Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains

Backbone Trail Loop

The Backbone Trail is one of Southern California’s best-kept secrets and one of America’s premier long-distance trails. With panoramas of the glistening ocean to views of endless ridges disappearing into the horizon, the Backbone Trail is a truly unique Southern California experience. As hikers on this trail, you will enjoy the Mediterranean ecosystem, found only in five places in the world.

This National Recreation Trail passes over impressive ridges, reaching its highest point at Sandstone Peak (which, at 3,111 ft, is the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains), and traverses through chaparral hillsides, canyons, and oak woodlands. Rolling meadows and deep-wooded canyons of the east transition to rocky outcrops and dramatic volcanic cliffs of the west. Other activities include Rock climbing, Birding, Picnicking, Photography Trail running.

In development for decades through the efforts of many public and private agencies and organizations, the Backbone Trail was officially completed in 2016 and designated a National Recreation Trail. The vision for creating a continuous ridgeline trail through the Santa Monica Mountains took nearly 50 years of hard work and perseverance to become a reality.