Arnold Schwarzenegger helps complete California hiking trail

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Betty Weider donated 16 hectares of their California ranch near Los Angeles to extend the Backbone Trail, a path that protects local wildlife and provides public access to scenic views.

The pair previously acted to preserve natural ecosystems while Schwarzenegger served as California’s governor. The donated land, valued at $500,000, allowed the Santa Monica Mountains Area to complete 60% of the trail without using public funds originally intended for purchase.

The Backbone Trail runs through a large area of undeveloped land in Southern California, featuring chaparral, oak forests, and rock formations. Since Schwarzenegger’s donation, hikers have gained access to views of the Pacific Ocean, coastline, and inland hills. The trail also allows visitors to observe native plants and animals, including pumas and snakes.

David Szymanski, superintendent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, explained the trail is the result of 40 years of effort by public officials, park agencies, volunteers, and donors. Once finished, the Backbone Trail will become part of an 800-kilometer network connecting residents of Los Angeles and Ventura counties to public lands. Conservation groups began working to acquire land in the 1960s, transforming private ranches and golf courses into public access areas.