Los Angeles is well-known for a lot of things: Mexican food , fantastic shopping , outdoor activities ... the list goes on. But it’s also home to the Santa Monica Mountain Range that runs east to west, across most of the city. By now, you may have heard of the ever-popular Runyon Canyon Loop that is frequented by tourists and celebrities alike. You may even have heard of the latest hiking obsession in Cali: "peak bagging" . But this week, a new 67-mile hike will make its debut amongst the many trails that LA has to offer. The hike forms part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (and, because we're nice, you can check out our definitive guide to it here !) . The Backbone Trail spans the peaks of the various mountains in this area, and has been a work-in-progress for over 40 years. However, the creation of this trail posed not so much a geological challenge as a political one. The land itself is worth more than $100 million, and was turned over to the public by multiple cities in order to complete the trail. Former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger contributed a significant portion by donating a whopping 40 acres of land.

For the more ambitious, 67 miles may seem like the adventure of a lifetime, but due to the small number of camping grounds, overnight stays are not the best option. The National Park Service (RPS) suggests completing the trail in sections at a time, much like you would for similar long-distance hikes like the Appalachian Trail or the Pacific Crest Trail. This will likely be a temporary alternative, as plans to build a “thru-hike” are still in its initial stages, which means you'll be able to reserve these new campsites and complete the trail in one trip. NPS communications rep Zach Behrens told LAist : “We want to create a small number of backcountry campsites for use with permits. Right now, we as the National Park Service only operate one camping spot in those mountains. It’s our goal to start making thru-hiking a reality for more people.”

The plans for Backbone Trail don’t stop there. NPS hopes to create a continuous network for hiking and camping by connecting it to the 500 miles of trails in the region. Backbone trail is only one of many urban greenways that are emerging as an alternative to driving. Ideally, the trail will extend to the more urbanized areas of the city, intersecting Bel-Air mansions, two freeways, and eventually meeting Griffith Park at the end of the Santa Monica Mountains. The dream? Everyone spends so long hiking the hundreds of miles of trails criss-crossing the entire city that the nightmare LA traffic becomes a thing of the past... Looking for more hiking adventures in Cali? Check out the our definitive guide to the Backbone Trail and these stunning night hikes .