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Topanga State Park

Nature & parks
In Los Angeles, California
6.0 mi from Route 66

Topanga State Park spreads across the Santa Monica Mountains near Santa Monica, CA, about 6.2 miles off the old road. It covers 11,000 acres, with 36 miles of trails and dirt roads, making it the largest park in these mountains. It is often counted as the largest park inside the limits of any city. For Route 66 drivers who finish at the coast, it is a chance to stretch their legs in open, hilly country.

What is Topanga State Park?

This California state park sits beside Los Angeles's Topanga neighborhood and is part of the larger national recreation area that covers these mountains. Its land runs between Pacific Palisades, Topanga Canyon and Mulholland Drive.

With more than 60 trail entrances, there are many ways in, and the network of trails and unpaved roads runs to about 36 miles. The scale is remarkable: this much open land lies within the city of Los Angeles itself.

Visiting Topanga State Park: tips

The park is about 6.2 miles from the old road. Because there are so many entrances, pick a trailhead ahead of time. Even a short walk of an hour gives a feel for the mountains.

The Getty Villa is about 3.6 miles away, a good pairing for a day of art and hiking. Temescal Canyon, another way into the same mountains, is about 4.2 miles off.

Practical info

Website: parks.ca.gov
Hours: We have no opening hours for this stop yet — check the official site.

Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix

Where to eat near Topanga State Park

All diners →

Diner & restaurant
Barney's Beanery
West Hollywood, CA · 10.0 mi from Topanga State Park
A West Hollywood roadhouse on Santa Monica Boulevard since 1927, its walls covered in old license plates.
Diner & restaurant
Carney's
West Hollywood, CA · 10.1 mi from Topanga State Park
Hot dogs and burgers served from yellow Union Pacific rail cars above the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood.
Diner & restaurant
Formosa Cafe
West Hollywood, CA · 11.6 mi from Topanga State Park
A West Hollywood restaurant and bar from 1925, long a hangout for film stars from the studio lot nearby.