Solstice Canyon - Rising Sun Trail

Solstice Canyon is a beautiful coastal hike in Malibu with a perennial waterfall and architectural ruins.

Know Before You Go

Solstice canyon has several easy to moderate hikes. The Solstice canyon trail, which leads to the Roberts Ranch ruins, is 2.1 miles roundtrip. I suggest adding the Rising sun trail which is an additional 1.5 miles for picturesque ocean views. Here’s the NPS brochure.

3455 SOLSTICE CANYON RD, MALIBU, CA 90265

Park grounds open everyday from 8 a.m.- Sunset
Free Parking – Lot opens from 8 a.m.- Sunset
Pet friendly- dogs must be on leash

The stone and brick ruins on the Solstice Canyon trail was a home designed by Paul Revere Williams, the first African American architect certified to work on the west coast.

Williams began designing homes in the early 1920s. Over the course of his career, he managed to design several estates in Bel Air, Beverly Hills, and Hancock Park. Other notable projects include LAX, St Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, and the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel.

In 1952, Fred Roberts and his wife Florence commissioned Williams to design a modern home for his family at Solstice Canyon in Malibu. Roberts founded a local grocery store and amassed almost 1000 acres. The couple was active partners in the design of their home. Colors, fabrics, and custom furniture were a collaborative effort.

Williams’ ability to cultivate relationships with California’s elite is a testament to his grit and perseverance. According to Williams’ granddaughter, Karen Hudson, “He taught himself to draw upside down so white clients wouldn’t be uncomfortable sitting next to him…it became one of the things he was known for. He found a way to work around such barriers because he had an ultimate goal in mind. He believed that for every home and every commercial building that he could not buy and that he could not live in, he was opening doors for the next generation.”

Unfortunately, in 1982, Williams coastal retreat, Tropical Terrace, burned down. Though only fragments of the foundation remain today, images by Julius Shulman highlight Williams indoor/outdoor masterpiece.