While we were excited to discover that the trail has its own logo (a spiral-centered sun), it appeared on signage more rarely than the words “Backbone Trail.” Some blame falls on past wildfires scorching the paint from existing trail markers, but other areas- including some critical junctions-look to have never featured any signage. While the entire Backbone is located on-trail, the route itself isn’t generally well-signed or marked, with few exceptions. You can scratch the itch for a winter backpacking trip without needing to pack snowshoes and a four-season tentĭifficulty and Required Skills Navigation The views are often absolutely jaw-dropping, from expansive ocean vistas that sometimes include Catalina Island and the Channel Islands, to surprise peeks of the distant (and sometimes snow-capped) San Gabriel Mountains and San Bernardino Mountainsĭuring a wet winter and early spring, the Santa Monica Mountains practically glow with chlorophyll and wildflower explosions, a rarity in Southern Californiaįrom end to end, the trail is packed with unique rock formations and several peak-bagging opportunitiesĭespite its proximity to the Los Angeles sprawl, the trail offers plenty of quiet and solitude, especially as you pass through the Boney Mountain State Wilderness on its west endīecause it crosses all of the major north-south roads in the Santa Monica Mountains, the trail is incredibly easy to access (or to bail on, if need be) On either end of your trip, visit the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center, located north of Point Mugu State Park at Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa, to learn more about the Santa Monica Mountains’ Indigenous past, present, and future. While the violent forces of conquest and colonization led to the destruction of not just townships but also a way of life, Chumash and other Indigenous peoples persevered and remain deeply connected to this landscape today. Thousands of years before the Backbone Trail was a glint in any hiker’s (or bodybuilder’s) eye, though, these lands flourished with bustling Chumash villages. That is, until 2016, when the final section was completed with (among other things) the donation of critical acreage by actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and pioneering women’s fitness advocate Betty Weider. Even then, private inholdings prevented the trail’s completion, and it remained a hodgepodge network of “Backbone”-branded trails and connector roads. While the trail’s rough idea was batted around for decades, its existence didn’t become a reality until construction began on a handful of segments in the 1980s. This National Recreation Trail's western terminus is located just a short distance from the famed Pacific Coast Highway at Point Mugu’s Ray Miller Trailhead its eastern terminus sits in a somewhat arbitrary location just north of the main parking lot at Will Rogers State Park. The Backbone Trail runs roughly east-west for 67 miles (or so) through Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, passing through a patchwork of federal and state lands that include: Point Mugu State Park, Circle X Ranch, Zuma-Trancas Canyons, Malibu Creek State Park, Topanga State Park, and Will Rogers State Historic Park. Permits: No hiking permits required California Campfire Permit for campfires and stovesĭifficulty: Moderate hike to strenuous endeavor (the difficulty eases with more days on trail) Highest elevation: Sandstone Peak (3,111 feet) Lack of “legal” campsites and natural water sources, however, creates a tricky logistical puzzle for hikers who want to cover its entire length in one go.Īfter connecting the dots on a recent eastbound winter thru-hike of the Backbone Trail, I hope to demystify this incredible route so that more people can experience what I feel is one of the best-and most challenging-multi-day backpacking trips located near a major city (that’s Los Angeles, if you’re wondering).ĭistance: The National Park Service lists the official distance at 67 miles, and I measured 71.3 (although that included starting from Pacific Coast Highway, a short side trip to Sandstone Peak, and a one-way hike back to the trail from the Malibu Creek State Park Campground)Įlevation gain/loss: 13,710 feet / 13,247 feet (eastbound) It makes for a gorgeous backpacking route in winter and spring when hillsides explode with bright bursts of wildflowers and carpets of impossibly green foliage. The Backbone Trail traces a rollercoaster path across the spine of Southern California’s Santa Monica Mountains, traversing craggy peaks, lush canyons, and grassy ridgelines, often within view of the Pacific Ocean.
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