Circle X Ranch Group Campground

Biking

With diverse terrain and tens of fire roads and single track trails, biking in the Santa Monica Mountains has something for everyone. Explore the different state parks nestled within the mountains while taking in the ocean views, canyon walls, and shady streams. Check out a brochure of trails here.

Fishing

Many of the lakes in the Santa Monica Mountains are on private property, so fishing would not be recommended. It appears that Malibu Creek State Park’s Century Lake has bass and bluegill, but other than that, it doesn’t seem like fish can climb mountains (yet).

Hiking

There are dozens of hiking trails meandering throughout the mountains, with canyons, waterfalls, and breathtaking scenery of both city and wilderness. Somes of the hikes even show the Hollywood sign (Hollyridge trail), the TV show “MASH” set (MASH Set Trail), and even the Batcave in Griffith Park?! Well, you’re not in Los Angeles for nothing… to the Batcave! The whole list of trails can be found on Hikespeak.

Horseback riding

Five hundred miles of trails are summoning you and your horse to the Santa Monica Mountains. You can stay with other equestrians at a horse campground, or if you have no horse to call your own yet, try the horse rentals on a guided tour. Either way, you need to take Bucky to gallop across the trails here.

Climbing

There are some intense climbing spots with even crazier names: Death By Chocolate, Crash and Burn, Double Agent and Conspiracy are only a few of the spots in the Circle X Ranch in the SM Mountains, and there are even more absurd spots in Malibu Creek State Park: Planet of the Apes Wall, Nipple Denial Syndrome (what???), Luscious, and Urban Struggle can be found there. Check out the list here and the routes on Mountain Trail.

Swimming

There’s a really cool rock pool in Malibu Creek State Park only a short hike from the parking lot (insider tip: parking is expensive, maybe try walking in from parking on Mulholland), which offers refreshingly cool water and an overwhelming sense of tranquility during the weekdays. If you’re gutsy, try jumping off from the cliffs… But you didn’t hear it from us! There are also many beaches worth checking out if you prefer to take a dip in the ocean.

Wildlife watching

These coastal mountains are home to more than 450 species of vertebrate and 380 species of birds. There are even some mountain lions that seem to be surviving under monitored tracking, which is pretty amazing considering all of the roads and dangers infringing on their habitat. There’s no shortage of wildlife here!