Hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area spans 40 miles west to east from Point Mugu to the Griffith Park. This network of state and federal lands protect a 240 square-mile coastal range that offers hundreds of miles of trails. Many of the trails are free to access and all are just a short drive from the more urban areas of Los Angeles County.
Select a hike from the sortable list below and begin enjoying the Impressive canyons, vast ocean views, and beautiful spring wildflowers.
| Trail | Description | Distance | Latitude, Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Grotto This out and back visits a remote grotto in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. | 3 miles 500 feet | 34.109292, -118.937438 |
 | Sandstone Peak This loop summits the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains. | 6 miles | 34.120284, -118.931018 |
 | Tri Peaks This 1-mile addition to the Sandstone Peak loop adds extra views to the hike. | 7 miles | 34.122438, -118.950055 |
 | Zuma Canyon This out and back leaves a coastal Malibu neighborhood to explore rustic Zuma Canyon. | 2.8 miles | 34.032472, -118.812382 |
 | Zuma Canyon Ocean View - Canyon View Trails This loop demands more effort than the Zuma Canyon Trail and provides great ocean and canyon views. | 3 miles | 34.036241, -118.805902 |
 | Zuma Ridge This wide dirt service road weaves northwest up the ridge west of Zuma Canyon offering access to several nearby trails. | 5.4 - 10.6 miles | 34.03425, -118.818133 |
 | Zuma Canyon Narrows This off-trail trek crosses the narrow canyon beyond Zuma Canyon Trail before return along the Zuma Ridge Trail. | 8 miles | 34.056261, -118.81809 |
 | Escondido Falls This out and back visits a 200 foot waterfall that is split into two tiers. The upper tier is 150 feet tall and stunning after a rainstorm. | 4 miles | 34.026568, -118.780067 |
 | Solstice Canyon This out and back is easy and level, and visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall. | 2 miles | 34.037166, -118.746636 |
 | Corral Canyon This loop offers ocean and canyon views from a unspoiled section of the Santa Monica Mountains in Malibu. | 2.5 miles 520 feet | 34.034336, -118.734362 |
 | Malibu Creek Traverse This adventure hike explores the C-shaped gorge between Rock Pool and Century Lake in Malibu Creek State Park. | 4 miles | 34.097733, -118.729291 |
 | Calabasas Peak This out and back travels an easy-to-follow fire road to panoramic views of the Santa Monica Mountains and San Fernando Valley. | 3.6 miles 1,000 feet | 34.112846, -118.651879 |
 | Red Rock Canyon Park There are two main trails in this park. One can be used to reach Calabasas Peak and a shorter trail reached a scenic overlook. | 2.5 - 5.2 miles 325 feet - 1000 feet | 34.106015, -118.637138 |
 | Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak This out and back combines Stunt High Trail and a section of the Backbone Trail to visit the 6th tallest summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. | 8.2 miles 1,700 feet | 34.077567, -118.654847 |
 | Backbone Trial to Saddle Peak This shorter hike approaches the summit from the east. | 2 miles 450 feet | 34.077069, -118.655963 |
 | Topanga Lookout This 2-mile hike visits the site of an old fire tower that still offers great views of the surrounding mountains. | 2 miles 160 feet | 34.091642, -118.636308 |
 | Hondo Canyon This fairly well maintained section of the Backbone Trail crosses grassy fields and climbs the wall of a wooded canyon. | 7.6 miles (or 3.6 miles one-way) 1500 feet | 34.092804, -118.610122 |
 | Santa Ynez Canyon Trail to Eagle Rock This out and back hike summits a sandstone prominence in Topanga State Park. | 7.4 miles 1,400 feet | 34.107517, -118.570998 |
 | Santa Ynez Falls This out and back follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short waterfall. | 2.5 miles 250 feet | 34.091555, -118.569711 |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook This steep out and back rewards the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. | 7 miles 1300 feet | 34.060137, -118.574331 |
| Los Liones Trail This loop visits a lust canyon with ocean views and overlaps the first half of the hike to Parker Mesa Overlook. | 3 miles 600 feet | 34.04872, -118.558989 | |
 | Temescal Canyon This loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. | 2.6 miles | 34.050217, -118.529141 |
 | Sullivan Ridge This out and back follows a scenic 6.3-mile long ridge through the Big Wild east of Will Rogers State Park. | 7.5 - 14.3 miles | 34.061097, -118.504121 |
 | Sullivan Canyon This out and back follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon. | 8.5 miles | 34.073771, -118.506863 |
| Westridge Trail to San Vicente Peak This out and back travels a scenic ridge between a Brentwood neighborhood and a 1,960-foot summit that was once used as a Nike Missile site. | 7.4 miles 900 feet | 34.128382, -118.51357 | |
 | Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Peak This out and back approaches San Vicente Peak from the east and offers views to the north and south en route to the old Nike Missile site. | 2 miles 360 feet | 34.129327, -118.503199 |
 | Upper Canyonback Trail This out and back descends Canyonback Ridge from Mulholland Drive to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. | 3 - 8 miles 250 feet | 34.128898, -118.502841 |
 | Lower Canyonback Trail This out and back ascends Canyonback Ridge from Kenter Ave. in Brentwood to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. | 3.6 - 8 miles 500 feet | 34.081754, -118.494577 |
 | Mount Lee and the Hollywood Sign This out and back hike crosses Griffith Park from Canyon Drive to the top of Mount Lee, directly behind the landmark Hollywood Sign. | 6.4 - 7.1 miles 1,100 - 1,200 feet | 34.134552, -118.321559 |
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