Park · Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California

Best hikes in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The 30 best of 455 trails in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California, ranked by route quality.

Trails
455
Easy
340
Moderate
79
Hard
21
Expert
15

By activity

Common features

Top trails

  1. Malibu Lagoon Route Easy · 1.3 mi (2.1 km) · Elevation Gain 20 ft (6 m) · 25 min
  2. Temescal Ridge Trail Expert · 10.9 mi (17.5 km) · Elevation Gain 1,991 ft (607 m) · 4 hr 30 min
  3. West Mandeville Fire Road Hard · 7.3 mi (11.7 km) · Elevation Gain 1,060 ft (323 m) · 2 hr 55 min
  4. Crags Road Moderate · 5.8 mi (9.4 km) · Elevation Gain 351 ft (107 m) · 2 hr 5 min
  5. Yellow Hill Fire Road Hard · 5.5 mi (8.9 km) · Elevation Gain 1,667 ft (508 m) · 2 hr 40 min
  6. Sycamore Canyon Fire Road Moderate · 11.3 mi (18.2 km) · Elevation Gain 364 ft (111 m) · 3 hr 50 min
  7. Nicholas Flat Trail- 2nd part Easy · 1.7 mi (2.7 km) · Elevation Gain 528 ft (161 m) · 50 min
  8. Inspiration Point Loop Trail Easy · 1.7 mi (2.8 km) · Elevation Gain 230 ft (70 m) · 40 min
  9. Corral Canyon Trail Easy · 2 mi (3.3 km) · Elevation Gain 459 ft (140 m) · 55 min
  10. Rustic Canyon Trail Moderate · 4.8 mi (7.8 km) · Elevation Gain 449 ft (137 m) · 1 hr 45 min
  11. Mulholland Drive (unpaved) Expert · 14.4 mi (23.1 km) · Elevation Gain 1,713 ft (522 m) · 5 hr 30 min
  12. Zuma Ridge Trail Easy · 3.4 mi (5.5 km) · Elevation Gain 95 ft (29 m) · 1 hr 10 min
  13. Willow Creek Trail Easy · 1.9 mi (3 km) · Elevation Gain 522 ft (159 m) · 50 min
  14. Calabasas Peak Motorway Moderate · 3.8 mi (6.1 km) · Elevation Gain 955 ft (291 m) · 1 hr 40 min
  15. Franklin Canyon Drive Easy · 1.7 mi (2.8 km) · Elevation Gain 144 ft (44 m) · 40 min
  16. Gillette Ranch Loop Trail Easy · 2 mi (3.2 km) · Elevation Gain 364 ft (111 m) · 50 min
  17. Backbone Trail Expert · 50.1 mi (80.6 km) · Elevation Gain 10,217 ft (3,114 m) · 21 hr 20 min
  18. Temescal Canyon Trail Moderate · 3.8 mi (6.1 km) · Elevation Gain 961 ft (293 m) · 1 hr 45 min
  19. Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail Easy · 1.8 mi (2.9 km) · Elevation Gain 148 ft (45 m) · 40 min
  20. Coastal Slope Trail Hard · 5.6 mi (9 km) · Elevation Gain 1,486 ft (453 m) · 2 hr 35 min
  21. Abrams Property Trail Easy · 1.8 mi (2.9 km) · Elevation Gain 666 ft (203 m) · 55 min
  22. Los Liones Trail Easy · 2.4 mi (3.8 km) · Elevation Gain 499 ft (152 m) · 1 hr
  23. Musch Trail Moderate · 4.2 mi (6.8 km) · Elevation Gain 646 ft (197 m) · 1 hr 40 min
  24. Medicine Woman Trail Easy · 1.5 mi (2.5 km) · Elevation Gain 269 ft (82 m) · 40 min
  25. East Bluff Trail Easy · 1.1 mi (1.7 km) · Elevation Gain 154 ft (47 m) · 25 min
  26. Farmer Ridge Trail Easy · 1.5 mi (2.3 km) · Elevation Gain 410 ft (125 m) · 40 min
  27. Satwiwa Loop Trail Easy · 1.6 mi (2.5 km) · Elevation Gain 223 ft (68 m) · 35 min
  28. Topanga Ridge Motorway Moderate · 3 mi (4.9 km) · Elevation Gain 689 ft (210 m) · 1 hr 20 min
  29. Staircase Loop Easy · 0.4 mi (0.6 km) · Elevation Gain 26 ft (8 m) · 10 min
  30. Chumash Trail Moderate · 2.3 mi (3.7 km) · Elevation Gain 955 ft (291 m) · 1 hr 15 min

See all trails near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Questions about Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

How many trails are in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

GoTrails lists 455 trails in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, California: 340 easy, 79 moderate and 36 hard or expert.

What are the best hikes in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

Top picks on GoTrails: Malibu Lagoon Route, Temescal Ridge Trail, West Mandeville Fire Road, Crags Road, and Yellow Hill Fire Road.

What are some easy hikes in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

Easy picks: Malibu Lagoon Route, Nicholas Flat Trail- 2nd part, Inspiration Point Loop Trail, Corral Canyon Trail, and Zuma Ridge Trail.

What are the hardest hikes in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

For a challenge: Temescal Ridge Trail, West Mandeville Fire Road, Yellow Hill Fire Road, Mulholland Drive (unpaved), and Backbone Trail.

Parks nearby

GoTrails · Route data: © OpenStreetMap