Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Things To Do Near Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The SMMNRA is perfect for RV travelers; with an RV, you can move from place to place with ease across the miles of beach, hills, valleys, and mountains to enjoy every highlight that the area offers. The roads run along the coastline, where you can stop and enjoy fishing, surfing, or sunbathing. The mountains seem to climb out of the Pacific Ocean and lay bare the enormity of the horizon. Everywhere you go in this recreation area, you find restaurants, parks, museums, and sites to experience. The mountains raise visitors above the urban areas and provide a magnificent stargazing display. 

Hiking Trails

• Mishe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak

  One of the most-used trails is the Mishe Mokwa to Tri-Peaks and Sandstone Peak pathway. The path features exceptional views like those of Carlisle Canyon and Balanced Rock. The trail repeatedly elevates over 900 feet, moving up and down the ridgelines of mountains.

  Location

  Balancing Rock Trail Head, Canyon View Trail, Malibu, CA 90265

  Length

  6.8 miles

  Intensity

  Intermediate

• Solstice Canyon Trail

  For a leisurely hike, try the Solstice Canyon Trail. The path runs through a highly picturesque valley between high hills covered in coastal sage scrub. Most visitors view this hike as restful, but there are sections with steep climbs and declines.

  Location

  Intersection of Corral Canyon Road and Solstice Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265

  Length

  3.2 miles

  Intensity

  Easy to Intermediate

Sightseeing

• Paramount Ranch

  One of the cardinal sites to see in the SMMNRA is the Paramount Ranch. Visitors have come to this location since its creation in 1927 to watch film production, ogle the film stars, hike the pleasant trails, and see what the area was like before it became a recreation area. 

  Location

  2903 Cornell Road, Agoura, CA 91301

• King Gillette Ranch

  The King Gillette Ranch sits inland along the Malibu watershed. Its broad meadows create a sheltered area for wildlife that once ran rampant through the site. The ranch includes a replica of a Native American Chumash village where you interact with the performers to learn the life of the area’s original inhabitants. 

  Location

  26800 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302

Museums

• Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum

  While you visit the beach portion of the SMMNRA, stop by the Adamson House and Malibu Lagoon Museum to explore the history of the Malibu region. The Spanish Colonial-style home is a National Historic Site, a California Historic Landmark, and a California State Park. It is located at the mouth of the Malibu River and celebrates all who have lived in the region.

  Location

  23200 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

• Leonis Adobe Museum

  The Leonis Adobe Museum displays a piece of American history that has such importance that it is recognized as a Distinctive Destination of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. One of several such designated places across the country, the Leonis Adobe Museum tells the story of the Old West. Exhibits, displays, artifacts, and memorabilia reveal the life of those who settled the area.

  Location

  23537 Calabasas Road, Calabasas, CA 91302

Nearby Shops and Restaurants

• Serendipity Gift Shop

  The Serendipity Gift Shop is an oddity among the glamorous and glitzy shops that dominate the region. A stop here gets you unlikely gifts like paddywax candles, hand-embroidered pillows and dish towels, and jewelry created by local artists.

  Location

  4342 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604

• Malibu Surf Shack

  Even if you don't surf, dropping by the Malibu Surf Shack lets you enjoy the surfing, skateboarding, and snowboarding that are such an entrenched part of Southern California culture. Along with classic and modern surfboards, this shop handles snowboards and skateboards. While you are in the store, get one of their silk-screened t-shirts to wear when you get home — just to let everyone know where you have been.

  Location

  22935 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

• Pono Burger

  If you ever wondered what a Hawaiian burger restaurant would be like, stop at the Pono Burger for an example of traditional cooking with a Hawaiian flair. All their meats are farm-fresh and never frozen, and their produce comes directly from neighboring farms. For a unique taste, try their spicy kuawa crunch or the palahu turkey burger. 

  Location

  829 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401

• Neptune's Net

  Neptune’s Net offers some of the freshest seafood found anywhere in California. Most of the seafood provided comes from fish and crustaceans that were swimming nearby not long ago. Their specialty is to create mixed dishes like a calamari, shrimp, and clam plate that lets you know how seafood is supposed to taste. 

  Location

  42505 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

How To Get To Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

One of the central entrances to the SMMNRA is in Malibu, CA. To get to Malibu from Los Angeles, get onto Interstate 405 North (I-405 N) and go for 4.34 miles. At Exit 53B, merge with Interstate 10 West (I-10 W) and drive toward Santa Monica for 4.14 miles. At this point, I-10 W becomes California Highway 1 North (CA-1 N), which is otherwise known as Pacific Coast Highway, or PCH. Drive CA-1 N 12.3 miles and then turn left onto Webb Way. Continue for 0.8 miles into the city of Malibu. Look for the SMMNRA signs, and follow them into the park.

The SMMNRA is open year-round. You can approach its center through Malibu or via Los Angeles from the south and several other spots. Visitors who come to this park leave knowing that they have experienced a special part of the world.

Address

26876 Mulholland Highway, Calabasas, CA 91302

Fee: Entry fee $0

To get the SMMNRA experience, an RV is the best way to go. Visiting the mountains themselves is an adventure, but adding the 41 miles of beach makes it a trip worth at least seven days, if not more. Do yourself and your family a favor, and rent an RV in the area to see this incredible country comfortably. Take your time, enjoy the ride, and take home memories that will last a lifetime.