura County Line and beyond. Deer Creek Canyon, Deker Canyon, Corral, Las Tunas, Big Rock, Temescal, Malibu Canyon, etc.... . People have no idea that just 20 minutes drive from the crowded freeways and city life of the 2nd largest city in the country are forests and woodlands creeks waterfalls hiking trails horse trails campgrounds you would never know you were near a city. You could get lost and people do go missing . It is the woods and mountains with mountain lions and bobcats and bears, coyote and fox and all the other wild animals native to the area.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing memories of Topanga Canyon! It sounds like you had some incredible adventures there. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Drove on this route at least 2 times a week for 3.5 years while being a private duty nurse who lived about a half a block from Mulholland Drive. Great times with Craig Gersh, God I miss him.
I loved it! Always wanted to be there but life kept getting in the way, here i am 70 yrs now and still want to but fixed income and all that. Loved riding along thanks very much.
Great driving video, Scott! I lived in Topanga, 1986-87, & worked at Marix Tex Mex Playa in Santa Monica. I was 23, and wanted to film from my motorcycle, but never did. Thanks
Thanks for sharing, Louis! It's a lot easier to shoot these rides with today's digital camera gear. Thanks for watching, and come back as I lots more great rides here at the channel!
Wow what memories. I lived in the oakwood apartments in woodland hills from 1990 -1992. one of my favorite drives was topanga canyon. I can honestly say my life would not be as wonderful as it is today if not for my time there. thank you for the trip back in time!
I miss my hometown. Loved your video so much, I'm subbing! Thank you so much for this. Such happy memories of driving to the beach or whatever from the valley. 🤙🔥❤️
That's incredible! It must have been quite a journey driving through the canyon every day for 30 years. I definitely recommend that everyone should stop and explore all of it. The shops are awesome and the neighborhoods are so much cooler than LA's sprawling suburbias. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I don’t know when this video (of driving through the canyon) was made but it would be interesting to take the same route now to see how much it’s changed. There was definitely a lot more vegetation back then. Now, it’s mostly houses and restaurants and little stores. But it still has that magic. You just passed a place called Jalan Jalan where they sell furniture but if you go there, there’s a waterfall behind it called “Owl Waterfalls”. I didn’t know about it but our friends took us there. When my husband and I went to look at it again, we couldn’t find it. We’ll have to try again one day. Thanks for making this video 😊
I shot that video in early 2022. I love driving Topanga Canyon, and do so several times a year. It changes character with the seasons. Take an hour off from the real world and drive the canyon, it's a mini vacay! I know you will have a wonderful rest of the day!
I live in Scotland 🏴. Never ever been to the US. Would have loved to have visited. Topanga canyon looks absolutely beautiful. Very different to my own country which is almost always a deep green. Even in winter. Unless it’s snowing of course. I appreciate all the info on Native American history of the area you have added. The Native American culture is one of those cultures that fascinates me. Thanks for sharing the footage buddy. Respect from Sunny Scotland.🏴
It's humbling to walk on the same paths as the native Californians, and makes me want to protect and preserve this land in their honor. Thats why I started this channel. Thanks for checking it out. I have many more here to check out!
I believe it is around 3:39 into video is where the landslide has blocked the canyon indefinitely. Hiked down from other side on 4-7-2024. The canyon is blocked off near the lumberyard at time 6:38. Beautiful falls in the stone/crystal vendors property. Turnoff to my home is 22:20.
I live in Woodland Hills now just a half mile or so from Topanga Cyn. It’s still kinda hippyish but not like it was when I was a kid. I just recently found out that there’s a waterfall in Topanga probably within five miles of my house. There’s all kinds of new adventures and wonders there. Growing up, my cousins lived on a ranch in Topanga. When we’d visit them, it was like going to the other side of the world and it was so much fun to be on the ranch. Topanga has changed a lot but it’s still the same. It still has a lot of that magic. And it’s great that you can take it down to the beach 🏖!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the video. I have a lot more to check out here at the channel! Mulholland, Sunset, Wilshire Blvd. plus Big Sur, La Jolla and Oahu!
thank you so much for this beautiful video! I've been to Topanga in 2016 and had lunch at the Inn of the seventh ray. It was so great! Also well done with your comments. It was a pleasure to watch this video!
