Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area - Backbone Trail For Beginners (U.S. National Park Service)

Are you ready to start hiking the Backbone Trail (BBT), but don’t know exactly where/how to start? Here are some tips and considerations to help you get started in finding your way.

Maps and Information

The National Park Visitor Center in Thousand Oaks has many of the tools you will need. The rangers on duty can answer questions. The NPS website also has information you can download that is specific to the Backbone Trail.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area map and brochure shows roads and parking throughout the area. The Backbone Trail map shows roads, trail heads, water, and bathrooms along the Trail. It also shows which areas of the trail are open for mountain bikers and which areas of the trail you can have your dog with you. Both of these are free maps. For detailed topographic information, purchase either Harrison maps (Pt.Mugu, Zuma-Trancas, Malibu Creek, and Topanga) or the Trails Illustrated Santa Monica Mountains Map.

For hikers with GPS units, the Backbone Trail GPS coordinates list shows the coordinates for trail intersections on the Backbone Trail.

To help you find the trailhead locations in the Santa Monica Mountains, get a copy of SAMO mile markers.

Trail Safety

Of course, you are responsible for your safety on the trail. Know what poison oak looks like. Wear layered clothing and well broken in hiking shoes. Hike with someone or let someone know where you will be hiking. Take a first aid kit, sufficient food and water, good topographic maps and a cell phone (remember that cell phone coverage in the mountains may be spotty at best).

Camping on the Backbone Trail

Trail camps are planned for the future but have not been built yet. Right now, there is only one trailside campground on the Backbone Trail. That is Musch Camp at Topanga State Park. You may be able to make arrangements to camp at two campgrounds that are near the trail: Danielson Ranch (contact Pt. Mugu State Park) or Circle X Ranch (contact NPS). A campground within walking distance of a portion of the trail is Malibu Creek State Park in Malibu Canyon.

Hiking the Trail

You can view a suggested grouping of the hikes on the Backbone Trail going from western end (Point Mugu State Park) to the eastern end (Will Rogers State Historic Park) along with mileage and some trail info by clicking here. Usually it’s best to meet at the end point of the hike and carpool to the beginning trailhead. At the conclusion, drive the carpool drivers back to their cars. Allow half hour per mile plus time for lunches, rest stops and carpooling back to the trailhead parking in your calculations.