Mishe Mokwa Trail
Overview
This is a difficult loop trail to Sandstone Peak the highest elevation in the Santa Monica Mountains and also includes Inspiration Point, Skull Rock and Split Rock.
There are also excellent views of balance rock. There is also a turn off around Split Rock with access to an unmaintained trail to Balance Rock (a difficult hike through some brush).
The trail is in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.
Getting Started
Access to the trail is from two points on Yerba Buena Road (the center entrance is shown on the trail), about a mile apart and about a mile from the Circle X Ranch Campground. There are dirt parking lots for both entrances and there is generally enough parking. Parking on the side of the road isn't viable in most places.
This site is quite remote and from either the Pacific Coast or from the Conejo Valley it's a half hour plus of winding narrow road.
There are no toilets, water or any facilities on the Mishe-Mokwa trail. Although there are toilets and water at Circle X Ranch.
Pets on a leash is okay.
There is poison oak in the area around split rock and on the route to balance rock.
The trail on the Sandstone side of the loop is rocky and uneven, it's a little smoother on the skull rock side. Most of the people are going directly to Sandstone Peak, generally on the peak there will be a lot of people. There will be some at Inspiration Point, and fewer on the rest of the loop. If you are going to Sandstone Peak or Inspiration Point the center (western entrance) will be the shortest route. If you are doing the whole loop the eastern trail head is suggested and to go counter clockwise and do the Sandstone Peak at the end. There are two reasons, first the trail qualify of the center entrance is worse and second if you go clockwise the trail after split rock is a little hard to find.
Reference:
https://www.nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/circlexranch.htm
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