Thanks for watching! I have many more tours here at the channel of places all over Southern California, Big Sur, Los Angeles, and the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.
Almost all of the music you here on my channel is from Artlist.com, a copyright free music source for content creators like myself. They have thousands of musicians and bands from all over the world looking for exposure and expanding their fanbases. I spend a lot of time there finding just the right music for my videos. I am a musician as well, and have become a big fan of many of the guys at Artlist. Thanks for watching and commenting! If you liked Topanga Canyon, check out these videos: Mulholland Drive - ua-cam.com/video/CT8EKVUKadg/v-deo.html Sunset Drive - ua-cam.com/video/kTpIYUTK9pc/v-deo.html Malibu and Malibu Canyon - ua-cam.com/video/ZkYCd_EmSpE/v-deo.html
Thank you for the marvellous ride! I hope you don't mind but I posted a link to here on our crossword blog because Topanga came up yesterday... (liked and subscribed!)
I forgot a few places, Jalan imports was the old Propane filling place. They had a huge propane tank, small ones to rent for your home, and they had a mobile filling service with a truck. Also, who remembers the store “Cheese and Coffee” that was on Topanga Just north of Fernwood. Man they had fresh baked bread and made the best sandwiches. That was in about 1978 or 1979. Oh, and Malibu Feed Bin was just in Al feed and supplies, not outdoor furniture and artwork, it the building looks the same.
I appreciate you taking the time to share these memories. It's great to hear about the places that made an impact on your life. I'm so graetful to be able to help you keep those memories alive. Come back here anytime you like Richard!
I was out in LA visiting a friend (first time back in 32 years) two weeks ago and drove Topanga Canyon from Malibu to highway 101. One of the most AMAZING roads I've ever driven or ridden on! My friend lives right near the Mulholland Drive/Laurel Canyon Blvd areas and I'd used to think that those were the best. Topanga is WAY better. Coldwater Canyon is a close second though. 🙂
Wow, sounds like you had a wild ride! Topanga Canyon must have been calling your name like, "Hey, remember me? I'm still the best!" Thanks for watching and commenting!
I was out for a drive in the late '70s and stopped to get gas at station on corner of PCH. Had noticed a gal swerving in and out of traffic several cars behind me. She walked up to me in the station and said "my name's Mamu, I have a car just like that but mine's an Alpine. I live on Old Topanga near the corner. Want to come see my car?" Followed her up there, where she told me, "I live in that Tipi and my brother lives in the water tank". She said she was a Magic Mamu, and she could throw a mean Tarot and carried on without a comma that she was someone I should know. She had a snake for a pet, and an amulet and she was breeding a dwarf but she wasn't done yet. She had gray-green skin and a doll with a pin. I told her she was all right but I couldn't come in (I couldn't come in right then . . . ). And so she wandered trough the flap of fur just like a shadow from the tomb she said her stereo was four-way and I'd just love it in her cocoon. Well, I was born to have adventure so I just followed in her steps right past her fuming incense stencher to where she hung her castanets. She stripped away her rancid poncho and laid out naked by the door. We, um, smoked till we were un-concho and were useless any more. Modified lyrics of Frank Zappa's Camarillo Brillo. Can't help but think of these things whenever I go up Topanga. 7:49 LOL
Thank you for sharing your modified lyrics! It’s always great to see how music inspires creativity and brings back memories. I love Frank Zappa, and keep the good vibes coming!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the soundtrack. It's actually a collection of tracks from an up-and-coming indie artists that I discovered recently. The song titles and artist credits slide in on the lower left corner of the video.
Wow I definitely want to move there, being a musician and artist myself it seems like home :) I love how they've kept it natural and Jungly unlike other sides of Hollywood. I'm confused though, as I saw joni Mitchell, Stephen stills, etc..I thought they lived in laurel canyon, not topanga?
You can do it! Come on down, the weather is perfect as always. Both Joni and Steven lived in Topanga back in the 1970's. I think Joni (who is one of my all-time favorites) is in Malibu now.
@@ridealongwithscott I definitely will, although I'd be coming from Canada so not sure if it's possible these days 😬 I never knew this, but I love all of these hippy musicians, they're music has been so close to my heart since I was a kid (Neil young being my all time favorite). Do you live in topanga canyon as well, and are there wildfires every year? I actually didn't know about the actor Will Geer before and his Botanica theater, you definitely learn something new every day 😊
@@purplegypsylady777 there was a fire last year (2021). Not homes were burned. You can live in Woodland Hills’ urban areas and go to Topanga anytime. You jump on the 27 and you are there in 10mins ….
