Hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains
Below is a collection of trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. These hikes are listed from west to east, but the table may also be sorted alphabetically or by distance to help you pick your next hike. There is also a search feature, which can be used to quickly isolate the hike you are looking for. Each trail links to its own report complete with photos, maps, directions, and all the other information needed to locate and enjoy these treks. An interactive map is also provided.
Highlights of the Santa Monica Mountains
Hiking the Santa Monica Mountains
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area spans 40 miles west to east across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties from Point Mugu to Griffith Park.
A network of federal, state, and city parks protect over 150,000 acres of this coastal range, offering hundreds of miles of hiking trails.
Did you know? One in seventeen Americans live within a one hour drive of the Santa Monica Mountains. The national recreation area receives over 30 million visitors each year, but despite the beautiful scenery and easy accessibility, most trails never see a crowd.
Most trails in the Santa Monica Mountains are free to access, including the hike to Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the range at 3,111 feet. Select a hike from the list below and begin enjoying the impressive canyons, vast ocean views, and beautiful spring wildflowers that await hikers in the Santa Monica Mountains.
| Trail | Description | Distance | Latitude, Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
 | La Jolla Canyon Loop This hike explores Point Mugu State Park on the west end of the Santa Monica Mountains, offering incredible ocean views. | 11.75 miles 1,250 feet | 34.086097, -119.03688 |
 | Mugu Peak This out and back hike from La Jolla Canyon to the 1,266-foot summit features superb ocean and canyon views. | 6.5 miles 1,250 feet | 34.092697, -119.055712 |
 | La Jolla Canyon Falls This out and back hike visits a short seasonal waterfall in Point Mugu State Park. | 1.5 miles 250 feet | 34.093047, -119.043134 |
 | Scenic and Overlook Trails Loop This loop takes in tremendous ocean views above Big Sycamore Canyon in Point Mugu State Park. | 2.7 - 3.5 miles 450 to 550 feet | 34.071305, -119.012668 |
 | Grotto This out and back hike 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. | 6.25 miles 1,075 feet | 34.120284, -118.931018 |
 | Tri Peaks This 1-mile addition to the Sandstone Peak loop adds extra views to the hike. | 7.45 miles 1,075 feet | 34.122438, -118.950055 |
 | Angel Vista via West Los Robles Trail This out and back hike reaches an overlook on the north side of the Santa Monica mountains overlooking Thousand Oaks. | 7.6 miles 800 feet | 34.171903, -118.881004 |
 | Charmlee Wilderness Park This loop is one of several possible hike in this bluff-top park with ocean views over Malibu. | 3.3 miles 225 feet | 34.058793, -118.87925 |
 | Zuma Canyon This out and back hike leaves a coastal Malibu neighborhood to explore rustic Zuma Canyon. | 2.8 miles 300 feet | 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 750 feet | 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 1,500 feet | 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 1,500 feet | 34.056261, -118.81809 |
 | Point Dume Natural Preserve This short hike explores overlooks on a scenic headland jutting into the Pacific at the northeast end of Santa Monica Bay in Malibu. | 1 mile 100 feet | 34.004245, -118.805811 |
 | Castro Crest from Latigo Canyon Road This out and back hike crosses a green canyon and Climbs to scenic saddle below Castro Peak. | 3.8 miles 650 feet | 34.078379, -118.79355 |
 | Escondido Falls This out and back hike visits a 200 foot waterfall that is split into two tiers. The upper tier is 150 feet tall and stunning after a rainstorm. | 3.8 miles 400 feet | 34.026568, -118.780067 |
 | Upper Solstice Canyon This out and back hike crosses remote Upper Solstice Canyon from Corral Canyon Road to Castro Crest. | 5.5 - 6.5 miles 520 feet - 755 feet | 34.08216, -118.758497 |
 | Solstice Canyon Trail This out and back hike is easy and level, and visits the ruins of a burned down ranch and a small waterfall. | 2.6 miles 350 feet | 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 |
 | Paramount Ranch This segment of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area includes Western Town, an outdoor set cast as frontier towns in TV and film since the 1950s. | 0.25 - 4 miles 150 feet | 34.115546, -118.755176 |
 | Lake Vista Trail This out and back hike crosses the west end of Malibu Creek State Park and climbs to a scenic view over Malibu Lake. | 4.1 miles 350 feet | 34.108084, -118.749254 |
 | M*A*S*H Set This hike visits the site where the exteriors of the television show MASH were filmed, a 4.75-mile trek from the park entrance. | 3.6 - 5.7 miles 175 feet - 400 feet | 34.096475, -118.745055 |
 | Lost Cabin Trail This 1.5-mile round trip extension to the MASH set hike dead-ends in a mountain canyon at the site of a now nonexistent cabin. | 5.1 - 7.2 miles 190 feet | 34.092022, -118.73565 |
 | Cistern, Lookout, and Cage Creek Trails This team of trails make a scenic descent to Century Lake for a short loop or longer hikes in Malibu Creek State Park. | 2.05 - 3.6 miles 400 feet | 34.105305, -118.731889 |
 | Talepop Loop This lollipop loop crosses a scenic mountain between Liberty Canyon and Las Virgenes Canyon in Malibu Creek State Park. | 4.75 miles 500 feet | 34.103394, -118.713806 |
