The Santa Monica Mountains rise straight out of the sea and run inland between Malibu and the Conejo Valley, protecting one of the largest urban-adjacent wildlands in the country. For hikers that means waterfalls, movie-set ruins, ocean-view ridgelines and the region’s highest peak — all within easy reach. Here are the trails worth planning a morning around.
Sandstone Peak — the roof of the range
At 3,111 feet, Sandstone Peak is the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Mishe Mokwa loop climbs past balanced rocks and, from the summit, opens 360-degree views from the ocean to the Channel Islands to the backcountry. It’s a real hike — earn it and it delivers.
Malibu’s waterfalls: Solstice Canyon and Escondido Falls
Solstice Canyon is an easy, shaded favorite in Malibu, following a creek to a seasonal waterfall and the stone ruins of the Roberts Ranch house. Nearby, Escondido Falls hides the tallest waterfall in the Santa Monica Mountains at the end of a gentle canyon walk (best after winter rain).
Malibu Creek State Park
Malibu Creek State Park is the big one — former 20th Century Fox ranch land where M*A*S*H was filmed, with rock pools, a visitor center and miles of trails through classic California oak-and-chaparral country.
Point Mugu and the coast
At the western, Ventura County end, Point Mugu State Park (La Jolla Canyon and the Chumash Trail) climbs from the beach into wildflower-filled canyons, and the Backbone Trail — a 67-mile route completed in 2016 — threads the whole spine of the range for those wanting a long-distance challenge.
The Conejo Valley side
Inland, Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks is the Conejo Valley’s beloved everyday wildland, with Paradise Falls and wide meadows — part of the same open-space network we cover in our Conejo Valley hiking guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains?
Sandstone Peak, at 3,111 feet, reached most scenically via the Mishe Mokwa trail.
Where are the waterfalls in the Santa Monica Mountains?
Escondido Falls (the tallest in the range) and Solstice Canyon’s seasonal falls, both in Malibu, are the best-known — most impressive after winter rains.
Where was M*A*S*H filmed?
At Malibu Creek State Park, on former 20th Century Fox ranch land; a trail leads to the old filming site.
