Backbone Trail System I Santa Monica Mountains Ridgeline Trail Has Been a Vision for More a Than 50 Years

National Park Service Santa Monica Mountains U.S. Department of the lnterior

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Backbone Trail System i Santa Monica Mountains ridgeline trail has been a vision for more A than 50 years. Originatly, it was to run from Griffith Park to Point Mugu, but that idea never went forward. In the l97}s,with the estab- l/ I ] " ' [.'i"' [ishment of state parks in the mountains, the notion began to crystal- Itze. The Backbone Tiail would stretch from Sfil Rogers State Historic Park to Point Mugu, anchored in the middle by Matibu Creek State Park.

During the 1980s, many who shared the vision started working on the project with California State Parks, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, and the National Park Service. By 1990, 43 miles of the trail had been completed. It followed ridges, traversed chaparral-covered hillsides, entered oak woodlands, and crossed creeks and valleys.

Like Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, the Backbone Trail System has progressed little by little across a patchwork of public lands. It has been constructed by volunteers, the California Conservation Corps, and professional staff from various parkland agencies. Parts of the trail were old animal paths that became single-track trails; other stretches were converted from fire roads. Only the newer sections have been built to modern trail standards.

Because the trail system has been pieced together, trail sections may have different names and not all sections are open to all users. For example, mountain bikes are limited to fire roads and are not allowed on single-track trails-unless the trail is posted for mountain bike usage. For equestrians, many trails and roads are suitable for safe passage, but others may be too narrow. Please contact the appropriate agency to check the safety of each Backbone Trail segment open to horses. Good equestrian parking is located at Topanga and Malibu Creek State Parks.

In a few years, when the Backbone Trail System is finished, it will extend 65 miles, unifying parklands in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Today, about 60 miles have been completed toward this goal.

If you wowld like to help complete or maintain the trail, please call the Santa Monica MountainsTrail Cowncil at 805-222-4531, or uisit www.SMMTC.org.

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Legend

7, Backbone Trail System at' No Bikes Allowed a TOPANGA )ro STATE PARK -E:::= Backbone Trail System lrooool Bikes Allowed aI er*uHr6 Trail EB@M EE Bikes Allowed Trippet Ranch E Major Road' E Minor Road m Mileage between points ts Parking t\ g Water @ Restroorn Equestrian Parking WILL ROGERS STATE EI b HISTORIC PARK a-

NOTE; Do not rely only on this mapfor exploring the Backb one kail. D etailed maps are auailable at the National Park Seraice Visitor Center inThousand Oaks. lnformation & Safety

lnformation Fires At park visitor centert take advantage of all the No wood or charcoal fires are permitted along the information about trail use in the Santa Monica Backbone Trail. Smoking is permitted only in park- Mountains. Maps and books on the Backbone Trail ing areas. National Park Service are available at the National Park Service Visitor Water Santa Monica Mountains Center in Thousand Oaks. Park staff can also answer Carry plenty of water. Water is not available at National Recreation Area questions about programs and other trails within most trailheads. Water from streams is not safe Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 401 West Hillcrest Drive to drink. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360 Safety Dogs www.nps.gov/samo Always stay on designated trails, carry a current trail Dogs on leash are permitted on trails managed map, and let someone know where you will be hik- by the National Park Service. Dogs are not Visitor Center: 805-370-2301 ing. Learn to recognize and avoid common hazards, allowed on backcountry trails managed by such as poison oak and rattlesnakes, In emergency: dial 911 California State Parks. Camping Etiquette Future plans call for a series of trail camps spaced Hikers must yield to horseback riders; mountain along the trail. Currently, the trail is open to day-use bikers must yield to hikers and horseback riders. only until the trail camps are constructed. Respect private propefi. Stay on designated trails and do not short-cut trails.

Design and Production: Santa Monka Mountains National Recreation Area - Division of lnterpretation Printing made possible hy a donation fron Western National Parks Association Vegetable based ink Retycled Paper WNPA 12M 9103