We are having a wet winter this year, so you might see some rain. If it is not raining, the weather this time of year is perfect! Hi 60s to low 70s, clear with lots of sunshine!
What does Topanga mean in Boy Meets World? Who Came Up with Topanga's Name on Boy Meets World? Danielle ... And she picked the name Topanga because in the San Fernando Valley, where the show was filmed, there is an area called Topanga Canyon, and that canyon was kind of a known hippie hangout in the '60s and even still is a kind of flower child-y area," she explained
I find it an awesome place to live, and the politics are not as toxic as in some places. We are free to be ourselves at least. It is the land of Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown, Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi. We have it all and about 10 percent of all Americans live right here.
@@ridealongwithscott yes, sir. People only follow and say to be cool with their political alienation but they don’t know what they are missing. I love it here too. I’m staying here forever subbed!
The road that runs through this canyon are about it. Topanga is a really small community, and a few shops are all they have here. Best to go into Malibu or the San Fernando Valley for most of your needs. The reason to live here is the seclusion.
@@ridealongwithscott thank you. just one quick question - are the communities in the various canyons tight? could one move there and feel lonely or are people open and talk to each other etc.?
@@bluebellbeatnik4945--- I can answer that question for you. The Canyon communities are a dichotomy or a contradiction of themselves People move into the canyons for the solitude and tranquility and they are mostly private people. But, on the other hand, when you live, say, in Topanga Canyon, you end up knowing who the other residents are because there aren't a whole lot of people that live up there. You have a couple of small shops, a hardware store, a couple places to eat, a small market, there is a preschool and elementary school, riding school, (equestrian) and you see the same people and they see you and that happens a couple times when everyone realizes you live there also. Plus the people who work at the various places in the village talk and usually someone has to have moved out or maybe passed away who had lived there for decades and everyone knows the property is for sale or rent and it's a mystery who will move in, and so everybody knows who the new people are and everyone is very mindful of each others privacy but they all keep an eye out for one another and their property if strangers are driving around or hikers and backpackers are around where they shouldn't be. But you really have to love living there because you have to deal with power outages, bad cell phone service, if you need something and the local hardware store or little market doesn't have or are closed you have a 20 minute drive through the canyon to the nearest store. Also, wild fires, washed out roads from rains, rock slides almost daily blocking the road, there are bears and mountain lions, bobcats, coyote, raccoons, deer, owls hawks, vultures, squirrels, rabbits, opposuns and they will do whatever they want. On the plus side, there are creeks and waterfalls and pools with rope swings and hiking trails and horse trails everywhere.
We are used to that. Californians are more than 10% of all Americans, and we only get 2 Senators in our national government. The state of South Dakota has less population than the city I live in, and they get two Senators. Not all things are equal in this land of opportunity, are they? I've been to South Dakota and it can be pretty, but I'll never leave my California. Scotland is on my travel bucket list, as both of my grandfathers are Scotish!
Went right past the Brady Bunch house and no mention! Also, fossil dig area ....missed! Inn of the Seventh Ray...not a mention!! No mention of Rodeo lower Topanga where Charles Manson lived either!
Great video, brings back so many memories of my childhood. I lived in Topanga canyon in the late 70’s and early 80’s and worked at the local market. Survived the Topanga flood, and learned to drive a car in this canyon. I know every single corner of Topanga from pct to the valley. I moved out of Ca almost three years ago, but come back about once a year just to drive Topanga, hike in Malibu, and eat at Fromin’s in SM, and Johnny’s Pastrami in Culver City. My wonderful wife knows about my nostalgia and will humor me and accompany me on the trips. Great part of childhood memories.
Well done video. Many of the Topanga Business names have changed since the 80’s and there are some new ones. But Joes market is still there for those old timers that know what I am talking about. The “S” curves were washed away during the flood. The nudist camp is long gone, American Legion hall is now a restaurant, and the “Corral” is now a dirt lot, and the Embassy Liquor store is still at Dumetz. Time has moved on, but the Canyon looks much the same as it did 40+ years ago.
