Sandstone Peak / Mishe Mokwa Trailhead Parking
Use the marked Yerba Buena Road lots, not the road shoulder. Sandstone Peak and Mishe Mokwa share the Circle X area, with separate small parking lots along the winding road. The NPS site is fee-free; there is no Adventure Pass. Arrive early on clear weekends because the lots are limited and there is no safe overflow plan on the road.
The facts
- Trail served
- Sandstone Peak Trail (3 mi RT) and Mishe Mokwa Trail to Split Rock (3.5 mi RT)
- Cost / pass
- No NPS entrance fee or Adventure Pass at the Circle X/Sandstone Peak area; check signs for partner-managed sites
- Lot size
- Small unpaved lots; no published space count
- When it fills
- Clear spring and fall weekends are the pressure point; arrive in the morning
- Overflow option
- No safe official roadside overflow; use another trailhead rather than blocking Yerba Buena Road
- Tow / citation risk
- Do not block the winding road, gates or turnouts; vehicles and trailers are difficult here
- Restrooms
- Restrooms and water at Circle X Ranch; carry water for the trail
- Road to the lot
- Yerba Buena Road from Pacific Coast Highway; winding road with limited parking areas
- Busy season
- Spring and fall are comfortable; heat, wildfire and rain closures can change access
Getting there
Yerba Buena Road near Circle X Ranch, Malibu, CA 90265
Get directions →Two trailheads, one narrow road
The NPS places the Sandstone Peak lot about a mile north of the Circle X contact station and the Mishe Mokwa lot about 1.75 miles north. Both are on Yerba Buena Road, where a badly parked car can narrow the road for everyone. Read the lot signs rather than stopping at the first convenient shoulder.
The parking is free, but not unlimited
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is fee-free at its NPS sites, so there is no Adventure Pass or federal entrance booth here. The lots are unpaved and the NPS does not publish a capacity. On busy weekends the useful strategy is an early start, not a creative pullout.
Circle X is the practical service point
Circle X Ranch has restrooms, water and a ranger contact station. The Circle X page is the better starting point if the Sandstone Peak lot is full; it also covers the Grotto and Happy Hollow options.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sandstone Peak parking free?
Yes at the NPS Circle X/Sandstone Peak area. No Adventure Pass is required, but you must use designated parking.
Where do I park for Mishe Mokwa?
Use the marked Mishe Mokwa Trailhead lot on Yerba Buena Road, about 1.75 miles north of the Circle X contact station.
What if the Sandstone Peak lot is full?
Do not park on the road shoulder or block Yerba Buena Road. Try another marked trailhead or return at a less busy time.
Are there restrooms at Sandstone Peak?
Circle X Ranch has restrooms and water. The smaller Sandstone Peak and Mishe Mokwa lots should not be treated as fully serviced facilities.
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.