Sunbeams reaching from glowing sun over the ocean.
Point Mugu Sunset NPS

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

National Recreation Area · California · National Park Service

The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers. What will you and your family discover?

Plan your visit

Trails & hiking

Biking · Mountain Biking · Hiking · Horseback Riding

Camping

Camping

Site types & reservations: see the official site.

Know before you go

Phone
8053702301
Official site
www.nps.gov
Managed by
National Park Service

Getting there

Directions on Google Maps →

Things to do

Highlights: Archeology · Farming and Agriculture · Ranches · Schools and Education · Westward Expansion · Homesteading · Animals · Birds · Cats (wild) · Climate Change · Fire · Fossils and Paleontology · Geology · Mountains

Activities & features: Car or Front Country Camping · Climbing · Rock Climbing · Compass and GPS · Geocaching · Front-Country Hiking · Horse Trekking · Junior Ranger Program · Shopping · Bookstore and Park Store

Photos

  • Trail view with yellow flowers in the foreground that lead to green mountains against a blue sky.
    NPS
  • Mountain silhouettes at sunrise.
    NPS
  • Wispy cloud covered sky over chaparral covered mountains.
    NPS
  • People riding horses into the sunset on a mountain trail.
    NPS
  • Rocks emerging from ocean.
    NPS
  • Two individuals sitting atop a rocky outcrop while watching the sun set.
    NPS
  • Milky way shines in night sky over a mountain and oak tree.
    NPS

