Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area ⓘ

In the 1700s Spain feared England and Russia would colonize Alta (upper) California, so they made an effort to establish a permanent settlement first.

In order to protect its interest in North America and to continue the chain of missions started in Baja California, King Carlos III of Spain set up the Sacred Expedition. The idea was to turn the Native Americans into civilized gente de razon (people of reason) and to take advantage of the labor they could provide in building missions and tending the land. The mission period lasted over 50 years. They were set up as self-sustaining mini-cities that could provide food and supplies for everyone who lived in the mission as well as the presidios and nearby pueblos. The padres choosing the mission sites found the best lands for cattle and sheep grazing; growing crops like wheat and vegetables; planting fruit orchards, and vineyards. This valuable land was envied by settlers who did not belong to the Spaniard military and was a major cause for the Mexican Independence Revolution and the Secularization Act.

Ranchos were large sections of land used to raise cattle and sheep and in the beginning were not available for purchase because the land, roads, and trails belonged to the King of Spain. The king let Spanish soldiers and Mexican settlers "borrow" the land so that foreigners would be discouraged from trying to make their own colonies. At first many people had to be persuaded to move to Alta (upper) California because it was so desolate. The king offered retiring soldiers 2,000 head of cattle and free supplies for the first two years if they would leave the comfort of their homes in Mexico and take up permanent residence in Alta California. Residents of Mexico including African Americans and Indians were also allowed to go to Alta California to live near the pueblos.

The first land grants for ranchos were given during the mission period, but after the missions closed down many more ranchos were established throughout California and the landscape changed forever. The Spaniard rancheros (ranchers) brought sheep, cattle, horses, wheat, and other foods not found in California or America. Think of how different the dinner table might be without some of these staples we know and love.

Present day Topanga, Agoura Hills, Malibu, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, and many other areas of southern California were once cherished for their wild grass and fresh water areas that sustained the livestock.

On May 20, 1862 President Abraham Lincoln passed the Homestead Act. This law allowed any U.S. citizen, or future citizen, to apply for and lay claim to 160 acres of surveyed government land. First, they had to file an application, pay a small fee, improve the land, and file for the deed of title. In the first five years, the homesteader had to live on the land and make improvements by building a 12 by 14 dwelling and by growing crops. When the five years was up they had to show proof of the improvements and could then file for the land patent (now called deed of title).

This act brought more Mexicans to the Santa Monica Mountain area. Many families had already moved to the area when travelers brought news back to Mexico of how well the Missions and their cattle were doing due to the large pasture areas, fresh drinking water, and fertile soil. Spaniard colonists had been struggling to raise their cattle on the rocky landscape of Mexico, which brought the initial wave of people to the Santa Monica Mountains area. It also brought many other people from various cultural backgrounds and provided a polyglot mixture of homesteaders during this time.

Since 1771 California had belonged to Spain and then in 1822 Mexico overthrew their Spaniard control and California became property of Mexico. In 1848 California became part of the United States with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Although many of the Mexican homesteaders and rancho owners moved away from their lands into other parts of California or the United States, they left behind a strong cultural heritage that can be seen from San Diego to San Francisco.

The landscape of the Santa Monica Mountains was not just created by geological forces, altered by weather, or covered by vegetation, but shaped by the people who lived and worked here.

People came to this area for many reasons. Initially, the Chumash and Tongva called the Santa Monica Mountains home. Then Spanish Explorers passed through these lands, followed by Rancheros and Homesteaders who worked the land they lived on. Still today, people work, travel, and recreate in the Santa Monica Mountains and call this place their home.

There are places that still remain from our past. Places we can touch and feel. Paramount Ranch , Solstice Canyon , and Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa . All places that you can visit. Places that most importantly, create an emotional and intellectual connection to our past.

As a park, we look deep into the past through archeology and historical research. Investigating what people left behind. Into their past and the collections that tell the day to day story of their lives. From photographs to letters to even the things they threw away; everything tells a part of the story we share.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area strives to ensure the preservation of these collections, places, and stories of the people who impacted the landscape forever.

Located adjacent to the city of Los Angeles, the second largest urban area in the United States, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area protects one of the largest and most significant examples of Mediterranean-type ecosystems in the world. The climate of the Mediterranean ecosystem, characterized by wet winters and warm, dry summers, along with the diverse topography in the Santa Monica Mountains has created a landscape filled with unique natural resources.

