Hiking Santa Monica Mountains - Sandstone Peak, Malibu

If you're looking for a great hike with incredible views within close proximity to Los Angeles - a hike that feels far from the crowds of Hollywood but is closer than you might think - you've got to check out the Sandstone Peak Trail.

Sandstone Peak Trail is well-defined, rocky and steep

Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains, known by the National Parks Service as SAMO. Located just beyond Malibu's shores, this is the low-key, paparazzi-free playground of the stars. Hike any of SAMO's trails and you are likely to run across a celebrity, though you probably won't realize it. This is a place where the stars are free to act just like the rest of us - enjoying the great outdoors, dressed in comfortable clothes, wearing a hat to block the sun, and hiking for fun and fitness.

Plenty of parking at the Sandstone Peak Trail Head

View of Sandstone Peak as seen from the beginning of the trail

There are two popular trails that reach Sandstone Peak from trail heads along the scenic (yet sea-sick inducing) Yerba Buena Rd. The long route, which starts at the Mishe Mokwa trailhead (where you can also catch part of the Backbone Trail), meanders through some scenic country, stretching out the 1,100-foot elevation gain over the course of 6 miles. The quick route from the Sandstone Peak Trail Head is shorter, but it's steep, and a real butt burner. I wouldn't doubt if Kim Kardashian herself has done some time on this trail to keep those famous curves high and tight!

View of the trail head parking on Yerba Buena Rd., from Sandstone Peak Trail

If you're thinking about checking out this trail, I can tell you it's definitely worth the trip from anywhere in Southern California. Here are the stats for the quick route:

Trailhead: Parking lot is at 2,030 feet elevation, accesible on Yerba Buena Rd. From Pacific Coast Highway, turn at Ned's Net restaurant onto Yerba Buena and go five or so miles. TH is a mile or so past the Circle X Ranch headquarters office. From Highway 101, take Route 23 south (Westlake Boulevard) to Mulholland Highway. Turn right. Go a mile (maybe less) and turn right onto Little Sycamore Canyon Drive. This turns into Yerba Buena. Pass the Mishe Mokwa TH on the right and soon you will reach the Sandstone Peak TH. You can also take the Mishe Mokwa Trail for a 7-mile loop, reaching the peak after 6 miles.
Distance: 3 miles, out-and-back
Elevation Gain/Loss: 1,100/1,100
Map: You don't need a map for this trail, but I recommend picking up a free map from the gorgeous new visitor's center at Gillette Ranch. Get off the 101 at Lost Hills Road and go south to Mulholland and turn left, or from the Pacific Coast Highway take Malibu Canyon Road north to Mulholland and turn right. Gillette Ranch is on the south side of Mulholland Highway.
Hiking Time: On a recent hot summer hike, it took me 1.5 hours round trip, but it can probably be done in less time. I hung out for a while at the summit to take in the amazing 360-degree view, including the Channel Islands to the south, Oxnard Plain to the west, San Fernando Valley to the north and the entire Santa Monica Mountains stretching toward Los Angeles to the east.
Best Times to Hike: This hike can be done any time of day, all year long. Just be sure to bring plenty of water and wear a hat - there's barely any shade to be found.
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate (requires very little scrambling to the summit)

View from Sandstone Peak, looking east over the Santa Monica Mountains

View from Sandstone Peak, looking south toward the Pacific Ocean

After your hike, be sure to head down to Malibu to cool off in the refreshing Pacific Ocean. Also, you will find several affordable, laid-back restaurants along the Pacific Coast Highway, so plan to make a full day of this excursion.

End your day of hiking with a refreshing dip at one of Malibu's beaches

Comment below if you've hiked this trail or plan to hike it. I reply to all comments, so if you have any specific questions about the trail, please don't hesitate to ask. Also, be sure to check out my fitness inspiration blog, MyFitLife2Day, and my goals blog, Man of Merit, for more great pictures and stories from my hiking and outdoors fitness adventures. Oh, and while you're at it, follow me on Twitter @myfitlife2day.

Happy hiking!

Hiking San Jacinto Peak via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Palm Springs is known as a haven of rest, relaxation and recreation. Located just far enough outside of Los Angeles to be an accessible anytime retreat, Palm Springs is also a great mecca for hiking. In fact, hiking to San Jacinto Peak via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway involves some of the best hiking anywhere in California.

San Jacinto Peak in the distance, seen from Palm Springs, Coachella Valley

The next time you find yourself in Palm Springs, take a break from the spa to find a different type of tranquility, the kind that comes from pushing your body to new limits in the cathedral of nature. The San Jacinto Peak hike offers breathtaking views of the Coachella Valley, the Transverse Mountains north of LA and the Los Angeles Basin - and on a clear day you can see all the way to Catalina and the Channel Islands!

This is a moderate to strenuous hike, but it is non-technical enough that families and fitness enthusiasts will love it even if they are not typically avid hikers. In short, I recommend this hike to anyone interested in doing a hike with true payoff.

Family fitness AND fun near San Jacinto Peak, view of LA Basin

Here are the quick stats for hiking San Jacinto Peak via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway:

Trailhead: 8,000 feet above Palm Springs - Take the tram to the Mountain Terminal and make your way down the switchback sidewalk to the Long Valley Ranger Station.
Distance: 11.5 miles, out-and-back
Elevation Gain/Loss: 2,600/2,600
Map: Available at the San Jacinto State Wilderness ranger Hut, .3 miles from the Mountain Terminal. You'll need to stop here to get a free wilderness permit. The rangers also sell more detailed guides to the flora and fauna of the mountain wilderness, which makes the hike more educational and fun, especially if you're hiking with kids.
Hiking Time: It took me 7.5 hours round trip, but I'm a gawker and take a slow to moderate pace. I'm told it can be done in about 6 hours. First tram up is 8 a.m. on the weekends and 10 weekdays. Plan to go early.
Best Times to Hike: June to October are the best bet, although May and November may be good, too, depending on seasonal snowfall. Plan to take the first tram up so you will have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery.
Difficulty: Moderate to Strenuous (requires some scrambling up boulders to the summit)

Beautiful white boulders and lodgepole pines en route to San Jacinto Peak

For more information about this hike, check out Jerry Schad's "101 Hikes in Southern California", published by Wilderness Press. He calls this hike "San Jacinto Peak (The Easy Way)". And for a bunch of pictures and thoughts from my recent trek to San Jacinto Peak, check out my blog Man of Merit.

Need help finding SoCal trail heads? Check out these great resources

If you have questions about this hike, please feel free to ask in the comment section below. Also, follow @myfitlife2day and ready my other blogs, MyFitLife2Day and Man of Merit. I am also on HubPages at brianschwarz.hubpages.com.

Happy hiking!