⛰️ EPIC SUMMIT QUEST: BACKBONE TRAIL, SANDSTONE PEAK & MISHE MOKWA LOOP!!! 🌄
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⛰️ EPIC SUMMIT QUEST: BACKBONE TRAIL, SANDSTONE PEAK & MISHE MOKWA LOOP!!! 🌄
📅 HIKE DATE: Saturday, May 3, 2025
⏰ MEETUP TIME: 9:00 AM
🚶♂️ HIKE START TIME: 9:15 AM sharp (please arrive early and be ready to hit the trail!)
📍 PARKING LOCATION: Yerba Buena Rd Dirt Parking Lot — Coordinates: 34.11433° N, 118.91819° W
🚗 IMPORTANT: Parking is limited — please arrive early to secure a spot and allow enough time to gear up before we start. Carpooling is encouraged if possible!
📏 HIKE LENGTH: 5.9 miles
⏳ ESTIMATED TIME: 3 hours 6 minutes hiking time — plan for up to 3.5 hours total including breaks and snack time
⛰️ ELEVATION GAIN: 1,354 feet
🔁 HIKE TYPE: Loop
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Get ready for an unforgettable adventure through one of the most stunning trails in the Santa Monica Mountains! This Epic Summit Quest combines the best of everything — sweeping views, rugged cliffs, dramatic sandstone formations, and the thrilling reward of standing atop the highest peak in the range: Sandstone Peak at 3,111 feet.
We’ll kick off our journey from the Yerba Buena Road dirt parking lot near the Mishe Mokwa Trailhead. From there, the trail winds through breathtaking landscapes, featuring the iconic Echo Cliffs — a favorite spot for rock climbers (although we’ll just be hiking, not climbing the vertical faces!). Along the way, we’ll pass through fields of wild chaparral, dramatic sandstone outcrops, and reach Inspiration Point — a perfect stop for sweeping 360° views from the Pacific Ocean to the inland valleys.
Near the summit of Sandstone Peak, there are a few short rock scrambling sections where you’ll use your hands for balance, but nothing technical like actual rock climbing. The final push will have you feeling like you’re standing on top of the world!
The reward is nothing short of spectacular — panoramic views that stretch as far as the eye can see.
This hike is considered moderate — a perfect choice if you’re looking for a little challenge with truly epic scenery.
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📝 What to Bring:
• 💧 Plenty of water (minimum 2 liters recommended)
• 🍎 Snacks and/or light lunch
• 🧢 Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen
• 🧥 Layered clothing (it may start chilly but warm up quickly)
• 👟 Good hiking shoes with traction
• 📷 Camera or phone for those unforgettable shots!
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‼️ LIABILITY DISCLAIMER ‼️
By participating in this hike, you and any guests you bring acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for your own safety. Patrick Chun and the Happy Feet Hikers organizers are volunteers only — we are NOT professional or paid guides — and we assume no liability for any injuries, accidents, illnesses, property loss, or any unforeseen incidents that may occur before, during, or after the hike. 🚫
Participation is entirely at your own risk. Please honestly assess your physical fitness and come properly prepared. If you bring a guest, you are responsible for ensuring they understand and accept these conditions. Your RSVP, your guest’s attendance, and your participation signify agreement to this waiver.
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‼️ PHOTOGRAPHY DISCLAIMER ‼️
📸 Photos and videos may be taken during the event and shared on Happy Feet Hikers’ social media pages and group albums. By attending, you and your guests grant permission for your images to be captured and used for non-commercial purposes related to Happy Feet Hikers activities. If you prefer not to be photographed, kindly let the organizer know at the start of the hike.
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🔥 Get ready for a day of summits, smiles, and unforgettable scenery!
Let’s take on this epic trail together and create memories that will last a lifetime!
SEE YOU ON THE TRAIL!!! ⛰️🌄✨