Point Mugu State Park occupies a dramatic section of the western Santa Monica Mountains in Southern California, where a rugged shoreline gives way to tidal lagoons, sand dunes, beaches, canyons, valleys, and chaparral-covered peaks. Bordering protected Mugu Lagoon, it contains distinct landside and beachside ecosystems separated by the Pacific Coast Highway. The park includes five miles of oceanfront, seasonal rivers, oak and sycamore groves, and views of Boney Mountain State Wilderness Area. It is a major outdoor destination for camping, hiking, swimming, biking, picnicking, wildlife viewing, and horseback riding, and it marks the western start of the Backbone Trail across the Santa Monica Mountains.