Best Hiking Trails in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

30 reviews

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Overview

The unique Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the largest urban national park in the United States with oceans vistas, rock formations, canyons, and mountain summits. The Mediterranean climate ecosystem protects over 1,000 plant species and inhabits numerous mammals, 400 species of birds, and 35 reptiles and amphibians. Hike to the Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the designated area. Don't worry, with 500-plus miles of hiking trails, you have plenty to choose from to stretch your legs in the hills or rest them by spending a day on the beaches.

Getting Started

Located roughly 20 miles northwest of Los Angeles, California, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area welcomes hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, horseback riders, climbers, and campers. Plan your trip ahead of time and try to visit during the week to avoid the weekend crowds.

Stop in at the Santa Monica Mountains Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center and chat with a ranger for up-to-date trail conditions and information.

The Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock boasts views of Carlisle Canyon and Balanced Rock. For a gentle hike, consider walking 3.6 miles along the Solstice Hill Loop via Rising Sun Trail. Or, plan a multi-day trip and traverse the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area on the Backbone Trail, which spans 67 miles and connects the park from east to west.

Stay at the Circle X Ranch Group Campground or choose from one of the many state park campgrounds. Find various camping options here.

When to Go

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area's temperate location welcomes visitors every month of the year.

Permits

Access to the park, visitor centers, and trailheads are free.

Dog Info

Dogs are permitted within the area as long as they are kept on leash. Find out all the areas you can bring your pets here.

Resources

wikipedia

Hiking Trails (113)
Reviews (30)

jamesbarnettiv 22 hours ago

Love this area. Grew up around here, going to university in Boulder, and i still think this is one of the most beautiful places. Gotta go early in the morning though. Watching the fog burn off the valley floors from a mountain is so nice

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

hbarrows3 4 months, 1 week ago

1st half hour is really tough. Easy winding after that. So fun! Great workout.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

MTJ 5 months, 1 week ago

January of 2019, a few months after the Woolsey Fire. I've always thought the China Flat area was so beautiful, this micro-climate of oak forest among the grass and dry brush and the area was so devastated. But there was some green on a few of the oaks so I hope most will survive. I came up the King James Court entrance. There is a gate there but it is unlocked and there is a sign saying there are hazards. Most of the hazards, as it were, are right at the beginning where there are some temporary berms preventing erosion. Since the trail up is mostly rock I don't see a lot of slippage otherwise. I did see a large boulder in the trail at one point that came off a rock wall. There were many people on the trail and it was raining lightly and also some mountain bikers.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

MTJ 8 months, 1 week ago

Enjoyed it more before they restricted access around the waterfall area. There are good ocean views from the loop at the top and some other places if the weather is clear, which in the year 2018 hasn't been often. On the Rising Sun part of the trail I was bit by a dog (owner had it on a leash). I don't know if this is informative or just a random event, I've never been bitten on a trail before. If anything it is an indication that a) it's a busy park, and b) people bring dogs on single track trails.

★ ★ ★ ★

stillcrackerman 8 months, 2 weeks ago

Nice Out and Back. No flowers this time of year. Temperatures in the 70's make this a nice hike since it is mostly exposed. A few bikers but not particularly busy during the week.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

siobhan6000 9 months ago

It had been 6 months since I did this last. I went on Sunday. No water at lower/upper Falls. I didn't take the rope this time, tried the other way. Got a little lost on way up, but able to backtrack & find the way. Just remember when climbing up, head to the left. Way down was a lot easier (since we knew where we were going).

★ ★ ★ ★

siobhan6000 9 months ago

I've done this hike many times. I went on Sunday. Water trickles from the waterfall. A fellow hiker saw a bobcat by the creek. We took the high ground & could hear it hissing down below, not sure at what. It's mostly dry, but nice trail to get outdoors on.

★ ★ ★ ★