California National Parks
Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area
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Los
Angeles County & Ventura County
Rising above Los Angeles where the Santa Monica Mountains
reach their highest peaks when they meet the curve of the Santa Monica
Bay, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area contains a wide
variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. In addition to hiking,
mountain bicycling, and horseback riding, Santa Monica Mountains National
Recreation Area also offers bird watching, whale watching, swimming, and
surfing.
Directions:
ParkLINK Shuttle
Arroyo Sequit:
34138 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu. Pacific Coast Hwy to Mulholland Hwy. Turn
inland on Mulholland Hwy, 6 miles to park entrance on right side of road.
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Caballero Canyon:
Ventura Fwy (101) Exit Reseda Blvd; turn south. Lower trailhead: 1.9 miles
south, just past the fountains on left side. Upper trailhead: New Big Sky
Gateway Park. 3.1 miles south, at end of Reseda Blvd near dirt Mulholland.
California Department of Parks & Recreation Office:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Las Virgenes Rd. South on Las Virgenes Rd., 3 miles
to Mulholland Hwy intersection. Enter Malibu Creek State Park 0.25 mile
south of the intersection on Las Virgenes Rd./Malibu Canyon Rd. From
Pacific Coast Hwy, north on Malibu Canyon Rd. To Malibu Creek State Park
entrance.
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Castro Crest:
Pacific Coast Hwy to Corral Canyon Rd (Just west of Malibu Canyon Rd).
Follow Corral Canyon Rd to end, park in parking lot.
Charmlee Natural Area:
Pacific Coast Hwy, about 3 miles south of Ventura County line. Turn
inland on Encinal Canyon Rd, 4 miles to park entrance on left side of
road.
Cheeseboro Canyon/Palo Comado Canyon:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Chesebro Rd exit. Turn north on Palo Comado
Canyon Rd. then right on Chesebro Rd. North 1 mile to park entrance. Turn
right and follow road to parking lot.
Circle X Ranch:
Pacific Coast Hwy in Malibu to Yerba Buena Rd. Turn inland and drive
5.4 miles to Circle X entry. Follow signs to parking.
Cold Creek Canyon/Valley Preserve:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Topanga Canyon Blvd south to Mulholland Dr. Turn
west (right) 0.25 mile. At Mulholland Hwy, turn left. Drive about 5 miles
to Stunt Rd. Turn left and drive to preserve entrance on left. Parking
info given with required reservations to visit site.
Coldwater Canyon Park:
Ventura Fwy (101) to the Coldwater Canyon exit. South to intersection
of Mulholland Dr. Entrance is on east (left) side of intersection.
Franklin Canyon Ranch/Sooky Goldman Nature Center:
Sooky Goldman Nature Ctr/Upper Franklin Canyon: From Ventura Fwy
(101), drive 2.5 miles south on Coldwater Cyn Ave. At intersection with
Mulholland Dr. and Franklin Cyn Dr. (directly across from Coldwater Canyon
Park), turn right on Franklin Cyn Dr. Travel 0.5 mile and turn left at
sign for Wm. O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom. Park in lot on left next to
nature center. Note: To go to Franklin Cyn Ranch, continue south on the
reservoir road & Franklin Cyn Dr. Turn left on Lake Drive.
Franklin Canyon Ranch/Lower Franklin Canyon:
From Sunset Blvd., turn left at Beverly Dr. Continue on Beverly Dr. by
veering left at "to Coldwater Cyn Dr" sign and turn left (look for Beverly
Hills Fire Station #2) at intersection with Coldwater Cyn Dr. Turn right
on Franklin Cyn Dr. Drive 1 mile and turn right on Lake Dr. Park at main
lot at end of road. Note: To go to Upper Franklin Cyn, continue north on
Franklin Cyn Dr., past Lake Dr. Turn right at sign for Wm O. Douglas
Outdoor Classroom. Drive north to reach nature center.
Leo Carrillo State Park:
Pacific Coast Hwy at Ventura County Line.
Los Encinos State Historic Park:
Ventura Fwy (101) exit south on Balboa. Turn left on Moorpark St.
16756 Moorpark St, Encino.
Malibu Creek State Park:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Las Virgenes Rd. South on Las Virgenes Rd, 3
miles to Mulholland Hwy intersection (traffic light). Park entrance is
0.25 mile south of the intersection on Las Virgenes Rd /Malibu Canyon Rd.
From Pacific Coast Hwy, north on Malibu Canyon Rd to park entrance.
Malibu Lagoon State Beach:
Pacific Coast Hwy 0.25 mile west of Malibu Pier and 1.5 miles east of
Malibu Canyon Rd. Parking lot on ocean side of highway opposite Cross
Creek Road.
The National Park Service
Visitor Center:
401 West Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks, California. From Ventura
Freeway (U. S. Highway 101) to Lynn Rd turn north on Lynn road turn east
(right) on Hillcest Drive left onto McCloud Ave. First driveway on the
right.
