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.

6.0 milesDistance1,075 feetElevation gainModerate to strenuousDifficulty

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

CONDITIONS DESK

Read the sky.
Pack the water.

Use this as planning context, then open the live point forecast on the morning of your hike. Weather and natural water can change faster than a guide page.

WXLIVE CHECK

WEATHER

What to watch

Check the ridge forecast for heat, wind, low cloud, and rain before driving Yerba Buena Road. The summit can be breezy and exposed even when the coast feels calm.

OPEN NWS POINT FORECAST ↗Sandstone Peak area

CLSEASONAL PATTERN

CLIMATE

How the year behaves

Mediterranean coastal-mountain weather brings cool, wetter winters and long dry summers. Marine cloud can cool the morning, while inland heat and dry Santa Ana winds can raise exposure and fire danger quickly.

Best season: October through May

H₂OSUPPLY PLAN

WATER SOURCE

Carry all water

There is no potable water on the loop. Split Rock and other drainages may hold seasonal water, but they are unreliable and should never determine your plan.

Carry all water

Forecasts are informational. Check official closures, alerts, fire restrictions, and the managing agency before every trip.

The Mishe Mokwa route earns its mileage with constant variety: chaparral, shaded rock, improbable formations, and broad Pacific-facing ridges. The final summit spur is short but rocky, and the reward is one of the widest views in the range.

ROUTE WALKTHROUGH

What the hike is like

Start from the Sandstone Peak Trailhead and use the connector to reach the Mishe Mokwa Trail.
Follow Mishe Mokwa past Carlisle Canyon, Balanced Rock, and the shaded Split Rock area before joining the Backbone Trail.
Turn toward Sandstone Peak, take the signed summit spur, then descend on the Sandstone Peak Trail to close the loop.

BEFORE YOU DRIVE

Planning the day

The NPS Circle X map lists this loop at 6 miles and the direct summit trail at 3 miles; choose the full loop for the more varied day.
There is little reliable shade after Split Rock and no dependable drinking water. Start early on warm days.
Parking is limited along winding Yerba Buena Road. Do not block gates or road shoulders.

TURN-AROUND JUDGMENT

Safety that matters here

Expect loose rock and a short, hands-on summit section.
Heat, wind, wildfire restrictions, and wet-weather closures can change the plan quickly.
Download the official map because several trail junctions branch toward longer Backbone Trail segments.