Sandstone Peak via Mishe Mokwa trail

Distance: 6 miles

Elevation +/-: ~1100'+

Hike Time: 2:15

Difficulty: Moderate

How to get there:

Take Westlake Blvd. (23) south out of Westlake.  A few windy miles out, Mullholland Hwy. meets up with the 23.  Turn right at the stop sign to stay on Mullholland, not continue on Decker.  Turn right on Little Sycamore Canyon Rd. which becomes Yerba Buena Rd.  The Sandstone Peak trailhead parking lot is on the right.

The Trail:

This past weekend I hiked a trail that had intrigued me for some time.  I had climbed Sandstone peak before, but only the direct route.  This time I chose to take the roundabout way that doubles the mileage and increases the scenery to be enjoyed ten-fold.  The direct route goes from the parking lot/trailhead straight up to the top of Sandstone Peak, the tallest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains (3111'), gaining over 1000' in elevation over 1.5 miles.  Instead, I took the Mishe Mokwa trail, a 6 mile loop trail that branches off about a quarter mile in.  The trail hugs the side of the rather steep canyon under Sandstone Peak and the surrounding mountains, then climbs back up to meet the Backbone Trail which brings you back toward Sandstone Peak.  Check out the map below:

The trail is very steep from the trailhead to the Mishe Mokwa intersection.  From that point, it is pretty much an up and down trail that undulates along the canyon walls until it works its way up to the Backbone trail.  Along the way you can catch some great views of the canyon, including the occasional rock climbers on the far side.  About 2 miles in is a beautiful little picnic area nestled in a little dell by a creek.  This is a great place to stop for a drink of water and some grub.  Just as you pass the picnic area, there is a trail (not maintained by NPS) that leads to balanced rock.  I started to head down this side trail, but turned back when it was rather overrun with poison oak (very sensitive to the stuff, so I stay away as much as possible).  Perhaps I'll try that one again in winter when the poison oak goes a little more dormant.  From there, the trail begins to climb toward its rendezvous with the Backbone Trail.  The climb is very gentle and much of the trail is at least partially shaded.

When you reach the Backbone Trail, there are a bunch of other side trails you can take.  One that I dallied on for a bit was Inspiration Point.  Inspiration Point is just a little rock outcropping that sits at about 2800' and has a marker that includes arrows to some local and not so local peaks.  It is also a nice place to rest for a bit and take in some scenery.

Moving on from there is pretty much just the push to the top.  At this point, most of the shade dissipates as you are hiking closer to the ridge lines between peaks.  About 1.5 miles from Inspiration Point, after a couple quick switchbacks, you come around the corner and find the stairs at the head of the Sandstone Peak summit trail.  This is the hardest part of the entire hike.  The stairs only last for a little bit and the rest is a very steep hike over mostly rock and loose stones.  But the payoff is gorgeous!

Once on top of the peak you can look north and see Newbury Park, the Santa Rosa Valley (when it isn't fogged in like it was this time), and further off the Topatopa Range and the Sespe Wilderness area.  To the west you can often see out to Ventura and even catch glimpses of Santa Barbara and Point Conception.  The south side looks over Malibu and the Pacific Ocean, and usually the Channel Islands.  Looking east you can see the Santa Monica Mountains as they work their way on toward LA.  It is a truly breathtaking view.

After taking in the view and catching your breath, you head back down the trail back to the trail head.  The only challenge here is keeping your footing.  It is a steep trail with a lot of loose stone (thus the name Sandstone Peak).  And in short order you are back at your car ready to head home.

Recommendations:
 - First and foremost, wear good shoes.  I recommend wearing something with some ankle support.  As I said, much of the trail, especially at the end, has loose stone.  It is easy to lose your footing and twist an ankle.  I have done it with regular tennis shoes, but feel much better when I'm wearing my boots.
 - In hotter weather, I would advise taking this trail earlier in the day.  The upper parts can be pretty exposed to the sun and the elements.
 - I rated this moderate, but the last push to the summit is pretty intense.  That said, it is a short distance and I have seen many relatively inexperienced hikers make this trek.  Just know that you will be huffing and puffing when you reach the top.
 - Leave yourself at least 4 hours for this hike.  It took me 45 minutes just to drive to the trailhead.  I did  the trail in 2:15, but I pushed a pretty hard pace and didn't stop much at all.
 - Be sure to stay on the main trail.  There appear to be many little side trails, but many of the are actually just washouts that end abruptly in the bushes or worse, over sharp dropoffs!
 - If you want to do the shorter trail, be aware that it is steep, but over a somewhat short distance.  As I said earlier, I have seen relatively inexperienced hikers take this trail, but they were pretty wiped when we got to the top.