From the 23 exit at the Thousand
Oaks Blvd/ Hillcrest Drive exit go west or right onto Hillcrest and turn
right onto McCloud.
Paramount Ranch:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Kanan Rd exit.
South on Kanan 0.75 mile. Left at sign reading "Cornell Way" and veer to
right. South 2.5 miles, entrance on right side of road.
Peter Strauss Ranch:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Kanan Rd exit.
South on Kanan Rd 2.8 miles. Left on Troutdale Rd to Mulholland Hwy. Left
on Mulholland Hwy then right under the arch into the parking lot. Walk
back across the bridge on Mulholland Hwy and enter main gate into the
ranch.
Point Dume State Beach:
From Los Angeles, take Pacific Coast Hwy
to Westward Beach Rd in Malibu, turn left, follow Westward Beach Rd to
parking lot.
Point Mugu State Park:
Pacific Coast Hwy, 4 miles west of
Ventura County line. Enter park at Sycamore Canyon Campground.
R. H. Meyer Memorial State
Beach:
Pacific Coast Hwy, 10 miles west of
Malibu.
Rancho Sierra Vista:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Lynn Rd. exit.
South on Lynn Rd 5.25 miles to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on left.
Red Rock Canyon:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Topanga Canyon
Blvd, south to Mulholland Dr. Turn west (right). At Mulholland Hwy turn
left. Drive about 5 miles to Stunt Rd. Turn left. Drive 1 mile to "Stunt
High Trail" sign. Park on wide dirt area on right side of road. Cross
Stunt Rd and hike 1.5 miles on Calabasas fire road into canyon
Rocky Oaks:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Kanan Rd. South on
Kanan Rd to Mulholland Hwy Turn west (right) on Mulholland Hwy and right
again into parking lot. From Pacific Coast Hwy to Kanan-Dume Rd. North to
Mulholland Hwy. Turn west (left) and right into parking lot.
Runyon Canyon Park:
Hollywood Fwy (101) to Highland Av.
South to Franklin Ave. West on Franklin to Fuller, north on Fuller to dead
end. Park on street.
Santa Monica Mountains
Conservancy:
2600 Franklin Canyon Dr. Located in
Upper Franklin Canyon, across from Sooky Goldman Nature Center. To get to
the Sooky Goldman Nature Ctr/Upper Franklin Canyon: From Ventura Fwy
(101), drive 2.5 miles south on Coldwater Cyn Ave. At inter-section with
Mulholland Dr. and Franklin Cyn Dr. (directly across from Coldwater Canyon
Park), turn right on Franklin Cyn Dr. Travel 0.5 mile and turn left at
sign for Wm. O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom. Park in lot on left next to
nature center. Note: To go to Franklin Cyn Ranch, continue south on the
reservoir road & Franklin Cyn Dr. Turn left on Lake Dr.
Satwiwa Native American Indian
Culture Center:
Ventura Freeway (101) to Lynn Rd. exit.
South on Lynn Rd. 5.25 mile to Via Goleta. Park entrance is on left.
Solstice Canyon:
From Pacific Coast Hwy turn inland on Corral Canyon Rd, drive
50 yards to large white-gated fence.
Stunt Ranch:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Topanga Canyon Blvd, south to Mulholland Dr. Turn
west (right). At Mulholland Hwy turn left. Drive approximately 5 miles to
Stunt Rd. Turn left and drive 1 mile to "Stunt High Trail" sign. Park on
the wide dirt area on right side of road.
Tapia Park Pacific:
Coast Hwy to Malibu Canyon Rd. Inland 3 miles to park entrance on west
(left) side of road. From Ventura Fwy (101), exit at Las Virgenes Rd,
south 5 miles to park on right.
Temescal Gateway Park:
From Pacific Coast Hwy , turn inland on Temescal Canyon Rd. Cross
Sunset Blvd. Parking lot on left.
Topanga State Park:
South from Ventura Fwy (101) or north from Pacific Coast Hwy on
Topanga Canyon Blvd to Entrada Rd on east (left) side of road. Turn east
on Entrada Rd and make two left turns to stay on Entrada Rd to park
entrance.
Will Rodgers State Historic Park:
Although the park site is open for hiking, the historic
home and the visitor center is closed. 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd,
Pacific Palisades. Pacific Coast Hwy to Sunset Blvd. Inland 5 miles on
Sunset Blvd. Entrance signs on left side of road.
Wilacre Park:
Ventura Fwy (101) to Laurel Canyon Blvd, south 1.5 miles to Fryman Rd.
Turn right and park along street. Entrance on Fryman Rd just off Laurel
Canyon Blvd.
Zuma Canyon:
Follow Pacific Coast Hwy to Busch Dr (near Zuma Beach). To Zuma Ridge
Trailhead: Go north on Busch Drive until it ends. To Zuma Canyon
Trailhead: Go north on Busch Drive to Rainsford Place, turn right on
Rainsford to Bonsall Drive, turn left on Bonsall Drive, go north until the
road ends and park in the lot.
Information provided by the
National Park Service. For more
information visit the official
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area web site.
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