Nearby parks

Parks of California

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Coe State ParkLeucadia State BeachLos Osos Oaks State Natural ReserveBethany Reservoir State Recreation AreaJulia Pfeiffer Burns State ParkZmudowski State BeachTahoe State Recreation AreaWashoe Meadows State ParkNavarro River Redwoods State ParkStandish-Hickey State Recreation AreaLos Angeles State Historic ParkSonoma Coast State ParkLittle River State BeachEstero Bluffs State ParkMalibu Creek State ParkWassama Round House State Historic ParkDeath Valley National ParkKenneth Hahn State Recreation AreaBodie State Historic ParkLake Del Valle State Recreation AreaOld Town San Diego State Historic ParkFort Ord Dunes State ParkSalinas River State BeachBidwell-Sacramento River State ParkGolden Gate National Recreation AreaSalton Sea State Recreation AreaAnza-Borrego Desert State ParkCandlestick Point State Recreation AreaSaddleback Butte State ParkHollister Hills State Vehicular Recreation AreaBenicia Capitol State Historic ParkGreat Valley Grasslands State ParkLava Beds National MonumentHumboldt Redwoods State ParkCaspar Headlands State Natural ReserveGarrapata State ParkPacifica State BeachSanta Susana Pass State Historic ParkHearst San Simeon State ParkWildwood Canyon State ParkGray Whale Cove State BeachPelican State BeachCorona del Mar State BeachWoodson Bridge State Recreation AreaMontara State BeachWhiskeytown National Recreation AreaMonterey State Historic ParkAntelope Valley California Poppy Reserve State Natural ReservePicacho State Recreation AreaBidwell Mansion State Historic ParkAsilomar State BeachRussian Gulch State ParkSequoia & Kings Canyon National ParksBenbow State Recreation AreaAndrew Molera State ParkHalf Moon Bay State BeachPlumas-Eureka State ParkLake Valley State Recreation AreaCastle Mountains National MonumentBenicia State Recreation AreaCarlsbad State BeachJoshua Tree National ParkSugarloaf Ridge State ParkTorrey Pines State Natural ReserveJohn B. Dewitt Redwoods State Natural ReserveWilliam B. Ide Adobe State Historic ParkAntelope Valley Indian Museum State Historic ParkCabrillo National MonumentPlacerita Canyon State ParkFremont Peak State ParkRosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical ParkTrione-Annadel State ParkSue-meg State ParkFolsom Powerhouse State Historic ParkOlompali State Historic ParkSutter's Fort State Historic ParkPoint Sal State BeachPinnacles National ParkLa Purísima Mission State Historic ParkSanta Cruz Mission State Historic ParkSanta Monica State BeachPony Express National Historic TrailBorder Field State ParkMorro Strand State BeachBale Grist Mill State Historic ParkMorro Bay State ParkSilverwood Lake State Recreation AreaCardiff State BeachMarconi Conference Center State Historic ParkMono Lake Tufa State Natural ReserveMalakoff Diggins State Historic ParkDonner Memorial State ParkProvidence Mountains State Recreation AreaPigeon Point Light Station State Historic ParkCésar E. Chávez National MonumentWill Rogers State Historic ParkCaswell Memorial State ParkAuburn State Recreation AreaSan Juan Bautista State Historic ParkMojave National PreserveTomales Bay State ParkPoint Sur State Historic ParkDockweiler State BeachSan Elijo State BeachHeber Dunes State Vehicular Recreation AreaEl Capitán State BeachPalomar Mountain State ParkTorrey Pines State BeachFort Tejon State Historic ParkFolsom Lake State Recreation AreaVan Damme State ParkDel Norte Coast Redwoods State ParkPomponio State BeachAhjumawi Lava Springs State ParkMailliard Redwoods State Natural ReserveSan Luis Reservoir State Recreation AreaD. L. Bliss State ParkPoint Mugu State ParkLighthouse Field State BeachTurlock Lake State Recreation AreaRichardson Grove State ParkWill Rogers State BeachTolowa Dunes State ParkLeo Carrillo State ParkState Indian Museum State Historic ParkPoint Cabrillo Light Station State Historic ParkHumboldt Lagoons State ParkCastle Rock State ParkCuyamaca Rancho State ParkRedwood National and State ParksMarina State BeachSan Francisco Maritime National Historical ParkPoint Reyes National SeashoreIshxenta State ParkTopanga State ParkGrover Hot Springs State ParkPoint Dume State BeachJug Handle State Natural ReserveSchooner Gulch State BeachHungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation AreaAnderson Marsh State Historic ParkEd Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State ParkOnyx Ranch State Vehicular Recreation AreaCaspar Headlands State BeachCrystal Cove State ParkHarmony Headlands State ParkMount Tamalpais State ParkPetaluma Adobe State Historic ParkPrairie Creek Redwoods State ParkSilver Strand State BeachFort Ross State Historic ParkCarpinteria State BeachMoss Landing State BeachOcotillo Wells State Vehicular Recreation AreaPoint Lobos State Natural ReserveSonoma State Historic ParkThe Forest of Nisene Marks State ParkSan Gregorio State BeachAño Nuevo State ParkHearst San Simeon State Historical MonumentJohn Muir National Historic SiteSeacliff State BeachJack London State Historic ParkPrairie City State Vehicular Recreation AreaSouth Carlsbad State BeachGeorge J. Hatfield State Recreation AreaWeaverville Joss House State Historic ParkIndian Grinding Rock State Historic ParkAngel Island State ParkMount San Jacinto State ParkRailtown 1897 State Historic ParkBrannan Island State Recreation AreaRed Rock Canyon State ParkCayucos State BeachEmerald Bay State ParkLake Oroville State Recreation AreaMcGrath State BeachMarsh Creek State ParkGrizzly Creek Redwoods State ParkClay Pit State Vehicular Recreation AreaLake Perris State Recreation AreaManresa State BeachAlcatraz IslandWestport-Union Landing State BeachEmpire Mine State Historic ParkSan Bruno Mountain State ParkSalt Point State ParkTrinidad State BeachLeland Stanford Mansion State Historic ParkPío Pico State Historic ParkPortola Redwoods State ParkDoheny State BeachPacheco State ParkMonterey State BeachHenry Cowell Redwoods State ParkChino Hills State ParkMcArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State ParkCalifornia National Historic TrailNew Brighton State BeachTwin Lakes State BeachColonel Allensworth State Historic ParkYosemite National ParkLassen Volcanic National ParkBean Hollow State BeachFort Point National Historic SiteKings Beach State Recreation AreaSmithe Redwoods State Natural ReserveTule Lake National MonumentRefugio State BeachMendocino Headlands State ParkManzanar National Historic SiteSan Pasqual Battlefield State Historic ParkOceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation AreaFort Humboldt State Historic ParkMontaña de Oro State ParkChina Camp State ParkAustin Creek State Recreation AreaButano State ParkCalifornia Citrus State Historic ParkSan Onofre State BeachCalaveras Big Trees State ParkCarnegie State Vehicular Recreation AreaDevils Postpile National MonumentKruse Rhododendron State Natural ReserveMontgomery Woods State Natural ReserveHuntington State BeachChannel Islands National ParkPort Chicago Naval Magazine National MemorialBothe-Napa Valley State ParkChumash Painted Cave State Historic ParkNatural Bridges State BeachTule Elk State Natural ReserveWilder Ranch State ParkMcConnell State Recreation AreaMarshall Gold Discovery State Historic ParkShasta State Historic ParkSinkyone Wilderness State ParkArmstrong Redwoods State Natural ReservePresidio of San FranciscoPescadero State BeachMoonlight State BeachColumbia State Historic ParkLimekiln State ParkBolsa Chica State BeachClear Lake State ParkSunset State BeachSouth Yuba River State ParkSamuel P. Taylor State ParkMillerton Lake State Recreation AreaSan Clemente State BeachGaviota State ParkPismo State BeachRobert W. Crown Memorial State BeachArthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland State ParkAzalea State Natural ReserveEugene O'Neill National Historic SiteJedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkRobert H. Meyer Memorial State BeachGreenwood State BeachMendocino Woodlands State ParkPfeiffer Big Sur State ParkMalibu Lagoon State Beach

280 parks mapped in California

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Guides for the trip

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Sources: National Park Service, Google Places · updated 2026-08-12