• Afternoon clouds cover the distance peaks of the iconic Boney Mountain

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

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  • Partial Park Closure Due to Hazardous Conditions

    Rancho Sierra Vista/Satwiwa re-opens 5/14/13, with restrictions (sunrise to sunset, not all trails). Sandstone Peak & Mishe Mokwa trails will also open, as will Backbone Trail east of Point Mugu State Park boundary. Point Mugu backcountry remains closed. More »

  • Trucks on Cheeseboro Canyon Trail

    Occasional truck traffic (approx 6 trips per day) will take place on Cheeseboro Cyn Trail weekdays between 8am & 4pm for demolition and removal of Cheeseboro Tank. Should be completed by 5/24/13. Check back for updates or call 818-889-8996. More »

Coastal Sage Scrub

In the Santa Monica Mountains, coastal sage srub occurs on drier sites and lower elevations than chaparral, especially on coastal south-facing slopes. Coastal sage scrub is also common in inland areas of the Simi Hills within the park boundary. Often occurring in recently eroded areas, this community plays an important role in soil stabilization. Many of its characteristic plants produce soil-holding, fiberous shallow roots. Soils underlying coastal sage scrub tend to be low in nutrients and subject to rapid erosion.

The coastal sage scrub community has been referred to "chaparral" since soft-leaved, grayish green, aromatic shrubs characterize the widely spaced vegetation. Characteristic plants include purple sage (Salvia leucophylla), California sagebrush (Artemesia californica), coast goldenbush (Haplopappus venetus), coastal buckwheat (Eriogonum cinereum), laurel sumac (Malosma laurina), and lemonadebery (Rhus integrifolia).

Many species in this community, particularly the sages, are summer or drought deciduous, dropping larger leaves during mid-summer to conserve moisture.

Good examples of coastal sage scrub can be found at the mouth of Zuma Canyon and in coastal Point Mugu State Park.

Did You Know?

Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margo Feurer were instrumental in the movement to create a national recreation area near Los Angeles.

Four state parks were the triumph of a grassroots movement to protect open spaces minutes from Los Angeles in the 1950s & 60s. Three women, Sue Nelson, Jill Swift, and Margo Feuer further galvanized the movement that helped make Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area a reality in 1978.