Thanks for helping keep the memories alive.
Dude, your comment just hit me right in the feels! It's amazing how a place can hold so many memories. Topanga Canyon sounds like a special place for you. Keep making those nostalgic trips with your wonderful wife and keep those childhood memories alive! Cheers!
Check out my video of Malibu Cayon Road and PCH through Malibu - ua-cam.com/video/ZkYCd_EmSpE/v-deo.html
Fantastic. This is my home and has been for years. Thank you for this tribute.
That is the highest praise I could get! I'm so glad that you enjoyed the video, and keep Topanga beautiful!
I grew up in Woodland Hills in the 60's through the 80's. I've bicycled from Woodland Hills to the beach (and back) quite a few times. Sometimes through this Topanga Canyon route, once on Las Virgemes Rd, once on Kanan Rd, and a couple of times through the hills near the Hollywood Bowl and then all the way along Santa Monica Blvd to the beach. Long grueling and dangerous rides, but exciting and adventurous none-the-less.
One of the beauties of cycling is the intimate connection the rider makes with the road. Topanga Canyon is a road I would love to bond with in that way, but I am too old to be cycling any longer. I hope my video brought you back to the rides you had there before.
Great video as always. I think I forgot to mention in my comments about a day ago how much I enjoy the music. So suitable. Needless to say I have subscribed and rang the bell.
Thanks again! I am so proud to share the music of all these wonderful artists!
Scott this was an EXCELLENT video! Well done!
Glad you liked it! I hope you can find more here on the channel to enjoy!
I grew up in this area. I even lived @22:00 for a year in 2012
Topanga is such a cool place to live! Thanks for watching!
What a wonderful, and heartfelt video. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly motivates me to create more content like this.
Discovered your site by accident. So glad I did!! It has become one of my favorites. Like your comments and like your choice of music. Great job!!
Serendipity for us both, I am so glad you found my channel. I have more vids in the production queue, so stay tuned!
Looking forward to them!!
Well done! Was in Topanga, in early August for a 2 week vacation. Love it there. Have made that drive many times. Thanks for putting this together. Was very well done and cool to watch!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Did this drive for many years. Lived in Fernwood Topanga 1980 & 1990,s
Glad to provide you a ride through your personal history! You are welcome back to it anytime you feel homesick.
Lived 2013-2015 in LA and miss this drive home every day. Thanks.
It's amazing how certain drives can hold such special memories! Glad this brought back those feelings for you. Thanks for reaching out and commenting!
Your playlist is growing my playlist :) Thanks
Awesome, thank you!
Bring back fond memories of driving through Topanga Canyon many times in the late 80S. Such a beautifull place
Thank you for sharing your memories with us, it's always heartwarming to hear about special moments like these.
I and my boyfriend prepared Mexican and American Cuisine at the Topanga Corral Nightclub in 1977-1978, and we also were the on site groundskeepers living behind the building in RV Bus. I enjoyed the many musical performances and made friends with one of weekend regular house bands known as Canned Heat. Neil Young and Linda Ronstadt frequented and Arlo Guthrie was a friend to us. The Topanga Corral Nightclub is no longer due to fire. I have many fond memories of our time there including filming scenes of movies such as Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie starring Kim Darby and Annie Potts, I was an extra in the bar scene fight. The only bad memory I have is from when two men attacked me behind the building which I saw a young woman trapped in their car but I was lucky to run from them, the tall lanky foul mouthed man and his accomplice I later in January 1979 seeing them on the TV news were the Hillside Stranglers. I have never returned to Topanga Canyon. Watching this drive tour videos brought back memories good and bad.
Soory about the bad memories, hopefully the good memories outweigh them. You were in the canyon at a unique time, it was still a counter-culture hotbed. Thanks for sharing your time there, and I am so glad to be able to transport you to the good memories!
Great video! Very hypnotic
Glad you enjoyed it!
My husband and I traveled to socal last June. We had the pleasure to take a ride on Topanga Canyon blvd to Red Rock Canyon. It was quite a ride, but we really enjoyed the scenery. I didn't know about the story behind Topanga. Thank you, Scott, for giving us such an insight 👌
Awesome to hear you had a blast! Topanga is such a gem. Can’t wait to hear more about your adventures!
