A half-century in the making | Backbone trail in the Santa Monica Mountains

Neli Navarrete of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area scales a hilltop as crews work to complete the Backbone Trail.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

May 25, 2016 11:30 AM PT

For more than 50 years, hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers have dreamed of following an uninterrupted trail among the sycamore canyons and sandstone peaks of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Backbone Trail runs nearly 70 miles between Point Mugu State Park and Will Rogers State Historic Park.

Backbone Trail in Santa Monica Mountains

Signage helps direct hikers, equestrians and mountain bikers of the Backbone Trail system near the property that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and fitness advocate Betty Weider donated in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Hikers utilize a dirt road portion of the Backbone Trail in the Santa Monica Mountains.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Kate Kuykendall, public information officer with Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, inspects wildflowers on the property that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and fitness advocate Betty Weider donated.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Mike Zenan, right, trail crew leader for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, works with Neli Navarrete, left, on trail building as crews work to complete the Backbone Trail.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Melanie Beck, left, high fives David Szymanski, center, superintendent of the recreation agency, on the morning the agency closed escrow on the property that former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and fitness advocate Betty Weider donated, allowing completion of the Backbone Trail.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Mike Zenan, trail crew leader for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and Neli Navarrete, walk trail they have cut as crews work to complete the Backbone Trail.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)

Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area officials survey the new Etz Meloy Motorway portion of the Backbone Trail trail under construction where it crosses Yerba Buena Road in Ventura County.

(Al Seib / Los Angeles Times)