Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak

Beautiful trail and views. Whether you like hiking or running, there’s a 6 miles loop with breathtaking sights of both the ocean to the south and the valleys to the north. On clear days, you can see MT. Baldy

Preface: I’m not an athletic person. I don’t hike (very often) and I consider my daily exercise the stairs up to my apartment. So I would say I am about average in terms of physical prowess (meaning not very impressive). So for people who are not outdoor junkies but would like to try something new, read on.
For me, this place was on the more difficult side of things. The trail is steep and windy especially when you close in on Sandstone Peak where it gets a bit more rocky. But man, it was so worth it. It really felt like something straight out of Lord of the Rings. Every step you take, you’re just marveling at the 360 view of nature at its best. All of these pictures don’t really do this place justice because they just don’t capture the depth of all that mesmerizing scenery.
All in all, I would highly recommend this place. If you aren’t the outdoorsy type, I still say it’s doable, but be prepared for taking many breaks (no judgement, I’ve been there :). There is a parking lot and a bathroom right before you start the hike. I have to say though, be prepared when you’re driving up to the place. It’s at least 15 minutes of super winding, steep roads and I definitely got carsick before I even hit the trail. But so worth it.

This trail is amazing! Today was the first time I had visited this trail, and it was a great experience.
I came here with my girlfriend for valentines day, just expecting a normal hiking trail. It was way better than we expected and even more fun than described by others.
First of all, the weather here is a few degrees cooler than in the valley. There is also quite a strong breeze on this trail, making it a bit easier fight the Cali heat.
When you first start the hike, there are maps which show you all the different trails. You can take one when you begin and return it when you come back. This was helpful, without the map we would have surely taken a wrong turn.
The trail you want to follow is Sandstone Peak (stay left at each fork). This is the highest point in the Santa Monica mountains at 3,111 ft above sea level. The view once you reach the top is spectacular! Once you reach the top, there will be a monument. Open the mailbox and pull out the notebook. This is something that everyone signs once they reach the top. This added some character to the hike, and I have never seen anything like this before. Very cool.
Overall, the hike was about 5 miles and took us about 2.5 hours. It was such a fun experience. So cool. 5 stars! Best hike ive ever been on.

So far, this is the best trail I have been on. It is quite challenging, but it is worth the trip. The views are breath taking. We started the hike around 8am, and the mountains were still covered with clouds. Everywhere we looked had amazing views. It was a great challenge too. We had a great workout. If you are looking for a good hike and a great challenge, definitely hike here. Don’t forget to stop by and climb up the stairs to inspiration point! Your hike will not be complete if you don’t go up those stairs.

Super amazing hike! The 360 degree view is incredible. The hike is not even that challenging! It’s the highest point of the Santa Monica Mountains and there’s so much color when you reach the top! A must do! Enjoy :)

Absolutely loved this trail! A good 7 ½ miles of pure awesomeness! I’ve done a few trails and I have to say this one is by far my favorite.
You get amazing views, good amount of incline, good locations to sit down and enjoy the scene and it gets better once you get to the peak. I also like that there are a couple of times during the trail when there’s a good amount of shade, this is handy for those warm/​hot days.
One of my other favorite parts of the trail was the inspiration point. It’s a point in the trail where you get a beautiful view and you can sit down and take pictures, eat a snack or chat it up with friends. I definitely recommend this trail.

QUITE A WINDY ROAD trek to get to the trail head but the hike was well worth it! we parked at the first parking lot which is the one without the bathroom (go down another 0.75 miles for the parking lot with a bathroom)
we took the Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone peak which ends up being a 6.5 mile loop since you come down the short way via Back Bone trail (which is much rockier)! The loop takes you around the back side which has much more interesting vegetation and breath taking scenery, especially the lookout towards the area where people belay
on the way to Sandstone Peak (the highest point in the Santa Monica mountains) also stop at inspiration point!
the hike isn’t too strenuous, there are a few steep areas but they are short

I loved this trail.
Not too far from the trailhead you’ll hit a fork in the trail. If you go left, it’s 1.5 miles directly to Sandstone Peak. If you go right it’s the longer route (6.5 miles) and takes you to two other sights — tri peaks and split rock — then finally to Sandstone Peak. We did the 1.5 mile trail, and by the time we finished, about 2 hours later, our tracker said it had been 4 miles.
The reason this trail gets so many stars is because depending on the weather you will be above the cloud level which means you can take some pretty incredible photos!

