The trail starts out from the main parking lot past the ranger station at Malibu Creek State Park. Begin hiking west on Crags Road, a well maintained trail that meanders along the creek. As you walk, you'll pass under large oak trees and enjoy expansive views of the Santa Monica Mountains.

After ~2/3 of a mile, you'll reach a junction with a sign pointing you to the visitors center (left) or the old MASH site (right). Head left towards the visitors center and then take a quick right as the trail veers down before you reach the nearby bridge. From this trail, you'll want to continue straight the rest of the way following the creek. It's a short walk from here to the rock pool.

The rock pool can get pretty crowded in the mid day heat, so you should strike out early if you want the place to yourself. If you've surveyed the area and found a safe landing spot, do some cliff jumping or just enjoy a swim and some snacks. If you're feeling up for it, you can do some bouldering (or swimming) and continue past the rock pool to some less accessible gems of the park.

There's plenty of extensions to this hike including Grasslands Trail and Century Lake so feel free to explore more. Malibu Creek State Park is a hiker's paradise.