The Santa Monica Mountains are part of the east-west trending Transverse Ranges of Southern California. The range is geologically complex and characterized by steep, rugged mountain slopes and canyons. Elevations range from sea level to more than 3,000 feet. The Santa Monica Mountains are adjacent to 46 miles of scenic California coastline with sandy beaches and rocky tide pools and lagoons.

There is tremendous ecological diversity within the Santa Monica Mountains. The mountains are home to over 1,000 plant species making up 26 distinct natural communities, from freshwater aquatic habitats and two of the last salt marshes on the Pacific Coast, to oak woodlands , valley oak savannas , coastal sage , and chaparral . Numerous mammals are found in the Santa Monica Mountains, including bobcats , coyotes , and mountain lions . Nearly 400 species of birds have been observed and another 35 species of reptiles and amphibians can also be found in the mountains. The Santa Monica Mountains are home to more than 50 threatened or endangered plants and animals - among the highest concentrations of such rare species in the United States.

In the Santa Monica Mountains, coastal sage scrub 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.

Over 45 mammal species can be found in the Santa Monica Mountains, and they range in size from shrews, which weigh less than one ounce, to mountain lions weighing up to 150lbs. However most of these are smaller mammals such as squirrels, gophers, mice, rats, rabbits, and insectivores such as bats , shrews, and moles. Although some of these small mammal species are considered pests by some people, they are actually an important part of the natural ecosystem. They eat insects, till soil, and disperse seeds. They are also a food source for many other inhabitants of the Santa Monica Mountains including mammalian carnivores, reptiles , and raptors (birds of prey).

Mammals, like other animals, generally occupy a defined area of habitat, termed a home range, where they will acquire food, find shelter, and locate mates. Territorial animals such as some carnivores will defend their home range, or at least part of it, and attempt to exclude other members of the same species and sex.

As urban development continues within and around the Santa Monica Mountains, fragmentation of the natural habitat poses one of the greatest threats to mammals. It makes it harder for them to find suitable home ranges, and it creates barriers between populations and individuals.

Biologists at Santa Monica Mountains NRA have been working to understand how some animals interact with and are affected by urbanization and fragmentation. We have studied small mammal abundance and diversity in habitat fragments of varying sizes, as well as their exposure to toxicants in urban areas. We have also worked in conjunction with Caltrans to study the effects of local freeways on some animals, particularly larger mammals. Freeways such as 101, 405, and 23 can be a barrier to movement and a source of mortality for many species.

Since 1996 the National Park Service has been studying mammalian carnivores in and around the Santa Monica Mountains and Simi Hills. We have studied mountain lions , bobcats , gray foxes, mule deer and coyotes using radio and GPS telemetry collars, remote cameras, and scat (animal feces) surveys. During this time we have captured and ear tagged or collared over 290 bobcats, 130 coyotes, 29 gray foxes, and 22 mountain lions. The goals of these studies are to look at the affects of urbanization and habitat fragmentation on the distribution, abundance, behavior, and survival of these species. Urbanization can impose many new obstacles and challenges on wildlife, especially for animals with large food and space requirements such as mammalian carnivores. Specifically we have looked at issues such as habitat loss, movement barriers such as roadways and high density urban development, and sources of mortality.

About the Backbone Trail You will see how many public and private agencies, organizations and individuals have joined together to create Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in general and the Backbone Trail which has been designated as a National Recreation Trail. As individuals you can help support the park in many ways. You can share your knowledge by telling others about the parks and events. You can increase your knowledge by attending programs and lectures listed in our calendar . You can contribute your time by becoming a State or National Park Service volunteer . You can help maintain the Backbone Trail and other trails by volunteering for trail projects with various partner organizations.

As hikers on this trail you will enjoy the Mediterranean ecosystem, found only in five places in the world, experiencing its many unique plant and animal communities. By being able to escape from city life, you enjoy the health benefits of hiking and learning a lot about our own unique area. You will also learn some history of the area through the trail as you travel through Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, Oak Woodlands, Meadows, and Streamside areas. If you have read through the Backbone Trail (BBT) information and still have questions, contact us .