Hands down my favorite trail in SoCal! Be warned: this is not for those with a fear of heights or who hyperventilate easily! There’s this one stretch where the trail is two feet wide with boulders at a 45 degree angle to your left, and a 90 degree precipitous drop to your right. I suppressed my burning desire to take a selfie and drop my phone, or worse…
Anyway. The top of Sandstone Peak is another one of those adrenaline moments. This time you’re scrambling up a giant rock that forms a 45 degree angle with a 90 degree drop to the valley inches from your right. I heard there’s a guestbook near the Mt. Allen sign, but the entire peak was maybe 20 feet across and I was so scared to even take a picture, let alone scramble to the guestbook! Next time.

This is by far one of my favorite hike in LA. I love coming here new years day because I like to be one of the first few to signed the notebook that is station on top of the sandstone peak. What I like about this hiking trail is the scenic view all the way to the top of the peak. There are some spot that has incline and some flat lane but overall, it is a fun short hike, doable for all ages and even pets! Quick note is that the parking lot is filled with gravel so be careful with choosing the car you want to drive up here with. Since it is located in Malibu, it is quite a drive from where I am at but I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves the great outdoors. Also if you are hungry after the Neptune’s Net is right now the mountain, great spot for food, especially after a hike.

Beautiful beautiful beautiful.
Love this place! About 5 miles round trip from the parking lot to the peak.
The drive there is just stunning, especially in the morning at sunrise. The rocks and mountains are like hues of paint and man, I’ve been there many, many times.
The hike itself is pretty easy to moderate. (I’m a very active person and hike about once a week.) There aren’t that many inclines and I feel that its a great hike for a beginner.
Views are fantastic as well. You can see the mountains, the cities, and the ocean. I highly recommend people to go if you love to hike.

Beautiful and worth the drive. The windy roads are quite narrow towards the top but it can be a fun ride with the right car ;)
This hike is about 3 hours. I believe it’s about 6.5 miles more or less. (roundtrip)
Come early! We came at 8am and finished around 11.
The views are breathtaking. It feels like you’re in a different country with so much green all around and scenery of course. The hike isn’t toooo strenuous. I thought it would be worse. But getting to the highest point (of 3,111 ft) of the Santa Monica mountains was a struggle since we went the wrong way and did that at the end of the hike as opposed to getting it over with in the beginning of the hike. But! Totes worth it!
Don’t forget to sign the book when you get up there!
Bring lots of water and snacks.
I would love to do this hike again when the weather cools down. Def one of my favorite hikes. But you can’t really go wrong with any of the hiking trails in Malibu.

Been hiking various trails all around LA and have to say that this has been the most scenic hike yet! I really can’t wait to go back.
Go for the real deal — the 6.5 mile hike. Start by 8 AM. Trust me on this… the drive up seems never ending, windy, and at one point becomes mini lanes… but even driving up, seeing the fog and the clouds start to get low really plays mind games on you as far as questioning where you are.
There are two dirt lots. Skip the first one and go a little farther to the smaller one on the right. You will see 2 signs, I believe one is to the Sandstone Peak (one of the higher mountains, 3,111 ft elevation) and the other is going in a loop. Go left to the peak! The incline is quick but the views are SPECTACULAR — you are above cloud level! It’s really surreal and amazing.
A cool bonus is that there’s a notebook and pens at the top of Mount Allen (Sandstone Peak). People signed their name, wrote inspirational messages, etc. Further down the trail is another mountain head called Inspiration Point that also has amazing high views. Everywhere you turn is like a postcard from a different place. Then the trail descends into the valleys and by now it’s hot so by doing the trail backwards, it continues being scenic and shady on a steady decline. You pass by Split Rock (hugh rock split in 3), some poison ivy, and then more amazing views. At one point I took a break to watch some real rock climbers in the distance.
The end of the trail (or beginning, as most people do it) leads (or begins) at that first dirt lot. Doing it backwards and starting early morning though is the best. So glad I found this hike, can’t wait to take more people here!

Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak is a must do hike! The hike takes you to the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. The views from the top of Mount Allen are exquisite! The fog rolling over the mountains, ocean views and 360 degree vista will have you gazing out for some time. Make sure to sign the guest book at the top, bring lots of water and wear sunscreen as the trail is in the sunshine most of the way. I also recommend hiking boots if you have them because of the rocky terrain near the summit. Enjoy the beauty of nature, the mountains in all their glory and the crisp air! This will be a hike you forever cherish! Happy climbing!!!

Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains!
Driving up a windy road (so windy that I got carsick) and pull into a small parking lot to get to the trail head for Backbone Trail and Mishe Mokwa Trail. To get to Sandstone Peak, the quick way is to go via Backbone Trail (no shade at all)… We decided to go the long way via Mishe Mokwa Trail which ended up being about a little over 7 miles round trip. Mishe Mokwa Trail is much shadier. Keep your eyes peeled for the signs to veer off the trail to see Inspiration Point and the stairs/​path up to Sandstone Peak.
At the top of Sandstone Peak which is up some stairs/​path/​scaling rocks, you’ll see a pillar with a «box» that has a notebook and a pen where you can write your name, a message, whatever to show you’ve reached the top! Pretty cool…
The trail is «moderate» but for a weenie like me, we had to start super early to avoid the afternoon heat and allow me to take my time up the mountain. Great experience and great views!

The Mishe Mokwa Trail is one of my favorite hikes in the Los Angeles area, as the views afforded by the 3111 foot Sandstone Peak — the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains — are unparalleled. Regardless of the weather, you can typically see everything in between the Channel Islands and the San Gabriel Mountains, such as Oxnard, Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, and Malibu. Those views coupled with moderate difficultly — the Mishe Mokwa Trail is only 6 miles roundtrip while the Sandstone Peak Trail is only 3 miles roundtrip — and varied terrain — massive rocks, riparian canyons, and chaparral — make this one of the most rewarding and enjoyable hikes in the area!
I would budget at least 3 hours for the main route of this hike, but if you linger at any viewpoint or follow any of the branching trails, you’ll definitely want to allow for more time. Any of the hikes can be extended or modified depending on how much time or energy you have. In my unfulfilled fantasies, I imagine spending the entire day here, lunching atop one of the many rock formations and exploring more of the rock formations. Most people tend to hike the Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak, as they presumably prefer leaving the summit as the grand finale. However, I recommend hiking to Sandstone Peak first (via the Sandstone Peak Trail), especially if you come in the morning. Since most of the Mishe Mokwa Trail is lined with chaparral, it remains shady and somewhat cool even during the hottest parts of the day, so it makes more sense to do the uphill, unprotected part when it’s cooler. (The reverse might be true if you start in the afternoon/​evening.) Plus, once you’ve hiked the 1000 feet from the Sandstone Peak trailhead to the peak itself, everything else will seem like a piece of cake. Because the Mishe Mokwa and Sandstone Peak Trails connect, it doesn’t really matter which direction you choose to proceed.
As you’re making your way to or from Sandstone Peak, I would recommend checking out the Tri Peaks — a .5 mile unmaintained detour (one way) from the main trail. The views aren’t as spectacular as those from Sandstone Peak, but you’ll be treated to a nice panorama of Oxnard and Camarillo. With proper lighting, this is a good spot to take some awesome pictures, as the valley will be illuminated with color. And, there are some massive rocks that adventurous hikers would probably enjoy climbing. Balanced Rock — a rock that seemingly teeters on the edge of a cliff — would also make for an interesting detour, but keep in mind that the trail isn’t maintained by the National Park Service. Whatever you decide, take a moment to look for the (real) rock climbers making their way up cliffs below Balance Rock. Split Rock is notable for being a boy scouts’ rite of passage; as the name would imply, it’s a huge boulder with a 1 – 2 foot wide crack.
Most of the trail is relatively flat, but you should expect steady inclines or declines (or a combination of both) at various moments throughout the hike. And, there are several stretches where you will need to negotiate rocks as you hike uphill or downhill. Consequently, though you can probably get away with wearing running shoes if you’re careful, you may want to consider wearing something sturdier. Klutzy individuals should definitely wear hiking shoes. Do bring water and a snack.
Parking is free at the trailhead, and as long as you arrive in the morning, you shouldn’t have trouble finding parking. When my friend and I arrived on a recent Saturday at 8AM, the parking lot was only ¼ full. By the time we left at 11AM, there were no spaces remaining. The parking lot at the Sandstone Peak trailhead has an outhouse while the lot at the Mishe Mokwa trailhead does not. Despite being a pit toilet, someone does appear to regularly maintain it, as I noticed someone affiliated with the parks department replenishing toilet paper.
The only major drawback of this hike is the distance from LA — it’s approximately one hour from West LA whether you travel on PCH or the 101. With traffic, you’ll need to add additional time. Once you exit either freeway, you’ll have to navigate winding roads with sharp turns and additional obstacles, like cyclists.
What keeps me coming back to Sandstone Peak is undoubtedly the variability of the experience. The scenery is such that you’re bound to experience something new if you come at different times of the year or in different weather. And, perhaps more importantly for adventure-​seekers, there’s always going to be another boulder that demands climbing!

