You are here

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Lion Has Mange

National Park Service researchers recently re-captured the female mountain lion known as P-53 and treated her for mange, a parasitic disease of the hair and skin. Mange is generally rare in wild cats, however, it has been widespread in bobcats in the Santa Monica Mountains area since an epizootic started in 2002 caused extensive mortality and a significant population decline.

NatureBridge Summer Backpacking Programs For Teens In Yosemite And Olympic National Parks Build Future Scientists And Leaders

NatureBridge, the largest non-profit educational partner of the National Park Service, leads life-changing backpacking programs for middle and high school students in Yosemite and Olympic national parks each summer.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area On The Mend But Enduring Loss

The rain has been doing its magic in Southern California. Green has returned to the fire-blackened Santa Monica Mountains, fresh growth emerging from the ash of the biggest fire ever to sweep the 154,000-acre park that’s hemmed by the Pacific’s white beaches and the sprawl of greater Los Angeles. Tiny seedlings dot many slopes, looking in the distance like a green peach fuzz, and brilliant lime grasses, invasive as well as native, stretch beneath craggy mountains that still wear the charcoal face left by November’s ferocious Woolsey Fire.

Episode 1: Acadia National Park, and fire recovery at Santa Monica Mountains NRA

In this inaugural National Parks Traveler podcast, host Kurt Repanshek talks with Friends of Acadia Communications Director Earl Brechlin about when best to visit the park, where to go, and what issues the park staff is facing.

Traveler contributor Rita Beamish provides a preview of her story on the recovery Santa Monica Mountains NRA is going through following last fall's Woolsey fire.

bootstrap

Could There Be A Spectacular Wildflower Season At Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area?

There aren't a lot of upsides to wildfires, not for human society, but they do serve landscapes well by converting downed trees and other vegetation into soil nutrients. If the weather cooperates, in terms of rainfall, they can lead to spectacular floral displays, which is something that could be coming soon to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area in California.

New Executive Order Could Open Forests In National Parks To Logging

An executive order expected to be posted Monday in the Federal Register is somewhat open-ended in directing the Interior and Agriculture departments to actively manage forests to reduce the risk of wildfires. Conservationists are concerned how the order could either directly or indirectly affect lands within the National Park System.

Plants Are Sprouting In Burned Areas Of The Santa Monica Mountains - That’s Good And Bad

At least two plant species have been spotted sprouting amidst the charred ash of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area after the Woolsey Fire burned through almost 100,000 acres and 88 percent of federal land. That’s both good and bad news, National Park Service biologists say.

Path Of The Puma: The Remarkable Resilience Of The Mountain Lion

Bison, wolves, grizzly bears, and elk are all categorized as “charismatic megafauna.” These are animals that have popular appeal to many and are often used as symbols of wildness. Not so often mentioned under this category is the mountain lion, also known as the puma, the panther, and the cougar. And while these big cats often fly under the proverbial radar of wildlife advocates, not only are they out there, but their range is expanding and they’re showing up in some previously unlikely places.

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Ravaged By Wildfire

As containment of the Woolsey Fire in California nears 50 percent, the extent of damage to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, its wildlife, and its historic structures, is becoming more clear. Nearly 90 percent of the NRA has been blackened by the fire, with such historic structures as the Morrison Ranch House and Western Town at the Paramount Ranch destroyed.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.