Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (Los Angeles, California)
The sprawling Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area stretches across Los Angeles and spans more than 150,000 acres, making it the world's largest urban national park. Home to more than 1,000 different plants and 500 animal species, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is a rich mix of beaches, rugged backcountry, cool canyons, lush meadows and grasslands, and scenic mountain vistas that offer a wealth of outdoor recreational activities and cultural resources.
The hills of the Santa Monica Mountains are ideal for hiking, walking, camping, mountain biking, or simply observing the natural beauty of this wildlife oasis, which many consider the best mainland example of a Mediterranean-type ecosystem in the entire National Park System. The park is a natural habitat to seals, whales, mountain lions and other wildlife. With boundaries that roughly follow the Santa Monica Mountain Range and Pacific Ocean, the park also offers unexpected outdoor activities like scuba diving. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, or SAMO, includes Malibu, a popular surfing destination, and other portions of cities along the California State Highway 101 corridor.
Blends History and Culture
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area includes four California state parks—Point Mugu, Leo Carillo, Malibu Creek, and Topanga—comprising more than 35,000 acres. More than half of the land within the park boundary is public land while almost 70,000 acres is private land.
This urban national park is home to more than 1,000 archeological sites and historic structures, from ranches to movie studios. The cultural landscape includes museums offering glimpses into the history of the region, and nature and culture centers like the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center and Natural Area, with exhibits teaching all ages about the traditions of native people like the Chumash.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was established in 1978.
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