The state park consists of three main parks, Topanga, Malibu Creek, and Point Mugu. About one hundred twenty million years ago molten rock intruded baking the shales into slate and cooling into granite. After much uplifting and erosion, seas again covered the land depositing the marine rocks that from the great cliffs in lower Topanga Canyon. Part of the park is the chaparral. The chaparral contains a great variety of animal life.
Hikers often see ground squirrels, rabbits,coyotes, and mule deer.
Others, opossums, raccons, skunks, foxes and bobcats are not so frequently spotted. Because the Topanga State Park is in the Pacific, many transient birds may be sighted. The birds include vultures, hawks, golden eagles, perergine falcons and even condors.