Conservation authority nearing complete acquisition of Backbone Trail

Courtesy National Park Service THE TRAIL OF TRAILS- A view of the Backbone Trail just east of the Mishemokwa trail head. The natural path runs an incredible 65 miles through the Santa Monica Mountains.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority announced recently it has purchased one of the last remaining properties needed to complete the 65-mile Backbone Trail System. The 10-acre property in Encinal Canyon in unincorporated Ventura County provides a critical link to more than 20 miles of the trail between Los Angeles County and Point Mugu.

The $275,000 purchase price includes an easement over Etz Meloy Motorway, the trail alignment for the Backbone Trail. The acquisition is the latest of more than 177 individual parcels and trail easements that have been obtained by public park agencies since the crestline trail through the Santa Monica Mountains was first envisioned and planned in the late 1970s.

The Mountains Conservancy Foundation, a nonprofit organization, donated $50,000 toward the purchase. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy granted the remaining amount in Proposition 84 funds approved by the voters in 2006 to complete the acquisition.

More than 400 private donors have contributed to the Backbone Trail Completion Fund, which was established to augment public money to purchase trail properties.

The donation is the latest in more than $145,000 of funds contributed by the MCF for the purchase of Backbone Trail properties since the year 2000.

"The enduring vision and hard work of park agencies and hundreds of volunteers and donors dedicated to the Backbone Trail has made this trail system through the Santa Monica Mountains a reality," said Joseph T. Edminston, executive officer of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. "(Our) goal is not only to preserve these magnificent mountains, but to make them accessible for all people to explore and enjoy."

The Backbone Trail is a ridgeline trail unifying parklands in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and spanning two counties. The trail stretches east to west through vast canyon land, historic sites, streams, unusual geology, grassland and coast 65 miles from Will Rogers State Historical Park in Pacific Palisades to Point Mugu State Park in Ventura County. It is anchored in the middle by Malibu Creek State Park. Completion of the backbone trail has been a more than 30-year effort. Only three remaining parcels need to be purchased in order to complete the trail. 63 miles of the trail are open for public use.

For more information about the Backbone Trail, including maps, visit www.nps.gov.