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

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

Group Hikes on the Backbone Trail

Hikers can view the colorful cliffs that make up Circle X Ranch from the Backbone Trail.

Photo by Jim Belsley

Hikers can view the colorful cliffs that make up Circle X Ranch from the Backbone Trail.

Several organizations offer hikes on the Backbone Trail. Many of the hikes are listed in Outdoors, the quarterly calendar of events in the mountains.

The Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council offers a one week hike of the trail with overnight camping. This usually occurs in May. See their website (smmtc.org) for information.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (NPS) offers the opportunity to hike the trail each year in a series of 8 day hikes from January to April. The hikes are led by experienced BBT leaders, with assistance from park rangers and volunteers. They share the natural and cultural history of the area with hikers during the hike. Sign-ups are taken on November 1. (Note: The NPS Backbone Trail Group Hike for 2012 is now full.) Hikers should be in good physical condition to sign up for these 7 to 12 mile hikes.

Did You Know?

Charlie Cooke, hereditary Chief of the Chumash played an important role in making sure 85 acres remained open space.

On June 13, 1980, Charlie Cooke, hereditary Chief of the Chumash and concerned citizens fulfilled a dream-- a place for families to explore our natural world and learn about the Chumash. Satwiwa in Newbury Park, CA celebrates the beauty of the mountains and all Native American cultures.