Awesome video all around. The pacing was perfect and felt like a great time spent. Thank you!
I really appreciate you taking the time to watch and share your feedback. I have a lot more of thoses same kinds of road trips right here at the channel, so stop back by and explore!
I'd forgotten to thank you for making/posting the video, it truly captures everything I'd loved about driving Topanga (but was too rushed to stop and record myself) and I will be revisiting this video again in the future just as a reminder/homage to how much I'd loved my recent trip out to LA from New Jersey. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
Thanks for making this video.
I have spent so much time in Topanga Canyon, Topanga Beach, hiking, surfing, driving our trucks on the fire roads, hiking up to Big Rock before there were houses around it. We'd take our dogs and walk the trails and swim in Topanga Creek and to the waterfalls. I remeber trying to skateboard down Rambla Pacifica Road and going way too fast and crashing into someone's fence. So we decided a bicycle would be a little safer, but it wasn't much. LOL
One of my best friends and mc brother in law and another friend hiked to the bottom of a small canyon off Old Topanga Road and decided to climb the rock cliff face that was probably 100 ft high and they got within 20 feet from the top but couldn't get up or down and were stuck on a little rock with a Manzanita bush and my brother in law, who wasnt my brother in law yet but an 18 yr old kid was smart enough not to climb the face with the other two .so after about an hour of being stuck the guys said they needed help..so Mark ran to the fire watch tower and told the ranger what happened and the next thing my friend Scott, 17yrs old told me was he was cold and scared and then he heard a helicopter and a small LA County Sheriffs helicopter came around the corner and over the speaker said " do not move. Do not panic the big bird is coming to get you. And a few minutes later a very large Sheriffs rescue helicopter came around and a Deputy was lowered down to them by a cable on a winch and the Deputy unhooked himself and put the harness on the guys one at a time and raised them up and into the helicopter. Whiile flying back to the station, one Deputy said that it wasnt a very good idea for them to try to go down that cliff because that is where they train their mountain rock climbers rescue team and it is very dangerous. That's when they told the Deputy they weren't climbing down, that they had climbed up from the bottom of the canyon and got stuck going up. The Deputy told them they were crazy. Good rock climbers but be smarter and don't try climbing that cliff again.
Myself and my friends and family have had many adventures in all the different canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains from Pacific Palisades to Ventura County Line and beyond. Deer Creek Canyon, Deker Canyon, Corral, Las Tunas, Big Rock, Temescal, Malibu Canyon, etc.... .
People have no idea that just 20 minutes drive from the crowded freeways and city life of the 2nd largest city in the country are forests and woodlands creeks waterfalls hiking trails horse trails campgrounds you would never know you were near a city. You could get lost and people do go missing . It is the woods and mountains with mountain lions and bobcats and bears, coyote and fox and all the other wild animals native to the area.
Thank you so much for sharing your amazing memories of Topanga Canyon! It sounds like you had some incredible adventures there. I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Drove on this route at least 2 times a week for 3.5 years while being a private duty nurse who lived about a half a block from Mulholland Drive. Great times with Craig Gersh, God I miss him.
I loved it! Always wanted to be there but life kept getting in the way, here i am 70 yrs now and still want to but fixed income and all that. Loved riding along thanks very much.
It's never too late to dream, and I have a lot more videos for you to watch in the meantime. Cheers!
Great driving video, Scott!
I lived in Topanga, 1986-87, &
worked at Marix Tex Mex Playa in
Santa Monica. I was 23, and wanted to film from my motorcycle, but never did.
Thanks
Thanks for sharing, Louis! It's a lot easier to shoot these rides with today's digital camera gear. Thanks for watching, and come back as I lots more great rides here at the channel!
Wow what memories. I lived in the oakwood apartments in woodland hills from 1990 -1992. one of my favorite drives was topanga canyon. I can honestly say my life would not be as wonderful as it is today if not for my time there. thank you for the trip back in time!
Topanga Canyon drives are like a time machine, aren't they? Who knew a road could hold so many memories!
Again Scott such an outstanding video! Looking forward to seeing more!
More to come!
I miss my hometown. Loved your video so much, I'm subbing! Thank you so much for this. Such happy memories of driving to the beach or whatever from the valley. 🤙🔥❤️
Thanks for subbing! I'm putting up new vids all the time, so please visit my channel again soon.
