California

Established: November 10, 1978

156,671 Acres

Annual Visitors: 609,636 (2011)

Official Site: https://www.nps.gov/samo/index.htm

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Monica_Mountains_National_Recreation_Area

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The 13 Best National Parks in California

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area: The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which runs along the Malibu coastline, is impressive: It encompasses nine state parks and some of the most popular beaches in Los Angeles, including Zuma Beach and El Matador State Beach. If you're only interested in hanging by the ocean, spend time at R.H. Meyer Memorial State Beaches or Leo Carrillo State Park. For hiking, hit up Malibu Creek State Park, home to California redwoods, or Point Mugu State Park for scenic canyon trails. While there is so much to do here, you can't leave without going on an ocean-view hike. Head to the Rising Sun Trail in Solstice Canyon or the Los Liones Trail in Topanga State Park for more of a challenge. The recreation area also offers campgrounds, which run between $10 and $225 per night. There is no admission fee and the parks and its trails are open year-round with no hourly restrictions. However, it’s important to know that parking lots are only open from 8 a.m. to sunset.

https://travel.usnews.com/gallery/the-13-best-national-parks-in-california?slide=10