Lightner Peak

Lightner Peak, photo by Janet Howell

Lightner Peak, Photo by Janet Howell.

Peak Name

Lightner Peak

02A

Elevation

6430

feet

Status

active

Region

Southern Sierra South Of Hwy 178

Range

Piute Mountains

Nearby peaks

Bald Eagle Peak

Location

35.5296768,-118.5631424

Description

Lightner Peak is named for Abia Lightner, one of the original settlers of the Kern River Valley in 1856.

Route 1 follows a pleasant forested ridgeline to a wonderful granite summit. Route 2 follows the Remington Ridge Trail from near the Kern River until near the peak, then cross-country to the summit.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

1600′

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

4 miles round trip on trail and cross-country

Estimated time

3 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, easy

Leader Rating Required

“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Bakersfield approach:
Exit SR 178 at Borel Road 3 miles before reaching the town of Lake Isabella.
Turn east, then turn left toward Bodfish at 1/4 mile, then turn right at Lake Isabella Road.
Drive about 3 miles to Bodfish.
Drive through the town of Bodfish on Lake Isabella Road (which becomes Caliente-Bodfish Road) for 10.5 miles to paved Breckenridge Road (28S06) on the right, signed “Breckenridge Campground 11 miles”. Turn right.
Drive 6.3 miles to the ridgeline, meeting 28S19 (dirt) on the right, signed “O’Brien Spring 2”. Park here.
Competent 4WD vehicles with experienced drivers can proceed 1 mile toward O’Brien Spring. This saves 2 miles round trip and about 400′ gain.

Walker Pass approach:
Drive west on SR 178 to SR 155 at Lake Isabella. Turn left a short distance to Lake Isabella Road.
Turn right (south) and drive about 3 miles to Bodfish.
Continue as in the route from Bakersfield.

Hiking route

From the parking area (5837′), hike north along the 4WD road about 1 mile to a grassy flat area (about 6160′) before the road turns right and goes definitely downhill.
Leave the 4WD road and hike west up to the ridgeline, then turn north. The first major bump on the ridge has benchmark debris and a register on top (Hobo Benchmark 6365′).
Trending northward along the ridge from Hobo BM, go over bump 6302′ to bump 6320’+, then turn northwest into the final saddle before the summit.
Ascend the final bump to the summit. The register is against a finger rock on the right (north) side.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2

Elevation Gain

4500′

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

10 miles round trip on motorcycle trail and cross-country through grassland and chaparral

Estimated time

8-10 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Bakersfield approach:
Exit SR 178 at Borel Road 3 miles before reaching the town of Lake Isabella. Note your odometer and go as follows:
Turn east on Borel Road.
At 0.3 mile, fork. Go right.
At 1.1 miles, Swamp Flats Campground. Continue straight.
At 2.0 miles, Hobo Campground. Continue straight.
At 3.6 miles, find a large parking area on the right with a tree in the center. Park here.

Walker Pass approach:
Continue on SR 178 past the town of Lake Isabella for 3 miles to the Borel Road exit. Continue per the directions from Bakersfield.

Hiking route

From the parking area (2480′), cross the road and hike up the signed Remington Ridge Trail about 4 miles to where the trail passes east of peak 6252′ and drops about 100′ into a final saddle.
After crossing the saddle leave the trail on the right where convenient and hike west up the slope gaining 250′ to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: There is a hot spring just below the parking area of Route 2. It can be reached via a use trail.
The endangered species Piute cypress, distinguishable from juniper by the soccer-ball seams on the berries, provides the shade in a clearing at 5000′ and is also found near the stock fence at 5300′.

Printable Route