Sandstone Peak Trailhead — Hotel in Rolling Oaks Ranch

Moderate to strenuous trail to the highest spot in the Santa Monica Mountains (3133ft elevation). There’s free parking available if you input Sandstone Peak trailhead. You could also park at the Mishe Mowka trailhead but that lot was a bit smaller and had more people. There are two bathrooms available at the Sandstone trailhead. You can opt to go clockwise for a shorter but steeper ascent, or counterclockwise for a longer but more gradual ascent. The trail connects to others like the Secret Grotto and the Balanced Rock trail. Note that the latter is a trail that’s not maintained by the NPS so it’s overgrown.

The trail is rocky and to get up to the peak, you might need to strategically rock climb (in the loosest sense). Wear hiking boots, sneakers work give you good traction. There’s little shade so wear sunscreen and bring a hat. Dogs are allowed on the trail. No permits are required to hike. You’ll most likely not have signal so bring a map / check the trail beforehand. Overall, the trail provides a great workout and the opportunity to enjoy some fresh air away...

Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains and gives some good views. There are two nearby parking lots off of Yerba Buena Road, the Sandstone Peak Trailhead and the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead. The distance is similar from either one. There are a number of trails but they are fairly well marked but a map can be helpful. The Backbone Trail goes near the Sandsone Peak TH but passes right through the Mishe Mokwa TH. Two other interesting side hikes go to the Grotto (starts across the road from Sandstone TH) and Balance Rock, which is a side trail easily accessed from either TH. It is easy to make a loop hike using the other trails. The Grotto has a nice little pool hidden down among large boulders and Balance Rock is a huge rock standing on top of one on ground level. It is amazing that the earthquakes...

One of the best hikes in the Santa Monica mountains and even the rest of LA. A fork about 1/2 mile in lets you pick a longer loop (approx. 6.5 miles), or a shorter out and back route (3 miles) that leads to the tallest mountain in Malibu. As you climb, you go through some scenic valleys, shaded tunnels underneath trees, and scenic overlooks offering views of the Conejo Valley.

At the top you'll find a small plaque dedicated to William Allen, a Boy Scout and namesake of the mountain (Sandstone Peak is also called Mt. Allen) and 360 degree views over Malibu, the Pacific Ocean and the Conejo Valley. On clear days you can even see all the way down to Oxnard and Ventura.

The other bonus is it's not too crowded compared to some other Malibu-area hikes, like...