Ventura County Landmark No. 14: Point Mugu State Park
Historical Background
Point Mugu State Park, located in the Santa Monica Mountains, features five miles of ocean shoreline with rocky bluffs, sandy beaches, sand dunes, rugged hills and uplands, two major river canyons, and wide grassy valleys dotted with sycamores, oaks, and a few native walnuts. There are more than 70 miles of hiking trails. The beach also features swimming, body surfing and surf fishing. The park includes the jagged pinnacles of the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area (California Department of Parks and Recreation, 2023).
The park is the site of many archaeological finds, indicating a major Chumash village in the La Jolla Valley, and the largest remaining area of natural grassland in California. The name “Mugu” comes from the Chumash word “muwu”, meaning “beach”. The area was occupied for over 6,000 years, until the 1850s.
Additional Reading
References
California Department of Parks and Recreation (2023). Point Mugu State Park. https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630
Image Copyright Notice
Date Designated: February 1971
Location: Along Highway 1 from eastern tip of Mugu Lagoon southeast to Big Sycamore Canyon, from Highway 1 northeast to Potrero Road
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