Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains, bordered by U.S. 101 and the Pacific Coast Highway, offer many cultural and scenic resources.

The 154,000-acre recreation area, situated north of Los Angeles, contains steep cliffs, rolling hills, stream-cut canyons, shady oak groves, meadows, waterfalls, valleys, sand beaches and lagoons.

Recreational activities include birdwatching, hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountain biking, fishing, horseback riding, nature walks and picnic areas. Features include a 36-mile kayak route along the Malibu shoreline.

The more than 550 miles of trails in 75,000 acres of public parkland are primarily multi-use, suitable for hiking, horseback riding and biking, although some trails are environmentally sensitive and allow only hiking.

The National Park Service operates a campground, Circle X Ranch, and camping is also available at state parks nearby.