Topanga Canyon, Canyon in Los Angeles County, US

Topanga Canyon is a canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains in western Los Angeles County, California, within the area called Topanga. It takes in parts of Topanga State Park and the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and its name, given by the Tongva, is said to mean "the place above."

The name Topanga comes from the Tongva people who occupied the area and is said to mean "the place above". In July 1969 music teacher Gary Hinman was killed at his Topanga home by Bobby Beausoleil, a follower of Charles Manson, whose "family" had frequented the canyon before the murders.

The name Topanga comes from the Tongva people and is said to mean "the place above." In the 1960s the canyon drew musicians such as Neil Young and Woody Guthrie, and the Topanga Corral club hosted Canned Heat, Emmylou Harris, Crazy Horse and Ramblin' Jack Elliott. John Phillips dedicated the song "Topanga Canyon" to it, and Billy Joel name-checks it in "Getting Closer" (1986).

Topanga Canyon Boulevard (State Route 27) runs through the canyon between the Pacific Coast Highway and the San Fernando Valley, linking the coast to the inland side. The canyon lies within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and includes part of Topanga State Park, where trails start from roadside lots. Carry water and sun protection; summer heat is strong.

Topanga Canyon appears as Banham Canyon in the video game Grand Theft Auto V. The name also inspired the character Topanga Lawrence-Matthews in the TV series Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World.