Frazier Mountain

Frazier Lookout ruins, Photo by Kathy Wing.

Peak Name

Frazier Mountain
07A

Elevation

8013

 feet

Status

active

Region

Ventura County

Range

San Emigdio Mountains

Nearby peaks

Location

34.7749803,-118.9689891

Description

Named after the early pioneer family that struck gold nearby, Frazier Mountain was home to the first primitive fire lookout in what would become the Los Padres National Forest, which was active from before 1920 until 1991. The area is beautiful pine forests and the summit offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes that beg to be photographed.

Route 1 is a scenic drive-up high clearance Frazier Mountain Road, which makes a long gradual hike (13 miles rt 2700’ gain) when the road is closed to traffic in the winter. The less traveled Route 2 starts in the town of Frazier Park and ascends a steep gully for 3 miles before joining a road and continuing on more gently to the peak.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Route 1- Driveup
Elevation Gain
None
Navigation Difficulty
Distance
None
Estimated time
None
Route Rating
Drive-up
Leader Rating Required
“O”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take I-5 north past Gorman to the Frazier Park turnoff.
Go west on Frazier Park Mountain Road for 7 miles to the junction with the Lockwood Valley Road in Lake of the Woods. Turn left.
Go 0.9 mile on the Lockwood Valley Road to the entrance to the Chuchupate Ranger Station on the left. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 2.5 miles, pass the Chuchupate Campground. Pavement ends.
At 3.0 miles, seasonal gate.
At 5.8 miles, fork. Go right.
At 7.1 miles, summit with a lookout tower. Park here.

Hiking route

Route Notes

Note: The dirt road past the Chuchupate Ranger Station is seasonal and may be gated about 3 miles above the Ranger Station.

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead 

Route 2
Elevation Gain
3500′ total, 3300′ out plus 200′ on return
Navigation Difficulty
Difficult
Distance
11.4 miles round trip
Estimated time
7-8 hours round trip
Route Rating
Class 1, Strenuous
Leader Rating Required
“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

From Sylmar rideshare (Roxford & I-5) drive north on I-5 about 45 miles to the Frazier Mtn. Park Road. Exit freeway.
At end of the off-ramp, reset odometer & turn left.
At 3.7 miles there is a flashing red stop sign. Turn left here on Monterey Trail.
At 3.8 miles, turn left on Park Drive.
At about 4.0 miles, Park Drive veers south and turns into East End Drive. Continue.
At 4.3 miles the pavement ends. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (4900′), hike southwest up the dirt road & pass a gate after 0.1 mile.
Continue up the dirt road for another mile until it ends (5450′).
Turn right and follow a path that goes up a major, steep canyon for 1.5 miles.
Upon reaching the top of the NE gully (7500′ contour), head west for 0.2 mile to a faint dirt road.
Turn left and follow this dirt road for 0.2 mile to 8N24 (elevation 7700′).
Turn right on 8N24 & after 1.2 miles, you’ll meet 121, a dirt road that comes up from Arrastra Flat. Keep right.
After another 0.5 mile, turn left and follow this dirt road for 1 mile to the summit antennas.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead 

Additional Peak Information

Special conditions: Because of repeated vandalism, the summit register has been moved to a pile of rocks very roughly 30 yards northeast of the benchmark.

Nearby Peaks

Backus Peak
Owens Peak
Black Mountain #5
Morris Peak

External Links

mountain 1

Peakbagger.com

Click Here

ranger-tower 1

Nearest ranger station

Click Here

g311

NOAA Forecast

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worldwide 1

Google Earth

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