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

    Santa Monica Mountains

    National Recreation Area California

There are park alerts in effect.
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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 »

Directions

Visitor Centers

Currently there are two visitor centers managed by the National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains.

Interagency Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch located in Calabasas, CA. Open from 9am - 5pm daily.

Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center
King Gillette Ranch, Calabasas, CA
Open from 9am - 5pm
7-days a week (closed some federal holidays)

Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center
Newbury Park, CA
Open from 9am - 5pm
Saturdays & Sundays

A fiew from the top of Boney Mountain looking northwest towards Ventura County and hills and valleys below.

Park Sites & Locations

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a complex network of park sites and locations. Many agencies manage many park sites.

For sites managed by the National Park Service visit the Park Sites & Locations page.

Other Partner Sites and Locations:

There are also many park partners managing parkland in the Santa Monica Mountains, check each center's website for hours, directions, and more information beyond what you find on this site.

A view out over the Pacific Ocean from Point Dume in Malibu, CA

For a listing of other agencies and park partners refer to
Our Partners page.

All photos on this page by NPS - A.Bevilacqua

Did You Know?

Backbone trail hikes lead to views of mountains, canyons, and the Pacific Ocean.

Piece by piece, a trail is forging its way along the "backbone" of the recreation area. California State Parks took the first step toward a 65-mile Backbone Trail in 1978. With 5 miles left to go, single track trails and fireroads will unite this patchwork of public parklands from east to west.