![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - panoramic view of Santa Monica Mountains with sun beams shining through cloud cover]()
Cycling Piuma Road
Santa Monica Mountains, California
Ride 4.5 miles gaining 1,508’ at 6.4% average grade.
Piuma is an “interior” (not beginning on PCH) climb in the Santa Monica Mountains and is accessed by Malibu Canyon Road on the west, Cold Canyon Road from the north, and Las Flores Canyon Road-Rambla Pacifico Street from the east.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - start of climb, Carter Cam Drive road]()
Start of the Piuma climb:
Ride east on Piuma for a quarter mile -- climb begins as you pass Carter Camp Dr. on the left.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - views along the climb, Malibu Canyon and Malibu Canyon Road]()
Views along the climb.
Upper photo: View southwest of Malibu Canyon and Malibu Canyon Road.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - view looking down canyon, bike leaning against guardrail]()
View from tip of hairpin at mile 2.7.
Left photo: View southwest; Right photo: view northwest.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - two lane mountain roadway, Santa Monica Mountain peaks beyond, PJAMM Cyclist on roadway]()
Riding up Piuma just before one of the three big hairpins -- mile 2.5.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - PJAMM Cyclist rides on giant hairpin turn just below David M. Brown overlook, Santa Monica Mountians]()
Five perspectives of the giant hairpin just below David M. Brown Overlook.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California -aerial view of hairpin turn, bike parked against sign for David M. Brown overlook]()
Overlook at mile 2.7.
“Balanced on the narrow spine of Piuma Ridge, the popular David M. Brown Overlook affords prime views and many distant glimpses of the 110-square-mile Malibu Creek watershed. This includes Malibu Creek State Park, 588-acre King Gillette Ranch, and portions of the 65-mile-long Backbone Trail, all of which conservationist David M. Brown had a significant role in preserving as public parkland,” (MRCA).
The overlook was dedicated to David M. Brown after his death in 2013. Mr. Brown played a key role in preserving the Santa Monica Mountains. Read the LA Times tribute to David MacNeille Brown here.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - bike parked against informational signs at David M. Brown Overlook in Santa Monica Mountains]()
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - aerial drone views of the David M. Brown Overlook and the hairpin turn that borders it, Santa Monica Mountains]()
Aerial views of David M. Brown Overlook and the hairpin that borders it.
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - aerial drone views of the David M. Brown Overlook and the hairpin turn that borders it, Santa Monica Mountains]()
![Cycling Piuma Road, California Cycling Piuma Road, California - climb finish, two lane roadway, W. Saddle Peak Road on the left]()
Climb finish -- W. Saddle Peak Road to the left.