In Southern California, only miles away from dense civilisation, is a beautiful National Park with over 500 miles of trails of varying difficulties. A short drive from HIghway 101 or the Pacific Coast Highway, the natural beauty and serenity of the mountains is a sharp contrast to the hectic city life in California. Carefully picked and maintained by the National Parks Service, the trails offer the best views and locations in the mountain range. Many of the trails are open to mountain biking as well, and you can go horseback riding or mountain climbing as well.

The most famous trails include the easy Satwiwa Loop Trail and Solstice Canyon Trail, only 1.5 to 2.1 miles long. The Satwiwa Trail takes you through the Satwiwa Native American Indian Natural Area, a beautiful grassland area with Mount Boney in the backdrop, set aside to celebrate Native American culture. The Solstice Canyon Trail leads to a waterfall and the ruins of the Roberts Ranch House, through a forest of oak and sycamore trees.

Then there’s the medium Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock, which offers a great spot for a picnic after a strenuous 3.5-mile hike, surrounded by an oak grove, with magnificent views of Carlisle Canyon and Balanced Rock on the way. There is also the Cheeseboro Canyon Trail to Modelo Trail Loop, where you ascend up a ridge and get a breathtaking panoramic view of the Simi Hills.

Then there is the all-time favourite 65-mile (one-way!) long Backbone Trail, Los Angeles’ premier long-distance trail. With 13 parking spots along the way and several campsites, hikers don’t often complete the whole hike in one go, but instead do segments at a time. The trail is also open to mountain biking and dogs, so you can take your best friend on a hike with you too. But there’s no denying that this trail offers the best sights and sounds of the Santa Monica Mountains. With a GPS app, you can hike this trail yourself, though there are NPS-led 8-day hikes through the trail as well. Promising “the best-protected stretch of coastal Mediterranean habitat in the world,” the beautiful formations of the mountain range are not to be missed.