Found this hike on ModernHikerdotcom and I am SO glad I did. I wouldn’t say this hike is for beginners but it is doable. We did the entire loop which (according to my fitbit) was about 7 miles roundtrip. It took us about 3 hours — maybe 3.5. We went towards the balance rock first, then split rock, then inspiration point, then sandstone peak. I feel like this way might be a little less difficult. As we were coming down from Sandstone peak, that hill going up looked killer (thank god we were going downhill)
The drive up was pretty killer and no reception so make sure you screenshot a map if you need to. If you can find parking at the trailhead then AWESOME — it’s a fairly small parking lot that holds about 20 – 25 cars. If you can’t find parking, then there are a few other parking lots down the mountain. The bathroom in the parking lot was pretty nasty so I would suggest stopping at that circle ranch before you get up to the parking lot. BRING WATER (and sunscreen). We had one camel pack to share with the two of us which did last us but I might have hydrated better if we each had our own. You will definitely need something bigger than a normal water bottle especially if you are planning on completing the entire loop. There was very little shade when we started so bring a hat too! You can also bring food/​snacks because at the split rock they have a few picnic tables. BEWARE OF BEES! And enormous flies. A bee/​wasp got stuck in my ponytail and I nearly had a heart attack. It’s also pretty dusty so wear high socks or high boots.
When we got to the balance rock, we saw a few people bouldering. Looked awesome! I could pretty much hear their entire conversation because the echo was crazy! Split rock wasn’t anything spectacular. I was imagining something better. My favorite was inspiration point. Great views! Sandstone peak was really nice too but at this point we were pretty tired to stay up there long enough to enjoy the views. Definitely a great photo spot!
Overall great hike if you have the time to drive up and make the 3 hour trek.

