Last updated on February 25th, 2019 at 04:52 am
The Jim Morrison Cave, also known as the Corral Canyon Cave, was once on every Instagramer’s bucket list. Unfortunately, the cave was closed to the public on May 2nd, 2016, but I believe this is still a great hike to do while in Malibu, California.
While driving to Malibu on our trip to Los Angeles, Cole suggested we do the Jim Morrison Cave hike.
I had no idea what that was, so I decided to sit back and watch the Pacific float by through the window instead of worrying about it.
How to get to the Jim Morrison Cave
The Corral Canyon Cave is in the Kaslow Natural Preserve in Malibu Creek State Park. From the Pacific Coast Highway, take a right on Corral Canyon Road, which is a winding road with beautiful views of the Pacific. After turning on Mesa Peak Motorway, there is a small dirt lot for parking and the trail head is at the west end of the parking lot.
Hiking to the Jim Morrison Cave
I was immediately taken away by the rolling hills. At the beginning of the trailhead are some rock formations, so feeling renewed excitement, I ran towards the rocks, searching for a way to climb up higher and peak at the ocean.
I stopped to take photos just about every twenty steps as there wasn’t a bad view to be found.
We trekked on, passing some graffiti and following the trail up to even more rock formations. From the base of the hill, we could see people sitting in crevices, so we didn’t linger too long.
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Finally we came to a more open area with this circle of rocks, surrounded by even larger rock formations.
Searching for the Jim Morrison Cave
Well, this must be where the alleged Jim Morrison cave is located, we all figured.
On the hike thus far, I had managed to extract from Cole that this cave served as Jim Morrison’s escape from Los Angeles. While that did not interest me a lot, since I had never been a huge fan of The Doors, a scavenger hunt sounded intriguing.
According to Cole, the cave had been covered in graffiti by the many fans who had visited, ultimately leading to the closure of the cave and removal of the graffiti.
So we started searching, climbing the rocks and again avoiding people who were tucked away in the caverns. We looked all up and down the rock, which was quite large and filled with several holes, but we couldn’t find the cave.
We did enjoy exploring though!
The Jim Morrison Cave
After consulting the internet and considering giving up, we headed back the way we had came. I lingered behind, gazing at the rocks we were leaving behind and said, “So are we sure we don’t know where it is?”
I guess I was committed to the adventure at this point.
So instead of trudging on, we took a turn towards another rock formation that resembled the picture on the internet. We found a trail that looked slightly overgrown and promising. The formation was not far off the trail and as we circled around, we realized that this was the right place. We recognized the canal that used to be the entrance. Peering inside, it was clear that it had been caved in.
We continued to work our way around the rock and finally glimpsed the Jim Morrison cave, a wide mouth in the rock formation that faces out towards the mountains. No longer covered in pink graffiti, nor filled with fans, artists, or people searching for that perfect Instagram picture.
All was silent, but to me, the mystery was still there.
In front of the cave, hung a rope, which was wedged between a rock crevice, looking precarious. A tug of the rope told us this was beyond our skill set, which was completely fine by me. To climb the rope, you’d have to walk up the cave wall holding the rope since there weren’t any holds to grab. I definitely do not recommend this.
Feeling satisfied that we had found it, we moved on, meeting the last couple rays of the sinking sun as we moved from behind the shadow of the cave.
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What happened to the Jim Morrison Cave?
Even after we had found it, something about the cave still intrigued me. Did Jim Morrison really visit this cave to escape LA? To write lyrics? To get high? Why did people start coming to the cave? Why did they get rid of the graffiti? To me it seemed like an interesting expression of art, almost making the cave seem more magical.
According to Sarah Parvini with the LA Times, it seems that for many years the cave had been a normal cave at the end of a hiking trail. It even contained some Native American cave drawings. Around mid 2015, most likely due to a rumor about Jim Morrison escaping to the cave and becoming inspired to write songs, it became extremely popular and the graffiti got out of control.
People sought out the cave mainly for the social media pictures and were posting about the cave multiple times a day. The increased exposure caused littering, graffiti, and even fire damage to become a frequent threat to the nature surrounding the cave. The Native American drawings were covered up.
