Park Hours (Today)
All Day
Santa Monica Mountains Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center: 9:00AM - 4:00PM
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About the Park
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?
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What to See & Do
Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock
Traversing riparian, coastal sage scrub, and chaparral, this trail offers wonderful views of Carlisle Canyon and Balanced Rock. Split Rock’s oak grove offers a shaded spot for picnicking.
Solstice Canyon Trail
Travel through a beautiful, shaded riparian environment on the Solstice Canyon Trail alongside a year-round creek.
Satwiwa Loop Trail
This area was set aside for the preservation and celebration of Native American cultures.
Visitor Centers
Santa Monica Mountains Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center
The Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center features a bookstore managed by Western National Parks Association. You can purchase memorabilia, guidebooks, puppets and more. It also features interactive exhibits and has a small theater where a park film is shown.
Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center
Located at the southern end of the community of Newbury Park, this site reflects the heritage of both Native Americans and local ranching. The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is open on weekends from 9am to 4pm. Native American workshops and programs occur throughout the year.
Where to Stay
Circle X Ranch Campground - CLOSED
Circle X Ranch Group Campground is the only campground the National Park Service operates in the Santa Monica Mountains. Visit recreation.gov to make reservations for this 10 person minimum group camp.
Getting Here & Transit
How to Get Here
There are multiple trailheads around the park, so there is not one main entrance. You can begin your visit at the visitor center, located off Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. The Santa Monica Mountains are traversed by the 405 Freeway on the east side; crowned by the 101 Freeway on the north and west side; and Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), on the southern ocean border.
Park Amenities
Operating Hours
Park Sites
The park sites are open year-round. Our parking lots are open from 8 am to sunset.
- MondayAll Day
- TuesdayAll Day
- WednesdayAll Day
- ThursdayAll Day
- FridayAll Day
- SaturdayAll Day
- SundayAll Day
Photos
Trail view with yellow flowers in the foreground that lead to green mountains against a blue sky.
Mountain silhouettes at sunrise.
Wispy cloud covered sky over chaparral covered mountains.
People riding horses into the sunset on a mountain trail.
When to Go
Crowd CalendarPlan your trip around peak seasons to avoid crowds or embrace the energy of the busy months. Our crowd predictions are based on historical NPS Visitor Use Statistics.
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Best Time
Year-round
Trip Length
1 day
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Planning Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
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