 | Grassland Trail to Crags Road and Rock Pool This easy hike enters Malibu Creek State Park on South Grassland Trail, then forms a loop around Crags Road to visit Rock Pool. | 3 miles 175 feet | 34.103394, -118.713806 |
 | 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 hike 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 - 1,000 feet | 34.106015, -118.637138 |
 | Stunt High Trail to Saddle Peak This out and back hike 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 Trail 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 |
 | Tuna Canyon Park This ocean-view packed hike explores a less-visited park between Topanga and Malibu. | 1.6 - 5.1 miles 275 - 900 feet | 34.059538, -118.616345 |
 | 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 1,500 feet | 34.092804, -118.610122 |
 | Eagle Rock from Trippet Ranch This 4.5-mile loop takes Musch Trail and Eagle Springs Fire Road to visit an exceptional sandstone summit in Topanga State Park. | 4.5 miles 800 feet | 34.093215, -118.587629 |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook from Trippet Ranch This out and back hike heads up to the overlook from Trippet Ranch, Topanga State Park's main trailhead. | 6.7 miles 375 feet | 34.09321, -118.587588 |
 | Parker Mesa Overlook from Paseo Miramar This steep out and back hike reaches the overlook from the south, rewarding the effort with excellent views of the Pacific Ocean. | 5.7 - 7.8 miles 900 - 1,250 feet | 34.060137, -118.574331 |
 | Los Liones Trail This out and back hike visits a lust canyon with ocean views and can be used to reach Parker Mesa Overlook. | 2.6 miles 550 feet | 34.04872, -118.558989 |
 | 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 hike follows a shaded creek to a gorge containing a short waterfall. | 2.5 miles 250 feet | 34.091555, -118.569711 |
 | Temescal Peak This pair of out and back hikes ascend Temescal Ridge to a summit with sweeping views over Topanga State Park. | 5.8 - 7.6 miles 575 feet - 1,200 feet | 34.102282, -118.553767 |
 | Skull Rock This out and back hike descends Temescal Ridge to a head-shaped formation with great views over Santa Monica Bay. | 1.5 miles 225 feet | 34.076421, -118.54643 |
 | Temescal Canyon This loop offers a variety of scenery and decent exercise, despite its relative brevity. | 2.6 - 5.25 miles 1,000 feet | 34.050217, -118.529141 |
 | Rivas Canyon This single-track trail crosses a lush secluded canyon connecting Temescal Gateway Park to Will Rogers State Park. | 2.1 - 4.2 miles 500 feet | 34.055895, -118.528326 |
 | Inspiration Point This easy loop in Will Rogers State Historic Park leads to an overlook with views from Santa Monica Bay to downtown LA. | 2.25 miles 325 feet | 34.054252, -118.513349 |
 | Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch from Will Rogers State Historic Park This adventure visits the ruins of a commune built by Nazi sympathizers in a canyon east of the park. | 4 - 5 miles 200 - 850 feet | 34.054774, -118.510087 |
 | Rustic Canyon's Murphy Ranch from Sullivan Ridge This loop drops into Rustic Canyon where hikers can visit abandoned buildings once occupied by Nazi sympathizers. | 3.85 miles 325 feet | 34.070192, -118.514611 |
 | Sullivan Ridge This out and back hike follows a scenic 6.3-mile long ridge through the Big Wild east of Will Rogers State Park. | 7.5 - 14.3 miles 1,200 - 1,350 feet | 34.061097, -118.504121 |
 | Sullivan Canyon This out and back hike follows a wide trail up the center of a sycamore-filled canyon. | 8.5 miles 950 | 34.073771, -118.506863 |
 | Westridge Trail to San Vicente Mountain This out and back hike 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 |
 | Mandeville Canyon to San Vicente Mountain This loop incorporating a few trails, taking a DWP road up to Westridge to visit San Vicente Mountain, before crossing Mulholland Drive and Canyonback Ridge to return to Mandeville Canyon via Hollyhock Fire Road. | 5 miles 770 feet | 34.121207, -118.50665 |
 | Mulholland Drive to San Vicente Mountain This out and back hike approaches the 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 hike descends Canyonback Ridge from Mulholland Drive to the Mountain Gate Country Club Estates. | 3 - 8 miles 325 feet | 34.128898, -118.502841 |
 | Lower Canyonback Trail This out and back hike 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 |
 | Trebek Open Space This out and back hike incorporated Bantam Trail and Castair Trail in a park adjacent to Runyon Canyon. | 1 - 2.5 miles 125 - 375 feet | 34.113539, -118.359405 |
 | Runyon Canyon This loop tours the most popular dog park in Los Angeles. Both loops offer good exercise and views over Hollywood. | 1.65 - 2.65 miles 500 - 700 feet | 34.105259, -118.348933 |
 | Cahuenga Peak from Wonder View Trail This out and back hike ascends a dirt single track to Cahuenga Peak and the adjacent Mount Lee, home of the Hollywood Sign. | 3 miles 925 feet | 34.133131, -118.336451 |
 | 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 |
 | Bronson Cave This short easy hike visits a man-made cave recognizable as the Batcave from the Batman TV series and hundreds of other locations on TV and film. | 0.66 miles 50 feet | 34.124448, -118.314226 |
 | Bee Rock This hive-shaped point on the east side of Griffith Park can be reached via a pair of loop hikes. | 1.7 - 4 miles 600 feet | 34.131464, -118.282791 |
 | Old Zoo Picnic Area This short hike explores the abandoned exhibits and animal cages in the ruins of the old LA Zoo in Griffith Park. | 0.5 miles 50 feet | 34.134035, -118.288168 |
 | Beacon Hill This out and back or loop hike in Griffith Park climbs 500 feet to the easternmost summit in the Santa Monica Mountains. | 2.75-3.9 miles 500 feet | 34.128342, -118.277314 |
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