I drove this canyon twice a day for 30 years. I lived on Dumetz and worked in LA. You should really stop, explore, and share.
That's incredible! It must have been quite a journey driving through the canyon every day for 30 years. I definitely recommend that everyone should stop and explore all of it. The shops are awesome and the neighborhoods are so much cooler than LA's sprawling suburbias. Thanks for sharing your experience!
I don’t know when this video (of driving through the canyon) was made but it would be interesting to take the same route now to see how much it’s changed. There was definitely a lot more vegetation back then. Now, it’s mostly houses and restaurants and little stores. But it still has that magic. You just passed a place called Jalan Jalan where they sell furniture but if you go there, there’s a waterfall behind it called “Owl Waterfalls”. I didn’t know about it but our friends took us there. When my husband and I went to look at it again, we couldn’t find it. We’ll have to try again one day. Thanks for making this video 😊
I shot that video in early 2022. I love driving Topanga Canyon, and do so several times a year. It changes character with the seasons. Take an hour off from the real world and drive the canyon, it's a mini vacay! I know you will have a wonderful rest of the day!
I live in Scotland 🏴. Never ever been to the US. Would have loved to have visited. Topanga canyon looks absolutely beautiful. Very different to my own country which is almost always a deep green. Even in winter. Unless it’s snowing of course.
I appreciate all the info on Native American history of the area you have added. The Native American culture is one of those cultures that fascinates me.
Thanks for sharing the footage buddy. Respect from Sunny Scotland.🏴
It's humbling to walk on the same paths as the native Californians, and makes me want to protect and preserve this land in their honor. Thats why I started this channel. Thanks for checking it out.
I have many more here to check out!
I believe it is around 3:39 into video is where the landslide has blocked the canyon indefinitely. Hiked down from other side on 4-7-2024. The canyon is blocked off near the lumberyard at time 6:38. Beautiful falls in the stone/crystal vendors property. Turnoff to my home is 22:20.
Your detailed timestamps are super helpful for everyone watching. Much appreciated!
I live in Woodland Hills now just a half mile or so from Topanga Cyn. It’s still kinda hippyish but not like it was when I was a kid. I just recently found out that there’s a waterfall in Topanga probably within five miles of my house. There’s all kinds of new adventures and wonders there. Growing up, my cousins lived on a ranch in Topanga. When we’d visit them, it was like going to the other side of the world and it was so much fun to be on the ranch. Topanga has changed a lot but it’s still the same. It still has a lot of that magic. And it’s great that you can take it down to the beach 🏖!
Thanks for stopping by and checking out the video. I have a lot more to check out here at the channel! Mulholland, Sunset, Wilshire Blvd. plus Big Sur, La Jolla and Oahu!
thank you so much for this beautiful video! I've been to Topanga in 2016 and had lunch at the Inn of the seventh ray. It was so great! Also well done with your comments. It was a pleasure to watch this video!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Gosto muito da California...sempre quero voltar...I really like being in California...I always want to back...
Gracias!
What a great video! And for people who have heard of topagna but can’t make it there, you bring it to them👏👏👏
Thanks for watching! I have many more tours here at the channel of places all over Southern California, Big Sur, Los Angeles, and the Sierra-Nevada Mountains.
Thanks for the ride!!
Any time!
My neck of the woods there, Topanga and Ventura BLVD
Local in the house! Thanks for checking it out.
Thanks for the video. It seems you know of a lot of cool music and artists I've never heard of. How did you discover them?
Almost all of the music you here on my channel is from Artlist.com, a copyright free music source for content creators like myself. They have thousands of musicians and bands from all over the world looking for exposure and expanding their fanbases. I spend a lot of time there finding just the right music for my videos. I am a musician as well, and have become a big fan of many of the guys at Artlist. Thanks for watching and commenting!
If you liked Topanga Canyon, check out these videos:
Mulholland Drive - ua-cam.com/video/CT8EKVUKadg/v-deo.html
Sunset Drive - ua-cam.com/video/kTpIYUTK9pc/v-deo.html
Malibu and Malibu Canyon - ua-cam.com/video/ZkYCd_EmSpE/v-deo.html
Thank you for the marvellous ride! I hope you don't mind but I posted a link to here on our crossword blog because Topanga came up yesterday... (liked and subscribed!)
