Los Angeles State Parks

Los Angeles State Parks Overview

The state park system is responsible for almost a third of California's scenic coastline. State parks include underwater preserves, parks, redwood forests, plant and wildlife reserves, state beaches, recreation areas, wilderness areas, reservoirs, historic parks & homes, Spanish buildings, lighthouses, ghost towns, waterslides, conference centers, and off-highway vehicle parks. Below you'll find a list of the more popular Los Angeles state parks and ones we personally recommmend from the hiking trails of the Santa Monica Mountains to the sands of Will Rogers State Beach.

Los Angeles State Parks

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is located between highway 1 and 101 and between Thousand Oaks and Santa Monica. It is an outdoor playground on the edge of a major metropolitan city. The Santa Monica Mountains meet the ocean to the south and rise to over 2,000 feet. Activities include camping, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, bird & whale watching, swimming, surfing, nature walks and picnicking. Four State Parks are contained within the park including Point Mugu, Malibu Creek, Topanga and Leo Carrillo. The property has been used by Hollywood over the years to film movies such as M.A.S.H. and Planet of the Apes. You can find peaceful creeks and hidden waterfalls in the many canyons that carve the landscape.

TIP: ParkLink Shuttle offers $1 one way shuttles throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. Hikers and bikers use this service to obtain downhill only excursions.

Santa Monica Mountains NRA
401 West Hillcrest Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91358
(805) 370-2301
Map  |   Park Map  |   Accommodations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Point Mugu is located off Highway 1 (PCH) 15 miles south of Oxnard. Point Mugu offers beach camping and plenty of hiking and biking trails. Hike up one of two rivers that leads to open meadows and the Boney Mountains State Wilderness. Trails are lined with oak, sycamore and walnut trees. Acitivities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, mountain biking and horseback riding.
  
  Point Mugu
  9000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
  Malibu, California 90265
  (818) 880-0350
  Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Leo Carrillo is located off Highway 1 (PCH) 23 miles south of Oxnard. Point Mugu offers beach camping and 1.5 miles of beachfront. Beach includes a wide sandy beach, tidepools and seacaves. Several nature hikes are available in the adjacent headlands. Park includes a small visitor center offering group activities during the summer months. Other activities include camping, picnicking, hiking, fishing, and windsurfing. Known by locals as 'Movie Beach', many movies have been filmed here including From Here To Eternity, Grease, Karate Kid, The Usual Suspects and dozens more.
  
  Leo Carrillo State Park
  35000 W. Pacific Coast Highway
  Malibu, California 90265
  (818) 880-0350
  Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Topanga is located off Highway 1 (PCH) north of Santa Monica. Located in the cliffs and canyons of the Santa Monica Mountains, Topanga State Park features 36 miles of trails through canyons and grassland filled with oak trees. Ocean views and breezes can be had throughout the park. The park is popular picnic spot for Los Angeles residents. Acitivities include camping, picnicking, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
  
  Topanga
  Topanga, California 90290
  (310) 455-2465
  Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

• Malibu Creek is located off Highway 1 (PCH) in Malibu. The park follows the lush creek bed down from the Santa Monica Mountains into Malibu Lagoon below. Hollywood has taken advantage of its picturesque beauty making it the location of several movies including 'Tarzan' movies, 'Planet of the Apes' and several westerns. Remnants of the set from the television series 'M.A.S.H.' still remain. The beach was used for most of the 60's surf movies like 'Gidget'. Hiking trails lead to small waterfalls and the very popular Tapia Park. Camping, fishing, picnicking and hiking are common activities.
  
  Malibu Creek State Park
  Calabasas, California 91302
  (818) 880-0367
  Map  |   Accommodations  |   Camping  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

Will Rogers is located at the northern end of Santa Monica in Pacific Palisades. This is a large sandy beach with many amenities including concession stands, public restrooms, a playground and 'The Strand'. The Strand is a cement bike path that continues unimpeded all the way to Marina Del Rey. And with a few city street connections through Marina Del Rey, it continues all the way to Palos Verdes.

TIP: This is the set of the 'Baywatch' television show. The lifeguard headquarters seen on the show is here.

Will Rogers State Beach
Temescal Canyon Road & PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)
Pacific Palisades, California 90272
(310) 305-9503
Map  |   Accommodations  |   Website  |   Other Ideas

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