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 Reporter |
Summary: This is one of the most beautiful hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains. Highlights include the spectacular Echo Cliffs where rock climbers ascend shear cliffs, a house sized boulder delicately balanced on a small rock beneath, a giant split rock where kids can dash between the sheer walls, stunning giant sandstone formations, and breathtaking views from the top of Sandstone Peak and Inspiration point. Highly recommended. Trailhead: The trailhead is 1 mile east of the Circle X Ranch, which is located 5 ½ miles from Pacific Coast Highway on Yerba Buena Road in Malibu. Alternately, from Westlake Village, exit on Westlake Blvd from the 101 Freeway, and follow it south for several miles as it merges with Mulholland highway. Turn right onto Little Sycamore Canyon and it will become Yerba Buena Road as you cross the county line. Proceed on Yerba Buena Road for about 4 miles to trailhead (about a mike before you hit the Circle X Ranch Ranger Station). (Lat:34.11161 Lon:-118.92643) Trail Guides for Mishe Mokwa Trail - Sandstone Peak: 101 Hikes in Southern California by Jerry Schad (Wilderness Press) On The Trail - Malibu to Santa Barbara by Cathy Philipp (Cathy Philipp Publishing) Day Hikers Guide to Southern California by John McKinney (Olympus Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers Ranger Contact: Santa Monica Rec. Area - 805-370-2301 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Jim Zuber, who has posted 104 other hikes on this site Trail Reviews Page 1 of 17 Submit your own review 
Reviewed by MY on 2/8/2010 Great views! Take lots of water, especially if you're doing this in the summer. I went through 2+ litres on that hike. I would definitely hike this trail again, but in cooler weather. The last stop for a bathroom break is the Circle X Ranch.
Reviewed by AMK on 1/21/2010 Awesome! At the very top you can see Catalina, Nicholus, and the Chanel Islands! got lost the first time around and ended up at the wrong parking lot! - bring plenty of water! PS: the road leading to the parking lot is very narrow! 
Reviewed by MB on 11/2/2009 We did the clockwise loop as a moon hike yesterday. We reached at about 4:15 PM and barely managed to catch the sunset hues at the peak at about 5:15 PM. From there, we took the backbone trail to the mishe mokwa trail and back to the parking lot by about 8 PM. Others have already reported about the excellent views, so not much to write there. The trail condition is good, though there are loose rocks at places. The trail is mostly exposed, which came in handy for a moon hike. It did get dark at a few places where there was tree cover, but we did not need to turn on our headlamps except at a couple of spots. Hiking shoes are recommended.
Reviewed by GH on 9/28/2009 I got a very late start so I only made it to Sandstone peak, and hung out there as the sun was going down. Really beautiful views of the Santa Monica mountains and the encroaching marine layer made it feel like you were at a higher elevation! I'll definitely go back and explore this place some more, and definitely recommend this hike.
Reviewed by smack on 8/8/2009 this was a nice hike. you can take a side trail (adds 1 mile) that allows you to get a better look at the channel islands.
Reviewed by cb on 6/29/2009 Beautiful scenery!!!
Reviewed by Shawnté on 5/11/2009 What an amazing hike! My friend and I came on recommendation of ModernHiker.com, and we were not disappointed. Started at the Sandstone Peak trailhead, cut counter-clockwise around the Mishe Mokwa trail loop, totally worth the longer hike (slower elevation gain & amazing changes of scenery). We bouldered a bit on Split Rock, took lots of photos, laid on our bellies at Inspiration Point (too overcast to see terribly far, but it was still impressive), and scrambled up Mt. Allen. I would recommend bug spray for the giant horseflies this time of year, LOTS OF WATER as there is quite a bit of open area on the last 2 miles of the hike, and shoes with good tread, esp. as you start to ascend the rocky slope that takes you to the peak.
Reviewed by pa on 5/6/2009 One of the best hikes in the SM range. Hiked it on 5/2 for the second time in perfect weather. There is a bit of everything on this one. Cool canyons, a little shady oasis at Split Rock, and several views worth the climbs. Portions of this trail are great for running too. I will be back. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: California Hiking, California Trails, California Hikes, Los Angeles County Hiking, Los Angeles County Trails, Los Angeles County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||