Thousand Oaks - Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area encompasses 153,700 acres of southern California. It is a unit of the National Park Service, and the largest urban national park in the US. Popular activities include hiking, mountain bicycling, horseback riding, camping, picnicking, wildlife viewing, swimming and surfing.

The Recreation Area preserves rare Mediterranean-type coastal ecosystems.

These diverse and productive ecosystems are found where marine influences moderate temperature and precipitation. There are more than 450 animal species and 26 distinct plant communities. The mountains are home to 20 federal and state listed endangered plant and animal species.

The National park Service Visitor Center in Thousand Oaks, California provides extensive information on hiking and mountain biking routes through the mountains.