Lunada Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:5, max ↨40ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | |||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 28 Sep 2025
"Although there are some pretty gross algae pools that look to be about waist deep in the beginning, all of the pools can be avoided with some careful |
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33.7693, -118.4199
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
Lunada Canyon runs through Palos Verdes before dropping steeply onto the beach of Lunada Bay through this sandstone canyon. This canyon is short, but offers several small rappels and a wonderful introduction to substantial anchor challenges. Plan enough anchor materials to completely rerig this canyon when you visit since the anchors can and have been blown out after significant rainfall. The sandstone walls offer no bolting opportunities so it will be necessary to employ rigging techniques like rock cairns or chocks. The canyon is part of a drainage system that spills out into the bay, and any amount of rainfall nearby can affect the water flow greatly. All of the anchors require soft starts, and the walls of many of the waterfalls are slick with algae and wet sandstone.
Approach[edit]
Park near Lunada Bay. Walk 90 feet from the road to the drop in point. The drop in point is essentially right under the bridge at the intersection.
Descent[edit]
The canyon is made from very soft sediment which crumbles easily. Even the harder rock is still soft compared to most canyons. Rockfall in the narrow canyon is frequent and potentially hazardous.
R0: 8' Low head damn, metal fence above makes for an easy rappel of 17 feet or so. The area above the damn is all concrete and mud so no natural anchors are available.
R1: Frequent water flow may cause natural anchors to wash away. In the center of the canyon are bits of rebar that stick out of the cement. Use one of these pieces of rebar to build an anchor, then later retrieve it to avoid investigation by curious community members. Alternatively groups could ghost this anchor. The rappel is about 30 feet to a waist deep pool.
R2: 15' off a cairn in the watercourse into a somewhat larger pool (stay DCR to avoid the deepest part of the pool)
R3: 40' off rusty bolts to a waist high pool (As of December 2020 there are no bolts and there is no pool.
R4: 20' off a knot chock LDC
R5: 45' off a large rock cairn (Rusty bolts for a 20' rappel, make sure pull path is okay)
Exit[edit]
The exit trail is RDC just as the canyon opens up, but take time to enjoy the beach first. There are some interesting rocks to the east and an interesting riparian area to the west. Be aware that when the ground is wet, the exit hike becomes laden with thick and slippery clay, which can make the hike extremely challenging and treacherous.
Red tape[edit]
See "Trip reports" section for further information.
There aren't any "no tresspassing" or "off limits" signs, however entering the canyon does often catch the attention of members of the community walking their dogs by the beach and park nearby. It is suggested you drop into the canyon quickly and in a smallish sized group to avoid unwanted attention. Directly across from the canyon exit is a clear view of the exit trail, which beach goers use to access the area below the cliffside.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
July 12, 2018 P.V.P.D. Arrived as L.A.M.A.R. was about to descend and informed us that we're in violation of an obscure city ordinance that prohibits climbing trees, bluffs, canyons, rocks etc... and rappelling. Apparently there's guy living at the drop who calls the police when he noticies anyone dropping into the drainage.