The Santa Monica Mountains stretch roughly 46 miles from Griffith Park to Point Mugu — a transverse coastal range protected as the largest urban-adjacent national park in the United States. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, run jointly by the National Park Service, California State Parks, the Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority and Los Angeles County, holds more than 500 miles of trails — from sea-level beach walks to the 67-mile Backbone Trail that links the range end to end.
Hiking is possible year-round, but the experience changes radically with the seasons: dense green hillsides and waterfalls in February and March, wildflower bloom through April, then a long fire season and tinder-dry chaparral by July. The fiches below cover every actively-managed park in the range, with current trail conditions, elevation profiles and post-fire status where it applies.
December through May offers the best combination of cool temperatures, green hillsides, wildflower bloom and post-rain waterfalls. June through October is hot, dry and high fire risk — start early, carry extra water and check the National Weather Service red flag warnings before heading into back-country canyons.
Major recovery is ongoing in 2026. The Topanga-area MRCA parks (Ed Edelman / Summit Valley, Tuna Canyon, Mill Creek, Red Rock Canyon) remain closed. Will Rogers State Historic Park reopened with limited access in November 2025. Topanga State Park, Malibu Creek State Park and most NPS sites have reopened. Always check the park-specific fiche for the latest status.
Yes on most county and MRCA trails (on leash) — including Wilacre Park, Mulholland Scenic, Cheeseboro Canyon and Franklin Canyon. No dogs are allowed on NPS-managed trails or in California State Parks back-country, including Topanga, Malibu Creek and Will Rogers.
Most county and MRCA trailheads (Wilacre, Fryman, Cheeseboro, Franklin Canyon, Will Rogers entrance) have free parking. California State Parks (Topanga, Malibu Creek, Will Rogers main lot, Leo Carrillo) charge $10–$15 day-use parking. Mulholland scenic pull-outs are free.
Start with Wilacre / Fryman Canyon (2.6 mi, gentle climb, panoramic Valley views), Franklin Canyon Hastain Trail (2.9 mi, low-key and shaded), or the Inspiration Point Loop at Will Rogers (2.2 mi, iconic ocean view). All three have parking, water and clear signage.
7 min
Updated June 2026. The Backbone Trail’s eastern segments are still affected by the January 2025 Palisades Fire. The middle and western sections…
6 min
Discover easy hikes in Los Angeles for beginners, families and relaxed weekends, with quick picks for views, waterfalls, dog-friendly trails and local…
6 min
Updated June 2026. Trail closures change as recovery progresses. Every fiche linked below shows its current status with a direct link to…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
2 min
Archive note. Original content from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (lamountains.com), restored from the Wayback Machine (2017 snapshot). Practical details may be…
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