Here is the address to the parking lot right by the start of the trail: 12 896 Yerba Buena Rd, Malibu, CA.
There will be a dirt parking lot to your right or left depending on which way you’re coming from. Coming from the san gabriel valley, the dirt parking lot will be to your left. There is another paved parking lot further up the dirt parking lot and restrooms. Maps are available in a tin box at the start of the trail.
On this hike, we saw the balance rock, split rock and finally our destination, sandstone peak. You could get to tri peaks and inspiration point on this trail too but we decided to stick to the trail to sandstone peak. We stayed in the direction of the mishe-​mokwa/​backbone/​sandstone peak trail. There were also white arrows drawn on the ground to help navigate the hikers so you won’t follow the false trails. This trail is moderate to difficult. It is about a 8 mile hike roundtrip and it took us about 2.5 hours one way to get to sandstone peak. It was pretty sunny throughout the whole hike so I would not go on this hike when it is hot.
When you get to sandstone peak, there are stairs partially leading up to the peak. At sandstone peak, which is the tallest peak of the santa monica mountains, you get a great view to the north and you can see the ocean to the south. Don’t forget to sign the book at the top under the metal rock structure.
After, we went back down the same way we came up to the dirt parking lot.
Just stay on the main road and follow the signs and you should be good! Keep your eyes open for balance rock and split rock. My friend and I totally walked by split rock haha
We roughly followed these directions from this website:
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We didn’t go to tri peaks and inspiration point.
Don’t forget to bring snacks and water. If you have a national park passport, you can get a stamp at the visitor center! Hope you enjoy the hike as much as I did!

I think this is an excellent trail for beginning hikers. It’s just challenging enough, it was not crowded with people, and you get great views without gaining that much elevation.
I started at the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead and went directly to Sandstone Peak (2 mi), then after summiting, we made a detour to Tri-​Peaks. The trail is very easy to follow, and there are sweeping views at every turn. I’m not very good at giving directions, so I suggest looking up a write up of this trail if you need more help.
At Sandstone Peak (elevation 3111 ft), you’ll be greeted by the face of Herbert Allen, to whom the peak is dedicated. There’s a little space underneath containing a register book, and it’s quite pleasant to sit up there and read what other people have wrote before making your own addition. You can see pretty far out from this point! Even though it wasn’t quite as rewarding as reaching an even higher summit to me, it was still enjoyable.
I know this page isn’t technically for Tri-​Peaks, but I’m going to talk about it anyway. I highly recommend going if you like rock scrambling! It’s just ~1.5 miles away from Sandstone Peak. We even found slot canyons and little caves to explore. I liked this part the best, actually. The trail is not as smooth as the one to Sandstone Peak, but that offers a bit more of a challenge and I love it.
The way back is easy if you take the Mishe Mokwa trail. You’ll run into a little picnic area with Split Rock, which is kind of cool and you can try to climb that for funsies. I really like this area’s trails, and I look forward to coming back to the Santa Monica Mountains for more!

Mishe Mokwa Trail to Sandstone Peak is a 6 – 7 mile hike in the Circle X Ranch area of the Santa Monica Mountains that according to many, is a LA must-​hike. Reaching Sandstone Peak means you’ve conquered the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, although the elevation tops out at just 3111 feet.
The preferred route seems to go counter-​clockwise to hit Sand Stone Peak towards the end. There are opportunities to take a detour to hit some points of interest and landmarks that will extend your hike. Balanced Rock for one, I wouldn’t mind hiking close to if I were to come back here and take some interesting photos. There are longer detours like the Tri Peaks and short ones like the Inspiration Point. We would’ve gone the wrong way if it weren’t for some hikers at the Split Rock telling us to go right. From there, it’s pretty much a straightforward hike to the peak and back down.
I came here on a really hot day in early July and maybe that’s why I didn’t enjoy this hike that much. It was tougher than I expected and was a slightly uphill hike for the most part and then a quick descent after the peak. There wasn’t much shade here and it got pretty brutal after the backside of the mountains. Sandstone Peak was okay, although our view out towards the ocean was mostly clouds. We had the unfortunate luck of having to share the peak with some obnoxious and inconsiderate Asians who were hogging the whole area and blasting music on their portable speakers. Such a buzzkill… Anyways, I didn’t think this hike was all that special. Maybe I need to come under better conditions and at least see the ocean from the peak.