Day Hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains

This comprehensive guide includes 138 day hikes along the entire coastal Santa Monica Mountain range in Southern California. A separate section includes the full length of the 68-mile-long Backbone Trail, conveniently divided into day hiking options. The large variety of hikes accommodates every level of hiking, from short strolls through metropolitan greenspace to all-day, coast-to-peak hikes across national parklands. Highlights include fantastic sandstone landscapes, cool retreats along stream-fed canyons, gorges, waterfalls, coastal bluffs, filming locations, historic sites, and numerous 360-degree overlooks. Several hikes are found in Los Angeles' Griffith Park, including a hike up to the famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign.