Final trail purchase is completed

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) 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 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. Since 2000, the Conservancy has contributed more than $145,000 for the purchase of Backbone Trail properties.

"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 Edminston, MRCA executive officer.

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.

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.