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Sandstone Peak above the Santa Monica Mountains with the Pacific Ocean in the distance
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Ocean-facing ridges

Santa Monica Mountains

Chaparral, volcanic rock, oak pockets, and Pacific light on the wild edge of Los Angeles.

Photo: Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area / NPS · Public domain

REGIONAL FIELD NOTE

Know the landscape

The Santa Monica Mountains compress an extraordinary amount of terrain between the Los Angeles basin and the Pacific. More than 500 miles of public trails cross a patchwork of National Park Service, California State Parks, conservancy, and local lands.

Expect Mediterranean weather, exposed ridges, short steep climbs, and big differences between a foggy coast morning and a hot inland afternoon. Rules for dogs, bikes, fees, and hours can change when a route crosses agency boundaries.

TRAILS IN THIS HUB

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Sandstone Peak above the Santa Monica Mountains with the Pacific Ocean in the distance

Coastal mountain · 6.0 miles

Sandstone Peak Loop via Mishe Mokwa

A high-value Santa Monica Mountains loop linking Split Rock, Balanced Rock, the Backbone Trail, and the range's 3,111-foot high point.

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