Hola, my name is Jazmín Ortega and I live in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Although I've lived here many years, I didn't know about the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area until I hiked to Sandstone Peak about 10 years ago. All this national park land all around me and I didn't even know about it. Wouldn't it be great if more people experienced the outdoors? In 2017 I saw a post by Latino Outdoors, inviting us to hike the Backbone Trail, the premier hiking trail in the Santa Monica Mountains. I was thrilled to be selected to be part of this group that hiked eight segments of the backbone trail with park rangers and volunteers. If you're interested in hiking the Backbone Trail, I highly recommend it, but being prepared is key. That's why the National Park Service is coming out with a series of videos for folks interested in hiking a segment of the trail or all 67 miles of it from Point Mugu to Will Rogers State Historic Park. The series will cover logistical issues and what to bring, and break down the eight segments of the trail that you can follow, along with valuable insights from park rangers on natural and cultural resources along the way. I hope you can check it out, see you on the trails.

Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details Duration: 2 minutes, 27 seconds Ready for an adventure? As you know, some paths in life are better taken in dirt so come along with us as we hike the 67-mile-long Backbone Trail in the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains. Each week the video series, broken up into eight segments and hosted by longtime volunteer Ralph Waycott, will introduce you to LA’s premier hike. Share your questions, trail experiences, tips or thoughts about this video series with us by emailing samo_interpretation@nps.gov.

Full text displayed on the infographic here: Welcome to the Backbone Trail! Look west from Los Angeles you’ll see not just the Santa Monica Mountains, but also the gateway to one of America’s premier long-distance trails. Stretching 67 miles, the Backbone Trail invites nearby residents to explore surprisingly accessible nature. What can I do? Of the trail’s 67 miles: Hikers can access all 67, Mountain bikers 43, Equestrians 67 Other activities: Rock climbing, Birding, Picnicking, Photography Trail running Why Should I Visit? The Backbone crosses the best-protected stretch of coastal Mediterranean habitat in the world and offers an amazing diversity of trail experiences. You’ll experience deep wooded canyons, rocky outcrop spires, ocean vistas that include the Channel islands, and sweeping inland views to the San Gabriel Mountains and downtown LA. Dogs Dogs are welcomed on National Park Service trails, as long as they are leashed and under control. Camping There are only a few campgrounds on and near the Background Trail. We recommend day hiking in section rather than attempting a multi-day backpacking trip. What will I see? Plants: Coastal sage scrub, chaparral, riparian woodlands, freshwater marshes, oak woodlands, and oak savannas Wildlife: Coyote, mule deer, red-tailed hawks, turkey vulture, California quail, California towhee, scrub jays, western fence lizards, Pacific rattlesnakes, and king snakes Where should I go? Ocean Views: Ray Miller Trail at Point Mugu State Park Summit Ascent: Sandstone Peak at Circle X Ranch Awesome Rock Formations: Castro Crest at Malibu Creek, State Park and Upper Solstice Canyon Hollywood History and Easy Access: Inspiration Point at Will Rogers State Historic Park For more information, visit: www.nps.gov/samo

You may have noticed that Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area doesn’t look like most national parks. Think of this place as a patchwork of many small parks, with lots of partners committed to protecting these mountains and beaches for the public to enjoy. Regardless of park boundaries, there are opportunities for recreation, exploration, relaxation, and inspiration for everyone. Not sure where to go first? Stop by one of our visitor centers or check out the Things to Do section of our website to find an activity that meets your interest. Need more information where trails are, how to get there, and if you can take your dog, bike, or horse? Visit Trails.LACounty.gov for detailed information on trails throughout Los Angeles County.

National Park Service Arroyo Sequit Cheeseboro and Palo Camado Canyons Circle X Ranch Franklin Canyon Park King Gillette Ranch Paramount Ranch Peter Strauss Ranch Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa Rocky Oaks Solstice Canyon Visitor Center (Interagency) Zuma and Trancas Canyons

Drive along the scenic Pacific Coast Highway to Mugu Rock, part of Point Mugu State Park.

California State Parks Malibu Creek State Park Leo Carrillo State Park Point Dume State Reserve Point Mugu State Park R. H. Meyer Memorial State Beaches Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook Malibu Lagoon State Beach Topanga State Park Will Rogers State Historic Park

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Corral Canyon Park Franklin Canyon Park LA River Center & Gardens Malibu Bluffs Open Space Marvin Braude Mulholland Gateway Park San Vicente Mountain Park Temescal Gateway Park Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve City of Los Angeles