BBT Brochure 2016 rotated (PDF)

Santa Monica Mountains
Backbone Trail

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area

Castro Crest

Mountains to the Sea

What ancient creature laid upon the earth, slowly eroding and permitting our
feet to walk across its spine? The Santa Monica Mountains once rose upwards
of 10,000 feet in elevation, but millions of years of geologic forces have shaped
and weathered these ridges, leaving behind beautiful rock outcrops and hidden
pockets of wildness. Today the 67-mile Backbone Trail links east to west, inviting
all to explore the riches of the mountains.

Decades in the Making

For millennia, trails have crossed the Santa
Monica Mountains, but not until the 1970s
did people first propose to link the western
and eastern ends by footpath. The creation of
a national recreation area in 1978 and a shared
vision among federal, state, and local partners
made this idea a possibility. Years of hard work
on and off the trail made it a reality. In 2016,
staff and volunteers completed the last section

Plan Your Visit

Because the trail crosses multiple land jurisdictions, trail sections may have different names,
access, and regulations. Pick your route and plan ahead so you can safely enjoy the trail.
INFORMATION and maps are available at the Santa
Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor Center in
Calabasas, CA. Current conditions and trip-planning
resources are also found at:
www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/backbonetrail.htm
BE PREPARED by taking water, food, map, flashlight,
and first-aid supplies. Water is not available at most
trailheads. Be alert for ticks, bees, rattlesnakes, and
poison oak.
WILDFIRE is a year-round concern. Fires of any kind
are not permitted on the trail. For current restrictions
and fire danger level, visit the homepage at:
www.nps.gov/samo
DOGS are permitted on trails managed by the
National Park Service and must be on leash and under
control. Dogs are not allowed on most trails managed
by California State Parks.
MOUNTAIN BIKES are permitted on certain sections
of the Backbone Trail. Refer to the map on the other
side and follow posted signage. Yield to hikers and
equestrian riders.

MORE INFORMATION
Santa Monica Mountains
Interagency Visitor Center
26876 Mulholland Highway,
Calabasas, CA, 91302
(805) 370-2301

HORSES are allowed on the Backbone Trail, though
some sections are narrow, especially Saddle Peak
(Malibu Creek State Park) and Chicken Ridge Bridge
(Topanga State Park). Contact the appropriate land
agency to determine the current conditions.
Boney Mountain, viewed from the
trail east of Yerba Buena Road

of the Backbone Trail, creating an unbroken
trail experience through the best protected
stretch of coastal Mediterranean habitat in the
world. This unique environment, combined
with easy access from a major metropolitan area,
allowed for the official National Recreation
Trail designation in 2016. No matter one’s
interest or ability, there’s something for
everyone along the Backbone Trail.

CAMP SITES are extremely limited along the
Backbone Trail. Since camping outside of designated
campgrounds is prohibited, thru-hiking is not possible
at this time. Existing camp sites differ widely in their
amenities and were not designed to support thruhiking. A forthcoming Trail Management Plan will
propose backcountry camps along the trail that would
be managed through a permit system. Public comment
on the environmental review document for the plan is
expected in 2017, and pending outcome of the public
review, possible construction in the years that follow.

Mishe Mokwa
Trailhead
Yerba Buena Rd
Crossing

CIRCLE X
RANCH

Santa Monica
Mountains
Visitor Center

Santa Monica Mountains
4.4 mi
7.1 km

MUGU
PARK

C

h
ot

4.6 mi
7.4 km

ari n Road

Little Sycamore
Canyon Road

Encinal
Trailhead

ad

23

Old

a

R oa d
o

Ca

ny

M u lh o l l a

D e ck
er R o a d

nd H
wy

en

Bu

ad
Ro

ast Highway

R oa d
o

TOPANGA
STATE PARK

Rd

Co

Tu

Will Rogers
Trailhead

on

Ca

ny

M u lh o l l a

27

Rd

D e ck
er R o a d

nd H
wy

a

en
Bu

Lois Ewen
Overlook

y on

Yerb
a

Trippet Ranch
Deadhorse
Trailhead

4.4 mi
7.1 km

ga C a n

Pacific

Musch Camp

ny

Mulholland Scenic
Corridor

1.2 mi
1.9 km

an
To p

Backbone Trail
Hikers and Equestrians.
No bikes allowed.

