The trails began where the fire road through the campground exited at its rear, furthest from the beach. The fire road itself was best for bicycling, whereas the narrower trails that led off sideways from the road were more suited to hiking.

A sign posted alongside the fire road listed the distances to the various trails. The sign read:

Pt. Mugu State Park
Sycamore Canyon Fire Road

Scenic Trail	0.1 MI
Overlook Fire Road	0.4 MI
Fireline Trail	0.8 MI
Serrano Canyon Trail	1.1 MI
Wood Canyon Vista Trail	2.9 MI
Wood Canyon Fire Road	3.0 MI
Rancho Sierra Vista	7.4 MI

Just under an, "Authorized Vehicles Only," sign were found three icons prohibiting fire, dogs, and smoking. There were also warnings posted on either side to be aware of raccoons and poison oak.

Scenic Trail began with stone stairs leading off from the Fire Road. This trail was 0.75 mi (1.2 km) long and rose 430 ft (131 m) gently enough for the average person to hike.

Scenic Trail was narrow enough to discourage bicycles, yet wide enough for a non-stressful hike. The foliage in October was green from recent rain storms.

Scenic Trail rose high enough to provide scenic views of the interior hills and valleys.

Full bunches of huckleberries grew alongside the trail.

As the trail crested the top of its first hill, it became enclosed in dense foliage.

A Lizard rested on one of the wooden steps that appeared on the steeper portions of the trail.

Another hill rose steeply across the valley opposite the trail. In the foreground was a tree full of large pods.

Scenic Trail as it appeared when looking back down it and back toward camp.

Scenic Trail overlooked the campground and the beach. The campground was nestled into a valley that opened to the beach.

Scenic Trail crested the top of the hill and curved left and slightly downward. Beyond the trail laid the Santa Monica Mountains.

Dried brush began to appear alongside the trail as the trail neared its top. Birds could be heard singing but were difficult to spot.

A Sparrow was almost invisible on its dried branch inside one dried bush of many that lined the trail.

A couple passed us on the trail headed back down to return to camp and the parking lot and perhaps back to the beach.

Scenic Trail led to Overlook Trail that bordered the top of the hill alongside the highway and the beach. The view from up there was spectacular. Here, motorcycles could be seen heading back up north on Highway 1.

The view looking north from Overlook Trail. The beach lay below with campers and cars parked along it. Inland from the beach was Highway 1.

Many small side trails led out to the edge and thus provided many opportunities for other views. Here, a couple had just tired of the view.

From Overlook Trail, there were a few choices of way's back. Below in the distance were hikers returning on Scenic Trail.

We chose to return along the fire road. This was the road favored by folks on bicycle. It was wide and smooth enough for easy riding.

A lone bicyclist rode fast down the fire road and back toward camp. Here he had just crested a rise and his wheels had briefly left the ground.

A California Towhee was spotted alongside the fire road foraging for food. Note how their coloration allows them to blend into the dirt.

The fire road was lined with a gorgeous layering of dried bushes backed by red bushes and those backed by green bushes. Whole hillsides were striped in these colors.

The land surrounding the fire road appeared lush despite the dryness of that hot afternoon.

A family on bicycles peddled back along the fire trail in the direction of the campground and beach. Back on the valley floor, shade became available again.

A puddle on the valley floor was one of the few reminders that we were still in the middle of the rainy season. Shade and cool temperatures there in the valley under shade trees, despite the hot day.