Plan like a Park Ranger in the Santa Monica Mountains

1. Understand where you are headed 

Santa Monica Mountains is the largest urban national park in the country and it’s kind of like a big ole’ patchwork quilt comprised of a network of local, state, and federal parks interwoven with private lands. Check the rules wherever you go! Our website is a great place to start! www.nps.gov/samo.  

2. All the cool kids are downloading the NPS new app! 

The NPS mobile app includes a wealth of information on all National Park sites, including Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Pro tip: download the app and maps when you have reception. Don’t wait until you don’t!  

3. Speaking of…cell reception (or non-reception) 

We’re a little bit country, we’re a little bit city. This means cell reception can be spotty sometimes. See #1: plan ahead! Using a rideshare service might work to get to a trail, but what about the ride back home?  

4. It’s always sunny in LA – and sometimes very hot - TOO hot!

Check the weather and consider recreating early in the morning or later in the day (before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m.) when the temps are more reasonable. Sunset is popular at Sandstone Peak, the highest point in the mountains. Again, see #1: plan ahead. (Hmm, are you seeing a theme here)?

5. Get ready to experience the best of California.

Learn about the native peoples who inhabited these lands, the amazing plant communities that thrive here, the wildlife populations (including mountain lions) surviving in this urban habitat, the role of fire in the ecosystem, and the history of Hollywood filming at Paramount Ranch.

6. Got questions? Ask a Ranger! 

Come by and say hello to a ranger at the Santa Monica Mountains Visitor Center at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas or at the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center in Newbury Park! We can answer questions, share park stories and we can let you know what activities are available. You can visit our exhibits and pick up some maps.   

7. Be safe, not sorry! 

Be prepared by bringing water, food, map or some type of navigation device, a headlamp, and first-aid supplies on your hikes. Stay on trails, let someone know where you’re going and drive carefully. There are some curvy and winding roads out there! Also, watch for wildlife on the road. They live here, too. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Just. Don’t. Do. It.

8. Pack it in, pack it out! 

Do not leave behind trash, masks, leftover food and dog poop bags.  Use toilet facilities whenever possible. Also, help us preserve the past. Examine, photograph, but do not touch cultural or historic structures and artifacts. Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them. 

9. Remember to be chill!

This is La La Land, after all, so hang loose, relax and have fun! SoCal is still emerging from the ongoing coronavirus pandemic so we may not be totally back up to speed yet. Please be patient with us. Also, keep in mind that people who are not fully vaccinated must wear masks inside park buildings and in crowded outdoor areas.   

10. Looking out for our furry pet friends 

We love animals and for their safety, we ask that pets be on at least a six-foot leash. Check signs! Dogs are not allowed on trails managed by California State Parks or Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority’s (MRCA).