0.8 mi
1.3 km

Ca

Equestrian Parking

11.1 mi
17.9 km

Rd

na

Drinking Water

Backcountry
campground

Top
a n g a Ca

Campground

Santa Monica
Mountains National
Recreation Area
authorized boundary

on

1

MALIBU

4

Backbone Trail
Hikers, Bikers, Equestrians

Piuma Rd
Crossing

27

Old Topanga Rd
Crossing

d
L a s Flores Canyon R

Restrooms

Rd

Parking

ny

COLD
CREEK
PRESERVE

Rd

gh
w
ay

Tapia
Trailhead

C a n yon

a

d

Hi

land Highway

li b u

Ro

4

1 Mile

l

d
C a nyon Roa

Latigo Canyon

1 Kilometer

rr a

1

Ma

Co

R o ad

st

lh ol

2.0 mi
3.2 km

Latigo
Trailhead

Du m e

c C
oa

Mu

5.0 mi
8.1 km

4.1 mi
6.6 km

K a na n

n

5.2 mi
8.4 km

North
0

Rd

Corral Canyon
MALIBU CREEK
Trailhead
STATE PARK

CASTRO
CREST

2.2 mi
3.5 km

ZUMA/TRANCAS
CANYONS

Pacifi

0

y on

4.9 mi
7.9 km

Encinal
Trailhead

Kanan
Trailhead

Encinal

on

1.2 mi
1.9 km

1

KING
GILLETTE
RANCH

Mulholland Hwy
Crossing

23

SANTA MONICA

MALIBU

Santa Monica
Mountains
Visitor Center

Encinal
Canyon

Ray Miller
Trailhead

ga C a n

Co

Little Sycamore
Canyon Road

CALABASAS

s Rd

1
ad
K anan Ro

23

WOODLAND
HILLS

ny

ast Highway

Tu

Will Rogers
Trailhead

TOPANGA
STATE PARK

Ca

Co

Mishe Mokwa
Trailhead
Yerba Buena Rd
Crossing
4.6 mi
7.4 km

ari n Road
th

27

na

Rd

Pacific

4.4 mi
7.1 km

POINT MUGU
STATE PARK

1.2 mi
1.9 km

4.4 mi
7.1 km

Las V
di
L a s Flores Canyon R rgene

C a n yon

gh
w
ay

101

a

Musch Camp

Santa Monica Mountains
TrippetNational
Ranch Recreation Area
Deadhorse
Trailhead

0.8 mi
1.3 km

Lois Ewen
Overlook

li b u

Ro

National11.1
Park
Service
mi
17.9 km
U.S. Department
of the Interior

Rd

Ma

8.0 mi
12.9 km

ke

COLD
CREEK
PRESERVE

AGOURA
HILLS

d

CIRCLE X
RANCH

Hi

t la
es
W lv d
B

l

R o ad

st

Sandstone Peak
Trailhead
8.3 mi
13.4 km

La Jolla Valley
Backcountry Camp

c C
oa

Du m e

Danielson Ranch

Latigo Canyon

K a na n

WESTLAKE
VILLAGE

n

rr a

on

Old Topanga Rd
Crossing

Piuma Rd
Crossing

2.0 mi
3.2 km
Co

land Highway

5.0 mi
8.1 km

4.1 mi
6.6 km

Latigo
Trailhead

ZUMA/TRANCAS
CANYONS

Pacifi

5.2 mi
8.4 km

d
C a nyon Roa

Yerb
a

2.2 mi
3.5 km

THOUSAND
OAKS
Kanan
Trailhead

Encinal

CASTRO
CREST

lh ol

27

an
To p

Ro

4.9 mi
7.9 km

Mu

ny

Tapia
Trailhead

Corral Canyon
MALIBU CREEK
Trailhead
STATE PARK

Encinal
Canyon

Backbone Trail
1

KING
GILLETTE
RANCH

Mulholland Hwy
Crossing
1.2 mi
1.9 km

ld To
pa n g a Ca

8.3 mi
13.4 km

O

Trailhead

National Park
Service

Other public
parkland

Other trails

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™

SANTA MONICA
1