Reyes Peak
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How to get there:
Locate Hwy. 33 running north from Ventura (Ventura is a city
on the coast served by Hwy. 101, going north from Los Angeles)
The first road that forks east (right) from Hwy. 33 and provides a
connection to I-5, is Lockwood Valley Road. Before Hwy. 33 descends
to this road it crosses a ridge, the highest point along the road.
The road to Reyes Peak trailhead forks right, just on top of this
ridge, take this small, but paved road.
This narrow road serves a campground, then continues only a few
hundred meter as a dirt road, to Reyes Peak Trailhead.
This loction is N34.63498, W119.29289, elevation about 2125 meter.
Route description:
A nice trail leads directly from the trailhead to the summit.
The summit consists of some larger rocks, the easiest final
ascent is from the left side.
Comments:
The main objectikve today was planned to be Hines Peak. I stopped at the
ranger station in Ojai, spoke to a very helpful ranger, my permit for driving
up the forest service road had been prepared already the day before. However, I had
failed to study the map. Somehow, I had noticed a road connecting with the
ridge road from Rose Valley Campground. I drove Hwy. 33 to Rose valley and
then to the campground. There, a locked gate blocked the road as expected.
The lock was a 4 digit combination lock just as described, but my code failed
to open this lock. I then realized that I was at the wrong point of entry.
The ranger had convinced me that I had a pretty long schedule, even without
Hines, thus I decided to leave Hines for later and proceed directly to
visit Reyes Peak followed by Mount Pinos and Alamo Mountain.
If time permitted, I would also try to visit Frazier Mountain.
Road work along Hwy. 33 caused some small delays, then I had no trouble
locating the turn-off to Reyes Peak.
I started my hike at 1030,
arrived at the summit at 1055. A very scenic
place. I rested 10 minutes taking some pics as well as just enjoying
the nice place. Returning in 20 minutes, I now drove down to
Lockwood Valley Road and took this road
in order to visit Pinos Peak.