Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains offer a variety of adventures and opportunities to escape the rigors of everyday life. Sharing trail adventures can be bonding experience for everyone in the group.

Events that may require a Permit:
    •    Groups with more than 15 members
    •    Events which involve staging support personnel along the route
    •    Events which charge a fee for participation

Planning and Scheduling Group Trail Use:
Explore a variety of trails and select the one that matches the experience level of the group members, and is appropriate for the activity and method of travel. Not all trails are open to mountain bicycles or equestrians. The maximum allowable speed on trails is 15 miles per hour. Motorized travel is not permitted on National Park Service trails. Racing is not compatible with appreciation of park resources.
The trail system in the Santa Monica Mountains includes trails on lands administered by the National Park Service, the California Department of Parks and Recreation, Los Angeles County, Ventura County, and public easements on private lands. It is your responsibility to contact the appropriate agency for the trails you wish to use for your activity. Remember that the National Park Service does not allow access to its trail from private lands.
Have alternative plans or routes in case of trail closures (rain, fire, landslides, etc.)
Contact our office at 805-370-1854 as far in advance as possible to avoid schedule conflicts.

Costs:
Costs very according to the complexity of the event. Factors include the number of people involved, trail preparation or route marking, staging of support personnel along the route, and need for coordination with other trail users. You can get a rough estimate of the costs by describing the event to our staff. Exact costs will be calculated based on your application. Modifications to your plans may impact the permit costs.
When you submit your written application, you will make a non-refundable deposit. The balance is due when you sign the permit. If any additional costs are incurred or if you fail to complete clean up after the event, you will be billed at the conclusion of the event.

How to reserve a site and date:
First, select the trail and route which meet your needs. (Remember, some routes will involve more than one park management agency.) Then call our office at 805-370-2308 to see if the trail is available on that date. If it is, we will send you the application and hold the date for 10 working days to allow you to complete the application and send it to us. You must include a map of the entire route of the event with your application. If the application and deposit are not returned within ten days, the date is released. You are responsible for arranging for permits from each agency or land owner along your route.

Based on the information in your application, we will write the permit and calculate the permit costs. If your event involves trails on other public lands or trail easements, you must also submit evidence of permission to use those trails for your event. You will have two weeks to review and sign the permit, and return it along with the balance of the permit costs. Once we have received the signed permit, we will return your approved copy.
Approximately two weeks before the actual event, you should contact our office at 805-370-1854 for an update on trail conditions and a review of your plans. If you have made modifications in your event plans, we will review the permit and the cost calculation and make any needed adjustments.
If you need to cancel the event, you must do so in writing at least a week in advance. Site use costs are refundable, minus the cost of processing the refund. Weather adjustments are decided on a case by case basis.

Other Requirements:
You will be required to show proof of liability insurance from you own insurance company. The amount, like the cost, is related to the complexity of the event. If the event is sponsored by an organization, the organization must provide the insurance. We will provide you with information to show your insurance agent.
You are expected to provide the people to make your event run smoothly without interfering with other park visitors.
You are responsible for providing trail users with a clear route.

     At trail intersections you must coordinate traffict to accommodate other trail users.

     You must be prepared to handle injuries and trail emergencies for the people in your group.

     You are responsible for packing out trash and removing all evidence of your group's use of the trail.

      You may also need someone to help people park efficiently at the trailhead. It may be necessary to park off-site and shuttle people to the trailhead, or provide return transportation at the conclusion of a one-way event.
Depending on the complexity of your event, we will assign a monitor to certain aspects of your event. Monitoring may be done by NPS staff or trail volunteers.

Trail Use Conditions:

    •    No racing or competition. Speed limit of 15 miles per hour is strictly enforced.

    •    Route marking may not involve chalk, or other material applied to the ground.

    •    Trails are not closed to other trail users during events.

    •    Trails are closed to motorized vehicles at all times.

    •    NPS reserves the right to close trails to protect resources or public safety.

    •    Get an update on current trail conditions.