The cave closed on May 2, 2016 due to the lack of respect and the graffiti was removed. The cave and the rocks that surround it are off limits for hikers and those who do not obey will have to leave the park and may be subject to fines or arrest.
A Lesson in Respect
While I was initially disappointed that the cave was closed and the graffiti cleaned, it was for the best.
Corral Canyon cave has returned to its natural state and has fewer visitors passing through. While there will always be the defiant people who climb the rope to the cave, litter the area, and continue to add new graffiti to the rocks, it is important to remember the effect that we can have on this world.
As we travel and explore, we change the environment of the sites we came to enjoy. The more that we travel to beautiful places and continue to disrespect them, the less magical they become for the next person.
It is important to leave things as we find them so others can enjoy them and the environment can maintain itself. It is not always worth the Instagram picture.
So why is it still worth it to visit the Jim Morrison cave? it is a truly beautiful hike that should be enjoyed by respectful travelers. The Jim Morrison Cave serves as a reminder that we are merely visitors in this world.
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What a beautiful hike! You’re right, even without the cave to explore the hike still looks totally worth it. To be honest, I’ve never heard of this cave until now. But I’m glad it was closed because it sounds like it was being graffiti-ed to death. That’s so sad about the Native American drawings being covered. I hate hearing stuff like that. So glad you still made the hike despite it not being popular anymore!
Yes, it is sad! But sometimes the less popular hikes are the best ones!
It does look like a pretty place to explore. Was there a sign or anything to show that the cave is still closed? It seems like it was pretty easy for you to wander right up to it!
It is such a shame that the graffiti covered over native american art. I would have loved to see that.
There was one small sign at the beginning of the trail, as shown in one of the pictures. But it is definitely still accessible, although I hope people don’t tread where they shouldn’t!
I would have loved to see the Native American Art as well!
I’m feeling quite blind. Which picture has the sign in it?
Under the heading “A Lesson in Respect.” It’s a little hard to read with the sun!
Great tips for a great hike – I really have to get back to California and see more of its natural beauty! I’ve put Channel Islands on my list – anything else you can recommend that includes great hiking?
There’s lots of great hiking around that area and all of California! Another hike I really enjoyed was Griffith Park in Los Angeles!
I’d still like to visit this spot even though it was insta famous! Some places are better seen in person than in photos, and i know this is one of them!
Agreed, it was beautiful!
WHAT I HAD NO IDEA THAT THE JIM MORRISON CAVE WAS CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC! I did this hike a couple months before it closed (I guess? It was early 2016 or late 2015), and I thought it was such a cool hike! But, I have to say, your pictures look so different without the thick layers of bright pink graffiti. Yours really showcase the natural beauty :).
Well I guess you did it just in time then! It is still a really cool hike!
Interesting piece. I’m a fan of sticking to the trail and leaving no trace – and it seems like the parks people id a good job cleaning this cave up from the terrible people who ruined it. You had some fantastic views up there!
Yes, I’m thankful they were able to fix the problem!
I love this! The idea that a hike can still be worth doing even if it doesn’t lead to a “destination” exactly. Plus, always a good reminder that we are exactly that – visitors in a place. And your photos are lovely!
Thank you!
Looks like a great place for hiking and exploring the caves! I’m sure the sunset and sunrise there must be breathtaking!
The sunset was, I’m sure the sunrise would be pretty too!
I’m so happy to hear the way your story ended and super glad that you did not attempt that rope stunt. I cannot agree more on how we must respect the locations we visit and same goes for regulations that are in place for a reason.
Agreed!
Wow there is some really kewl rock formations here, love that circle of rocks..! Amazing place to be!
It really is!
I was one of the last to visit the cave before it was closed and the hike is worth it indeed! We went early and the hike took us above the clouds- beautiful. Even without the cave there is so much to love about this place.
It would have been amazing to see it before, but I agree, it is still so beautiful!
the cave was a tribute to Jim and the Doors and that look on the walls was the way they felt about life..
Sadly, I visited the cave today, and the ugly and somewhat, crude graffiti vandalism is returning, as is the trash. Why oh why do people want this amongst this natural beauty?
That is so sad to hear! It really is a beautiful place.