Sandstone Peak [Suggest Edits]

Description

The top of Sandstone Peak (Mt. Allen) stands at 3,114 ft., making it the high point of the Santa Monica Mountains. However, it is not sandstone but igneous rock formed from the same volcano that created the Channel Islands. The volcanic rock and millions of years of erosion that whittled the mountain down from 10,000 ft. gives the the area its red, rough, jagged look.

Aside from a plaque dedicated by the Boy Scouts of America to the original landowner who donated the Circle X Ranch you can see Mount Baldy in the San Gabriel Mountains to the east, Los Padres National Forest to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south, and the Channel Islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) to the west.

Short Hike: Part of the Backbone Trail and Mishe Mokwa Loop.

Gem Type: Viewpoint