santa monica mountains national recreation area

Great easy hiking, went with my grand children. You can walk, bike even horse back. You can even hike from the trail head on Lynn Road @ Wendy to Sycamore beach. It is up and over the mountain. Need to plan the trip and have someone pick you up on the beach side. Email the park service for info

First time to the SM Mountains, been meaning to go for a LONG time. Beautiful and super bright green on this beautiful early February day. Went in through the Ranco Sierra Vista/Satwiwa entrance. Great little hike to the waterfall (trickle this time of year but hey - its water!). Hiked up the falls into the the hillside and "got lost" for a while up there. Back down and out again to complete a meandering walk through rolling sloes and open grass fields - beautiful! Easy for dogs and kids for a couple of hours walk. Will be exploring more or the parks in time, looks like there's plenty to explore!

I love nature and our national park services, so while in LA we took the a day trip to the mountains. The kids got to explore and be junior rangers. Such a beautiful area to see!

took a drive on PCH and had a beautiful time sight seeing and checking out the beach and the mouton ranges

For those from all over Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, this is the place where both the National Park Service and the California States Parks own land for public recreation. The Mountain Range is in both Counties and mainly the recreation is in the form of camping, day use and extensive well maintained hiking trails. It overlooks Malibu and the beaches along Pacific Coast Highway, an area know worldwide leading to the Palisades and Santa Monia.

You only have to walk an easy 4 or 5 miles round trip into the Santa Monica Mountains to see where MASH was filmed - including those distinctive peaks shown at the start of every episode as the helicopter circles in and lands. The helpful, well informed staff at the Visitors' Center / King Gillette Ranch recommended the route and sold us a useful $3 map. Starting from Mullholland Drive just west of Las Virgenes, the scenery along the trails (Grasslands, High Road, Crags Road) was straight out of old Hollywood westerns. It's easy to imagine outlaws galloping from behind the California oaks to rob the stage coach. When we rounded the final corner to the MASH site, the presence of a rusted Army ambulance confirmed we'd arrived. There are a few other artifacts, and laminated paper signs (in need of replacement) that enable you to match up landmarks around you with scenes from the show. There's also a picnic structure draped with camouflage netting for a touch of humor. Great fun to see the actual site, after seeing it so many times on TV!If you start at the parking lot near the east end of the High Road trail, you'll save a mile but have to pay $12 to park.

We had a great time biking from the mountains to the sea in Sycamore Canyon. It was a beautiful ride, though you can still see quite a bit of fire damage. We biked to the beach, had a picnic by the sea and decided to add in a difficult side trip on our return loop through the park. "Hell Hill," as it is commonly known, was quite a doozy, but doable if you are an advanced biker.Check out our posts for awesome photos and tips, enjoy!!http://mrandmrsadventure.com/2014/11/12/conquering-hell-hill-biking-from-the-mountains-to-the-sea-sycamore-canyon/

Great escape to great hiking. Hike to the "waterfall" or to the ocean (8miles). I've seen everything from deer and bunnies to coyotes and rattle snakes on hikes here. Great mountain biking. Usually see people but many moments of blissful solitude

Includes ability to climb up Mt Boney and 10 mile trail from Newbury Park to Beach and Pacific Ocean

There are a few agencies that come together and preserve a vast amount of land in these mountains. The National Park visitor center is a great resource for hiking, etc. We stopped there and the ranger was extremely helpful. We did some hikes while there last year and a few more this year. The mountains are great and the overall area is so relaxing and close to the beahpch or valley.

me and my friend are constantly hiking running or biking in the Santa Monica mountains and love it weather you want a pro level bike ride or a ten minute jog you can do it all in the Santa Monica mountains. If you want shade there is shade in the valley or sun up on top. Its not very popular so there aren't many people if you like serenity but enough that if you get hurt on the trails you will be found.

You can hike continuously from La Jolla Meadows above the NAS firing range to Hollywood. Abundant flora and fauna including coyotes, mule deer, mountain lions, chaparral and riparian plants. Escondido Falls, Mt. Boney, Danielson settlers cabin and ranch, Chumash museum, up to 3,333 feet.

You wouldn't know that you're next to the LA metro area when you come into these mountains. We came on Christmas Day and King Gillette visitor center was closed. That meant a drive to the nearest McD's for restroom facilities. So, remember to call ahead if you're planning to visit on a major holiday, just in case. It's open most holidays but better be safe.Even though I didn't visit even half the area, I'm giving it a top rating because I happen to be in Paramount Ranch right when a Ranger was patrolling. Though he didn't have to, he gave all of us who were there a tour of the place, explaining the history and landscape. And he did it better than any of the talking heads that nearby Hollywood can roll out. If you happen to meet a Ranger named Todd Young (or something like that) during your visit, you're in luck. I also met a spritely 90 year old lady who grew up in the area. As a teen, she met Clark Gable weekly and attended high school with Jane Russell. Timing is everything.Climbing the fire road at Liberty Canyon, I got a good view of some of the mountain range and the tranquility belies it's proximity to urban SoCal. And I didn't have to pay admission.

The Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center is fabulous.It is located just off o Las Virgines Road on Mulholland Hwy. It gives an great overview of the recreational area and is a good place to get information on the wide variety of places to visit! The displays are well done and the the staff is helpful.

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a huge area that protects the rare Mediterranean environment and offers a multitude of recreational activates from hiking, camping, swimming, surfing, motoring and much more just northwest of LA. Composed many public lands and some private lands encompassing well know and lesser know parks, valleys, beaches and roads, many used for filming familiar movies and shows. Highlights include Paramount Ranch (Dr. Quinn and many films), Malibu State Park (M*A*S*H, Planet of the Apes), King Gillette Ranch (The Biggest Loser), the famous Mulholland Drive and the famous Hollywood Sign (although we much preferred touring along the Mulholland Highway), Topanga State Park, Runyon Canyon Park, Santa Monica Beach & Pier, Topanga Beach, Malibu area and Zuma Beach. There is much more and if one is spending any time in LA, one should spend at least a day exploring and enjoying the area and visiting one of the famous beaches. We would recommend stopping by the Interagency Visitor Center next to King Gillette Ranch to see the exhibits, introductory movie and help with planning your visit including current programs and events.