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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