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Murphy Ranch – The Nazi Compound in Rustic Canyon

October 18, 2013 By Jeff H 10 Comments

This easy 3.1 mile lollipop loop hike in Rustic Canyon has the added bonus of a lesson from one of the more bizarre chapters in Los Angeles history. In the 1930’s, work began on an elaborate complex known as Murphy Ranch. Ostensibly, Ms. Murphy was wealthy heiress who wanted to build a mansion back in […]

Filed Under: Trail Guides Tagged With: bizarre, history, LA County, Murphy Ranch, Pacific Palisades, Rustic Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park, weird

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I created SoCal Hiker while preparing to thru-hike the John Muir Trail. My goal? Create guides for the best hiking and backpacking trails with enough detail to make it an enjoyable experience for you. And while I started with trails in Southern California, I’ve expanded across the west. We hike each trail to create these guides, sharing practical advice on gear and outdoor skills. Read more…

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