Sandstone Peak (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area)

The hike to Sandstone Peak, the highest in the Santa Monica Mountains, starts from the Sandstone Peak Trailhead off Yerba Buena Road and the Pacific Coast Highway. The trailhead has a nice-sized parking lot and new bathroom facilities. 

This six mile roundtrip trail is well-maintained, wide, and moderate until you reach the end. To gain the summit there is a short 20 ft. scramble over rock. This scramble is over easy to grip rock and is more fun than challenging.

Once at the top you have gorgeous views of Los Angeles and the Pacific Ocean. One of the best picture taking spots I have found in the Santa Monica Mountains. It does get quite windy at the top so we decided not to linger after we were done with pictures and had lunch after descending from the summit.  

Zuma Canyon (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area)

There are two trailheads for Zuma Canyon either off Busch Dr. or Bonsall Dr. depending on what hike you would like to do. Both are easily accessed off the Pacific Coast Highway and there are parking lots at both places. For this hike I decided to check out the Zuma Canyon Loop, Ocean View Trail, and Canyon View Trail. All of these trails are dog and family friendly.

After a steep ascent from the canyon floor to the ridge I was afforded excellent views deep into the canyon as well as over the Pacific Ocean. The number of trail options make this an excellent destination for any type of hiker as you can extend or shorten your trek depending on what you are looking for.

I did not see much wildlife on this hike but the serene atmosphere, views into the canyon, and of course the splendid Pacific Ocean made this a relaxing and refreshing afternoon hike.

Escondido Canyon and Falls (Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area)

This hike definitely has something for everyone. The parking lot is located directly off of the Pacific Coast Highway and from there it is a 1 mile walk up a paved road past some HUGE Malibu homes to the trailhead. Great people watching on the walk to the trailhead.

Once at the trailhead there is about a 2 mile walk through the canyon to the base of the falls. This walk is moderate over decently maintained trails and criss-crosses a creek several times. There were also several tree falls that needed to be navigated.

The base of the falls was much more impressive than I expected. Water dripped down from several overhanging tiers of rock and plant life into a clear pool at the bottom. There was no clear or obvious path to the top of the falls so I had to scout around the area to find the trail.  Loose rock to the right side of the falls appeared to be a path of least resistance that had been used before for the same purpose previously. Although a short climb distance wise it was challenging as I had to use my hands while scrambling over lose rock to gain the top. Do not attempt unless comfortable with heights and scrambling over loose rock.

Once at the top I was able to look down into clear pools of water that flowed over the precipice and form the falls. Previous hikers had taken time to carve their names into several trees at the top.

View from the side as water flowed off the top of the falls.

The view into the canyon floor with the Pacific Ocean in the background. A truly wonderful hike that surprised me with its beauty and the challenge of scrambling to the top of the falls. Definitely a hike I would return to and do again.