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Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Designation: National Recreation Area

Location: California

Visit Official Park Website

📘 Park Overview

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?

🌤 Weather Information

Summers are hot and dry while winters are cool and wet.

🚗 Directions

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.

Images

Sunbeams reaching from glowing sun over the ocean.

Point Mugu Sunset

Credit: NPS

Trail view with yellow flowers in the foreground that lead to green mountains against a blue sky.

Zuma Canyon in spring.

Credit: NPS

Mountain silhouettes at sunrise.

View from Sandstone Peak at Sunrise

Credit: NPS

Wispy cloud covered sky over chaparral covered mountains.

Malibu Creek Overlook

Credit: NPS

People riding horses into the sunset on a mountain trail.

Equestrians on Trail

Credit: NPS

Rocks emerging from ocean.

Leo Carrillo Beach

Credit: NPS

Two individuals sitting atop a rocky outcrop while watching the sun set.

Sunset Views

Credit: NPS

Milky way shines in night sky over a mountain and oak tree.

Paramount Ranch Night Sky

Credit: NPS

Activities

Topics

Operating Hours

Sunday
All Day
Monday
All Day
Tuesday
All Day
Wednesday
All Day
Thursday
All Day
Friday
All Day
Saturday
All Day

Entrance Fees

No entrance fees listed.

Entrance Passes

No entrance passes listed.

3-Day Weather Forecast

Friday, May 29

Sunny

Sunny

High: 72°F | Low: 47.7°F

Humidity: 72%

Wind: 12.8 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 9.6

Sunrise: 05:45 AM

Sunset: 07:59 PM

Moon: Full Moon (99%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 52.9°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Saturday, May 30

Sunny

Sunny

High: 73.2°F | Low: 53.9°F

Humidity: 66%

Wind: 11.4 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 10.6

Sunrise: 05:45 AM

Sunset: 08:00 PM

Moon: Full Moon (100%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 56.9°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Sunday, May 31

Sunny

Sunny

High: 80.1°F | Low: 57.2°F

Humidity: 53%

Wind: 11 mph

Rain Chance: 0%

UV Index: 10.3

Sunrise: 05:44 AM

Sunset: 08:00 PM

Moon: Full Moon (99%)

Visibility: 6 mi

Dew Point: 58.8°F

Cloud Cover: 0%

Pressure: N/A mb

Air Quality (PM2.5): N/A

Ozone: N/A

EPA Index: N/A

Park Alerts

Trail Repairs at Franklin Canyon Information
Trail repairs will begin on Monday, September 29, on the Hastain Trail. Expect weekday closures Mon–Thurs on the southern switchbacks and eastern Discovery Trail. Trails remain open Fri–Sun. Park closes at sunset. Work will shift to Discovery Trail after Hastain is complete. Project is expected to last ~3 months, weather permitting.

More Info

Visitor Center & Contacts

📍 Physical Address:
26876 Mulholland Highway
Calabasas, CA 91302

🏤 Mailing Address:
26876 Mulholland Highway
Calabasas, CA 91302

📞 Voice Phone: 8053702301

✉️ Email: samo_interpretation@nps.gov

Park Location

👏 Fun Fact
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