Did you know that a backcountry hiking trail now connects 67 miles of nature around L.A.? It took almost 50 years to complete and officially opened in June, making it possible to trek through one of the largest areas of undeveloped land left in the region. Known as the Backbone Trail, it connects pockets of conservation areas around the Santa Monica Mountains and makes it possible to walk uninterrupted from Point Mugu State Park in Malibu to Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades. And now it's catching national attention.
In a new report from USA Today, it states that the trail finally came together this spring, when the Park Service was finally able to acquire the lynchpin pieces of land they had been trying to buy for years. These four parcels filled in the remaining connections and made the Backbone Trail possible. The purchases were all made with private donations, not government money, including a large donation from former California governor (and soon-to-be Celebrity Apprentice host) Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“When you consider the views of the ocean and the proximity to such a major urban center, there’s nothing like this trail anywhere else in Southern California,” the president of the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council, Howard Cohen, told USA Today.
In addition to a mix of interesting trees and plants and some killer views of the L.A. region that have rarely been seen by the public before, the trail offers a chance to encounter some of the area’s wildlife, including coyotes, rattlesnakes, mountain lions and a variety of birds.
The trail is long and fairly intense and, at present, offers few facilities for overnight camping stays. Experts advise breaking your hike up into stages and always carrying plenty of water.
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