The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is an agency of the State of California founded in 1980 and dedicated to the acquisition of land for preservation as open space for public use and wildlife preservation. The territory of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy started with the Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Susana Mountains, and the Simi Hills. Later it was expanded to include areas within the San Gabriel Mountains, Verdugo Mountains, San Rafael Hills, and Puente Hills.

The conservancy area includes the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and the Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve. The visitor center to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreational Area has moved from Thousand Oaks to Calabasas.  Perez Peak is located within the Conservancy just south of Bell Canyon in Ventura County.

 

Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

The Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority (MRCA), established in 1985, is a government entity created by a partnership of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, and the Conejo Recreation and Park District. MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, watershed lands, trails, and wildlife habitat. MRCA manages and provides ranger services for over 70,000 acres of public lands and parks.

 

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Center

Visitors Center - Calabasas

The Interagency Visitor Center at the King Gillette Ranch is operated by four partner agencies:

• Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy
• California State Parks
• National Park Service
• Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority

 

 

Ramirez Canyon Park

Ramirez Canyon Park is a 22.5 acre state owned park located in Malibu. The park, which is owned and operated by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservatory, has lush vegetation, several streams and ponds, and lots of wildlife. The park connects to both Escondido Canyon and Corral Canyon.

 

Sepulveda Pass

The Sepulveda Pass is a mountain pass through the Santa Monica Mountains that connects the Los Angeles Basin to the San Fernando Valley. Encino and Sherman Oaks are at the north end of the pass in the San Fernando Valley, and Brentwood and Westwood are at the south end. The San Diego Freeway (405) runs through the pass along with Sepulveda Boulevard.