No worries! I hope you return soon - I have a lot of other cool rides here!
I forgot a few places, Jalan imports was the old Propane filling place. They had a huge propane tank, small ones to rent for your home, and they had a mobile filling service with a truck. Also, who remembers the store “Cheese and Coffee” that was on Topanga Just north of Fernwood. Man they had fresh baked bread and made the best sandwiches. That was in about 1978 or 1979. Oh, and Malibu Feed Bin was just in Al feed and supplies, not outdoor furniture and artwork, it the building looks the same.
I appreciate you taking the time to share these memories. It's great to hear about the places that made an impact on your life. I'm so graetful to be able to help you keep those memories alive. Come back here anytime you like Richard!
I was out in LA visiting a friend (first time back in 32 years) two weeks ago and drove Topanga Canyon from Malibu to highway 101. One of the most AMAZING roads I've ever driven or ridden on! My friend lives right near the Mulholland Drive/Laurel Canyon Blvd areas and I'd used to think that those were the best. Topanga is WAY better. Coldwater Canyon is a close second though. 🙂
Wow, sounds like you had a wild ride! Topanga Canyon must have been calling your name like, "Hey, remember me? I'm still the best!" Thanks for watching and commenting!
very well made video. What program you use? Davinci Resolve?
Camtasia is the tool I am using for these videos
I was out for a drive in the late '70s and stopped to get gas at station on corner of PCH. Had noticed a gal swerving in and out of traffic several cars behind me. She walked up to me in the station and said "my name's Mamu, I have a car just like that but mine's an Alpine. I live on Old Topanga near the corner. Want to come see my car?" Followed her up there, where she told me, "I live in that Tipi and my brother lives in the water tank". She said she was a Magic Mamu, and she could throw a mean Tarot and carried on without a comma that she was someone I should know. She had a snake for a pet, and an amulet and she was breeding a dwarf but she wasn't done yet. She had gray-green skin and a doll with a pin. I told her she was all right but I couldn't come in (I couldn't come in right then . . . ). And so she wandered trough the flap of fur just like a shadow from the tomb she said her stereo was four-way and I'd just love it in her cocoon. Well, I was born to have adventure so I just followed in her steps right past her fuming incense stencher to where she hung her castanets. She stripped away her rancid poncho and laid out naked by the door. We, um, smoked till we were un-concho and were useless any more.
Modified lyrics of Frank Zappa's Camarillo Brillo. Can't help but think of these things whenever I go up Topanga. 7:49 LOL
Thank you for sharing your modified lyrics! It’s always great to see how music inspires creativity and brings back memories. I love Frank Zappa, and keep the good vibes coming!
Nice sound track. Is that Sun Kill Moon?
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the soundtrack. It's actually a collection of tracks from an up-and-coming indie artists that I discovered recently. The song titles and artist credits slide in on the lower left corner of the video.
Wow I definitely want to move there, being a musician and artist myself it seems like home :) I love how they've kept it natural and Jungly unlike other sides of Hollywood. I'm confused though, as I saw joni Mitchell, Stephen stills, etc..I thought they lived in laurel canyon, not topanga?
You can do it! Come on down, the weather is perfect as always. Both Joni and Steven lived in Topanga back in the 1970's. I think Joni (who is one of my all-time favorites) is in Malibu now.
@@ridealongwithscott I definitely will, although I'd be coming from Canada so not sure if it's possible these days 😬 I never knew this, but I love all of these hippy musicians, they're music has been so close to my heart since I was a kid (Neil young being my all time favorite). Do you live in topanga canyon as well, and are there wildfires every year? I actually didn't know about the actor Will Geer before and his Botanica theater, you definitely learn something new every day 😊
@@purplegypsylady777 there was a fire last year (2021). Not homes were burned. You can live in Woodland Hills’ urban areas and go to Topanga anytime. You jump on the 27 and you are there in 10mins ….
What should I expect the weather to be like in the 1st week of April? We're on the way there really want to do this drive!
We are having a wet winter this year, so you might see some rain. If it is not raining, the weather this time of year is perfect! Hi 60s to low 70s, clear with lots of sunshine!
Just one beautiful drive in the land of dreams which can be a reality. Rog. Pacific sunset records
I love CA! Thanks Rog!
