Press Kit

Park History

On November 10, 1978, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was authorized as the 295th unit of the National Park System as part of the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978.

The recreation area is a collaborative partnership that protects a mosaic of natural resources, cultural heritage, and scenery within North America’s Mediterranean biome, and provides public enjoyment opportunities, including connections to wild places in the greater Los Angeles metropolitan area.

Resources

Year-round recreation and exploration opportunities, including 500 miles of trails; coastal and mountain landscapes, including more than 40 miles of beaches; fully functioning native habitats with a high biodiversity; habitat connectivity; hundreds of archeological sites, filming sites and settings that are continually used to this day; and a living, breathing laboratory in close proximity to millions of people and numerous research institutions.