Lockwood Peak
Peak Name
Elevation
feet
Status
Region
Range
Nearby peaks
Location
Description
A trip to Lockwood Peak starts with a drive through the pretty grasslands and interesting rock formations of the Lockwood Valley and into the scenic Sespe Wilderness and its beautiful forests. The summit has views of Mount Pinos, Frazier Mountain lookout and Alamo Mountain.
Route 1 starts from Piano Box Road and follows the Yellow Jacket Trail northeast through meadows and a gully to the summit. Route 2, equally beautiful, starts from the northeast. Lockwood is usually hiked together with nearby San Guillermo Mountain.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides
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 10.5 miles on the Lockwood Valley Road to the Mutau Road (7N03) on the left with a sign “Pine Springs CG”. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 2.1 miles, Piano Box Road on the left. Turn left.
At 3.1 miles, fork. Go left.
At 3.5 miles, a parking area just before the road goes down steeply into a wash. Park here.
Hiking route
From the parking area (5500′), hike down the road, cross a creek bed and continue on to its intersection with the Yellow Jacket Trail (20W04).
Turn left and hike north on the Yellow Jacket Trail past a series of meadows and past a 1-mile and a 2-mile paddle marker. Continue about 200 yards past the 2-mile paddle marker to where the road starts gently downhill. There may be a large duck on the right.
Turn right, leave the trail, and go up the slope to the southeast and enter a prominent gully. There should be a faint use trail in the gully. Ascend this gully to where it begins to level off, not far below the saddle. About 50 yards below the saddle there is a clipped use trail with ducks that leads to the summit.
Alternate route: If San Guillermo is hiked before Lockwood Peak, there is a turnoff at 2.6 miles on the Mutau Road (7N03) which can be used to reach Piano Box Road.
Special conditions: The dirt roads are seasonal. Please do not hike in the meadows, whose soil is very fragile. Stay on the trail.
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 5.6 miles on the Lockwood Valley Road to 8N12 on the left with a sign “Lockwood Creek CG”. Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 0.9 mile, there is a road on your right. Continue straight.
At 1.3 miles, pass a seasonal gate (maybe open all year around).
Continue straight on 8N12 past road 118 and a closed road, both on your left.
At 2.2 miles, park at the large parking area just before the road goes downhill and crosses Lockwood Creek.
Hiking route
From the parking area (4800′), hike south across Lockwood Creek. The water could be high in the late winter and spring. Hike on Lockwood Trail #127. This is a 4×4 designated road.
At 1.6 miles, you will come to a junction of three trails. Go straight, following the one marked “Yellow Jacket Trail”. You will be traveling southwest.
Hike another 1.2 miles and look for a very indistinct gully on your left. There might be a duck here. Another way of telling that you are in the right spot is that there is a gully coming down from your right (north) between two bumps.
Turn left (south) and hike up this gully. The gully will become quite distinct, rocky, but very little brush after 1/8th mile. If it does not you are in the wrong place.
Continue up this gully for about 1/2 mile. At this point you will see the peak about 1/20 mile in front of you and the gully will split. The least brushy way is to take the gully on your left (south) for 1/8th mile until the gully opens up into a broad area.
Turn right (west) and pick your way through the brush to the peak. Be sure to note your way for the return.
Route Notes
Special conditions: The dirt roads are seasonal. If 8N12 is closed at the gate, add 2.6 miles round trip.
External Links
Nearby Peaks
External Links
Peakbagger.com
Nearest ranger station
NOAA Forecast
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