@@ridealongwithscott there's nowhere better. Rog. Pacific sunset records
Thanks!
It is truly my pleasure to share these places with everyone!
What does Topanga mean in Boy Meets World?
Who Came Up with Topanga's Name on Boy Meets World? Danielle ...
And she picked the name Topanga because in the San Fernando Valley, where the show was filmed, there is an area called Topanga Canyon, and that canyon was kind of a known hippie hangout in the '60s and even still is a kind of flower child-y area," she explained
Thanks for the info! Never saw the TV show, I was too busy when that show was out to do that kind of stuff. Hope you enjoyed the ride!
Have not seen lower Topanga since 1959; upper Topanga was not worth going at the time. (Did the road even go through? Paved?) Thanks for the ride.
Thanks for joining me on the journey down memory lane!
Are some getting topanga canyon mixed up with laurel canyon?
It's easy to mix up the canyons, but each has its own unique charm!
Too bad that state is ruined by the awful politicians!
I find it an awesome place to live, and the politics are not as toxic as in some places. We are free to be ourselves at least. It is the land of Ronald Reagan and Jerry Brown, Kevin McCarthy and Nancy Pelosi. We have it all and about 10 percent of all Americans live right here.
@@ridealongwithscott yes, sir. People only follow and say to be cool with their political alienation but they don’t know what they are missing. I love it here too. I’m staying here forever subbed!
do they not have a downtown?
The road that runs through this canyon are about it. Topanga is a really small community, and a few shops are all they have here. Best to go into Malibu or the San Fernando Valley for most of your needs. The reason to live here is the seclusion.
@@ridealongwithscott thank you. just one quick question - are the communities in the various canyons tight? could one move there and feel lonely or are people open and talk to each other etc.?
@@bluebellbeatnik4945--- I can answer that question for you.
The Canyon communities are a dichotomy or a contradiction of themselves
People move into the canyons for the solitude and tranquility and they are mostly private people.
But, on the other hand, when you live, say, in Topanga Canyon, you end up knowing who the other residents are because there aren't a whole lot of people that live up there. You have a couple of small shops, a hardware store, a couple places to eat, a small market, there is a preschool and elementary school, riding school, (equestrian) and you see the same people and they see you and that happens a couple times when everyone realizes you live there also. Plus the people who work at the various places in the village talk and usually someone has to have moved out or maybe passed away who had lived there for decades and everyone knows the property is for sale or rent and it's a mystery who will move in, and so everybody knows who the new people are and everyone is very mindful of each others privacy but they all keep an eye out for one another and their property if strangers are driving around or hikers and backpackers are around where they shouldn't be.
But you really have to love living there because you have to deal with power outages, bad cell phone service, if you need something and the local hardware store or little market doesn't have or are closed you have a 20 minute drive through the canyon to the nearest store.
Also, wild fires, washed out roads from rains, rock slides almost daily blocking the road, there are bears and mountain lions, bobcats, coyote, raccoons, deer, owls hawks, vultures, squirrels, rabbits, opposuns and they will do whatever they want.
On the plus side, there are creeks and waterfalls and pools with rope swings and hiking trails and horse trails everywhere.
Great vids, I’m always California dreaming, these hit the spot between visits. Thanks for giving consideration to cyclists.
Glad you enjoyed it! You're always welcome back for more visits!
There are 3 times more people in the Greater LA area than there are in my whole entire country. 😂
We are used to that. Californians are more than 10% of all Americans, and we only get 2 Senators in our national government. The state of South Dakota has less population than the city I live in, and they get two Senators. Not all things are equal in this land of opportunity, are they? I've been to South Dakota and it can be pretty, but I'll never leave my California. Scotland is on my travel bucket list, as both of my grandfathers are Scotish!
@@ridealongwithscott
Oh really? Do you know where in Scotland they are from?
Don't talk to strangers
Good advice!
there was a song with that line
Went right past the Brady Bunch house and no mention! Also, fossil dig area ....missed! Inn of the Seventh Ray...not a mention!! No mention of Rodeo lower Topanga where Charles Manson lived either!
Thanks for the info! I didn't know about Brady Bunch house or fossil digs, but was hoping to keep any Charlie reference on the down low.
Brady Bunch house is in Studio City not Topanga 😉
@@GruneD she is a valley blonde lol
@@lglubbock7593 🤣