{"id":"nps-samo","slug":"santa-monica-mountains-national-recreation-area","name":"Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area","designation":"National Recreation Area","category":"national-recreation-area","categoryLabel":"National Recreation Area","agency":{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov"},"managedBy":[{"code":"NPS","name":"National Park Service","department":"U.S. Department of the Interior","url":"https://www.nps.gov","unitCode":"SAMO","designation":"National Recreation Area","sourceId":"nps-samo"}],"states":["CA"],"stateNames":["California"],"location":{"lat":34.09777606,"lon":-118.7708619},"bbox":[-119.1006,33.9965,-118.3398,34.2241],"acres":{"value":154351,"kind":"gis-estimate","source":"Computed from the simplified boundary","note":"Approximate. The managing agency publishes official acreage."},"firstProtected":null,"established":null,"administrations":[],"designationHistory":[],"summary":"The Santa Monica Mountains offer easy access to surprisingly wild places. Experience the famous beaches of Malibu or explore more than 500 miles of trails. The park abounds with historical and cultural sites, from old movie ranches to Native American centers. What will you and your family discover?","summarySource":"National Park Service","guide":{},"trConnection":null,"trConnections":[],"trTypes":[],"links":{"official":"https://www.nps.gov/samo/index.htm","social":{},"recreationGov":null,"alltrails":null,"alltrailsExplore":"https://www.alltrails.com/explore?b_tl_lat=34.2241&b_tl_lng=-119.1006&b_br_lat=33.9965&b_br_lng=-118.3398","recreationGovSearch":"https://www.recreation.gov/search?q=Santa%20Monica%20Mountains%20National%20Recreation%20Area","directions":"http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/directions.htm"},"images":[{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/1562B20E-ECB2-8C39-845FD157BDF14D22.jpg","title":"Point Mugu Sunset","alt":"Sunbeams reaching from glowing sun over the ocean.","caption":"Point Mugu Sunset","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/66BA4AE8-DAE0-F0F1-9ED90F241922BCAE.jpg","title":"Zuma Canyon in Spring","alt":"Trail view with yellow flowers in the foreground that lead to green mountains against a blue sky.","caption":"Zuma Canyon in spring.","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/14B63768-E50D-70A8-F75875138E37D4C3.jpg","title":"Mountains","alt":"Mountain silhouettes at sunrise.","caption":"View from Sandstone Peak at Sunrise","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/158D19A5-00CD-A8B1-F56AAAA01022901C.jpg","title":"Malibu Creek Overlook","alt":"Wispy cloud covered sky over chaparral covered mountains.","caption":"Malibu Creek Overlook","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/2AD947F8-AC77-D7AC-A14885CD0B367414.jpg","title":"Equestrians on Trail","alt":"People riding horses into the sunset on a mountain trail.","caption":"Equestrians on Trail","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/1582CA00-9CFA-A7D8-B3CD3A88936850F8.jpg","title":"Leo Carrillo Beach","alt":"Rocks emerging from ocean.","caption":"Leo Carrillo Beach","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/2ACEECB4-B801-F666-2017C6E891F95AF3.jpg","title":"Sunset Views","alt":"Two individuals sitting atop a rocky outcrop while watching the sun set.","caption":"Sunset Views","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"},{"url":"https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/structured_data/156A4184-CB1A-59BC-149E2B50B0C33DEF.jpg","title":"Paramount Ranch Night Sky","alt":"Milky way shines in night sky over a mountain and oak tree.","caption":"Paramount Ranch Night Sky","credit":"NPS","source":"NPS"}],"activities":["Biking","Mountain Biking","Camping","Car or Front Country Camping","Climbing","Rock Climbing","Compass and GPS","Geocaching","Hiking","Front-Country Hiking","Horse Trekking","Horseback Riding","Junior Ranger Program","Shopping","Bookstore and Park Store"],"topics":["Archeology","Farming and Agriculture","Ranches","Schools and Education","Westward Expansion","Homesteading","Animals","Birds","Cats (wild)","Climate Change","Fire","Fossils and Paleontology","Geology","Mountains"],"fees":[],"passes":[],"hours":[{"name":"Park Sites","description":"The park sites are open year-round.\nOur parking lots are open from 8 am to sunset.","standardHours":{"wednesday":"All Day","monday":"All Day","thursday":"All Day","sunday":"All Day","tuesday":"All Day","friday":"All Day","saturday":"All Day"},"exceptions":[]}],"directions":"There are multiple trailheads around the park, so there is not one main entrance. You can begin your visit at the visitor center, located off Mulholland Highway in Calabasas. The Santa Monica Mountains are traversed by the 405 Freeway on the east side; crowned by the 101 Freeway on the north and west side; and Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), on the southern ocean border.","weatherInfo":"Summers are hot and dry while winters are cool and wet.","contacts":{"phone":"8053702301","email":"samo_interpretation@nps.gov"},"visitorCenters":[{"name":"Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center","description":"Located at the southern end of the community of Newbury Park, this site reflects the heritage of both Native Americans and local ranching. The Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center is open on weekends from 9am to 4pm. Native American workshops and programs occur throughout the year.","url":"https://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/satwiwa-native-american-indian-culture-center.htm","lat":34.1504,"lon":-118.9613},{"name":"Santa Monica Mountains Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center","description":"The Anthony C. Beilenson Interagency Visitor Center features a bookstore managed by Western National Parks Association. You can purchase memorabilia, guidebooks, puppets and more. It also features interactive exhibits and has a small theater where a park film is shown.","url":"http://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/visitor-center.htm","lat":34.1028431142,"lon":-118.707515784}],"campgrounds":[{"name":"Circle X Ranch Campground - CLOSED","description":"Circle X Ranch Group Campground is the only campground the National Park Service operates in the Santa Monica Mountains. Visit recreation.gov to make reservations for this 10 person minimum group camp.","url":"","reservationUrl":"https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233381","sites":1}],"thingsToDo":[],"nearby":[{"slug":"hopper-mountain-national-wildlife-refuge","km":41},{"slug":"saint-francis-dam-national-monument","km":56},{"slug":"angeles-national-forest","km":75},{"slug":"san-gabriel-mountains-national-monument","km":75},{"slug":"seal-beach-national-wildlife-refuge","km":76},{"slug":"channel-islands-national-park","km":106}],"hasBoundary":true,"boundarySource":{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division","url":"https://irma.nps.gov/DataStore/Reference/Profile/2224545"},"sources":[{"name":"NPS Data API","url":"https://developer.nps.gov/api/v1/parks?parkCode=samo"},{"name":"NPS Land Resources Division boundaries","url":"https://services1.arcgis.com/fBc8EJBxQRMcHlei/arcgis/rest/services/NPS_Land_Resources_Division_Boundary_and_Tract_Data_Service/FeatureServer/2"}],"editorialStatus":"draft","synced":"2026-11-09T02:12:45.622Z","alerts":[],"url":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/sites/santa-monica-mountains-national-recreation-area/","boundaryUrl":"https://directory.labs.trlibrary.com/boundaries/santa-monica-mountains-national-recreation-area.geojson"}