Circle X Ranch Trailhead Parking (Malibu)
Circle X is the best-served lot in this part of the Santa Monicas. The NPS site has unpaved parking, restrooms and water near the ranger station, with separate lots for Sandstone Peak and Mishe Mokwa farther north on Yerba Buena Road. There is no published capacity, and trailers are a poor match for the winding road and limited areas.
The facts
- Trail served
- Sandstone Peak, Mishe Mokwa, Grotto and Happy Hollow Loop trails
- Cost / pass
- No NPS entrance fee or Adventure Pass
- Lot size
- Unpaved lots; no published space count
- When it fills
- Popular weekends fill the trailhead lots before midday; trailers are especially difficult
- Overflow option
- Use the marked Sandstone Peak or Mishe Mokwa lots only; do not create shoulder parking on Yerba Buena Road
- Tow / citation risk
- Keep gates, turnarounds and the winding road clear; horse trailers are not recommended
- Restrooms
- Restrooms at the ranch; water available at the site
- Road to the lot
- Yerba Buena Road from Pacific Coast Highway, 5.4 miles to the Circle X contact station
- Busy season
- Spring and fall; rain and fire conditions can close unpaved roads and trails
Getting there
12896 Yerba Buena Road, Malibu, CA 90265
Get directions →Circle X is a starting point, not one single lot
The contact station lot serves the ranch and nearby Happy Hollow routes. The Sandstone Peak lot is about a mile farther north, and the Mishe Mokwa lot is about 1.75 miles farther north on Yerba Buena Road. Read the route sign before parking so you do not add an avoidable road walk.
Services are better than the lot size
Circle X has restrooms and water, which makes it a useful base for a long day in the Boney Mountain area. The parking areas remain unpaved and limited, and the NPS warns that winding roads and limited parking make horse trailers a poor fit.
Free does not mean unrestricted
There is no NPS entrance fee or Adventure Pass at Circle X. Park only in the marked areas, keep the road open for other vehicles and leave before a fire-weather or storm closure turns an ordinary trailhead into a closed site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Circle X Ranch parking free?
Yes. The NPS Circle X site is fee-free and does not require an Adventure Pass.
Does Circle X have restrooms and water?
Yes. The NPS lists restrooms and water at the site.
Where do I park for Sandstone Peak from Circle X?
The Sandstone Peak lot is about one mile north of the Circle X contact station on Yerba Buena Road. Mishe Mokwa has a separate lot about 1.75 miles north.
Can a trailer reach Circle X Ranch?
The NPS warns that horse trailers are not recommended because the road is winding and parking areas are limited.
Facts on this page last verified August 2, 2026. Fees, hours, and access rules change seasonally — confirm with the official source before a long drive.