more stats
2,359 ft
Distance
42 ft
Climb
-126 ft
Descent
00:16:33
Avg time
-85 ft
Altitude change
1,524 ft
Altitude min
1,612 ft
Altitude max
1,612 ft
Altitude start
1,526 ft
Altitude end
-3.6%
Grade
-43%
Grade max
20.9%
Grade min
650 ft
Distance climb
1,378 ft
Distance down
262 ft
Distance flat
00:16:33
Avg time

Dirty Sock Details

  • Activities
    • Hike
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Topanga State Park
    Santa Monica, California
  • AKA
    Bent Arrow
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    25 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 30 in E-Biking
    • 45 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #154672 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #136448 in E-Biking
    • #43035 in Trail Running
    • #160913 in Hiking
  • State Ranking
    #5,800 in Mountain Biking · California [+]
    • #3,111 in E-Biking
    • #2,212 in Trail Running
    • #9,530 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T3 Demanding Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes

Singletrack shortcut bypassing the climb up to Temescal/Mulholland. Bikes technically not allowed (although this is not really observed), recommended only ride on weekdays to avoid hikers.

Disclaimer

Weekday riding recommended.

Tags

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 1 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 69 rides
  • Last: Jul 14, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Dirty Sock Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Sep 14, 2025 @ 12:46pm (America/Los_Angeles)
Sep 14, 2025
 Took a peek at this shortcut and it’s in awful shape. Lots of erosion. Juice is not worth the squeeze
Sep 30, 2023 @ 12:38pm
Sep 30, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 @ 12:38pm
Sep 30, 2023
Jul 12, 2023 @ 4:59am
Jul 12, 2023
 Trail is closed following the heavy rain. Some sections are washed out, especially the upper switch back section leading down to the stairs.
Dec 20, 2022 @ 9:07pm
Dec 20, 2022
 Some trail maintenance being done, wooden stairs being added. No issues
more »
Status:
on Sep 14, 2025
Very Dry
Avg: 3.61 (2 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to dirty-sock trailhead (34.122810, -118.551280)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      143 |
      Feb 8, 2020 @ 8:20pm
      Feb 8, 2020

      Videos

      1 more »
      DIRTY SOCKS : MTB
      mtb
      3:30 | 647 | Mar 22, 2020 , Santa Monica

      Routes with this trail

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      Sea-Horsey
      ★ 3.0 • 19 miles • 2,665 ft • 18 •
      XC Loop In the Santa Monica Mountains
      2.5 ★★★★★
      2 Ratings
      5 ★
      4 ★
      3 ★ 50%
      2 ★ 50%
      1 ★

      3 Reviews & Comments

      thechrisfr thechrisfr
      Trail is not super fun but it’s quicker than the fire road and definitely more fun than a fire road!
      jfratkin jfratkin
      Rode this morning, 8/11/19. Came from the top down. It’s super overgrown, the first bit has super sharp switchbacks, some with steps on the switchback. Definitely a black easily. Even when the short descent is over with, the narrow single track up is definitely black. They have paved the first 300-500ft as they need access to some poles so the ending is a green if not easier. It’s a short trail but it needs some major cutting back on the vegetation.

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      Nearby Trails

      Topanga State Park

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Dirty Sock located?
      Dirty Sock is located in Topanga State Park, Santa Monica, California, United States. It is part of the Topanga State Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 34.12281, -118.55128.
      ▼ How hard is Dirty Sock?
      Dirty Sock is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 3.6%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Dirty Sock?
      Dirty Sock has 42 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 126 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 1,524 ft to 1,612 ft.
      ▼ Is Dirty Sock a point to point trail?
      Dirty Sock is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Dirty Sock?
      Dirty Sock is 2,359 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Dirty Sock?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Dirty Sock. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Dirty Sock?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Dirty Sock are:
      • November (3 activities)
      • January (1 activities)
      • March (1 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Dirty Sock? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Dirty Sock are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Dirty Sock?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 17 minutes to ride Dirty Sock. The trail is 2,359 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Dirty Sock?
      Dirty Sock is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 903 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 893 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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