Hildreth Peak

Hildreth, ridge to peak, photo by Jim Hagar

Hildreth Peak, photo by Teresa Spohr

Peak Name

Hildreth Peak

06M

Elevation

5065

feet

Status

Active

Region

Santa Barbara County

Range

Ventura Ranges

Nearby peaks

Location

34.6002668,-119.551238

Description

Hildreth, named after an early forest ranger who patrolled the area, is a demanding trip but the expansive views of the ocean of green in the remote Los Padres to the Pacific Ocean are rewarding.

Both routes are long and strenuous. Route 1 starts just above Agua Caliente Hot Springs, where one can camp or have a dip at the end of the hike. The trail proceeds up the canyon to gain a ridge on an overgrown firebreak to join an overgrown road (which is an occasionally hiked alternative route) that doglegs east over several bumps to the peak. Route 2 starts from a gate on Highway 33 with a long road walk (or an easy bike ride) to the trail junction with Old Man and Monte Arido at Three Sisters. The trail continues west from there on an endless series of ups and downs to the peak, which is at the same elevation as the trailhead. By either route, the last quarter mile to the peak is extremely brushy; seek out one of several vague use trails that head toward to a saddle just west of the peak.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1- Agua Caliente

Elevation Gain

4700′ total, 3900′ out plus 800′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Intermediate

Distance

16 miles round trip on trail, cross-country, and road

Estimated time

10-11 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take US 101 to Santa Barbara. Exit at Salinas Street.
Go 0.75 mile to a traffic circle at Sycamore Canyon Road (SR 144). Turn right.
Go 1.1 miles to Stanwood Drive (SR 192). Turn left.
Go 1.1 miles to El Cielito Road. Turn right.
In 0.3 mile, 4-way stop. Drive straight on El Cielito.
Go 0.2 mile to Gibraltar Road. Turn right.
Go 6.3 miles to Camino Cielo (unsigned). Turn right.
Go 6.7 miles to Romero Saddle.
Continue on this road, staying on the main road at any forks, as it goes down along the north side of the ridge, 5.3 miles to Juncal Campground. Immediately after crossing a shallow stream, turn left (northwest) at a fork.
Go 3 miles to the Pendola Guard Station. Turn right.
Go 2.7 miles to Caliente Hot Spring (Agua Caliente Spring). Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (1950′), hike up the trail on the left side of the stream. It crosses the stream in about 0.25 mile and comes back along the other side and goes up past a concrete dam.
Follow the trail up Agua Caliente Canyon, crossing a stream a number of times. Do not go up Diablo Canyon by mistake! After crossing the main stream 10 times, there will be a small campsite on the left side with a picnic table.
After crossing the main stream 4 more times, and just before the 5th, leave the trail to the left. Go northwest up the ridge that starts there, following an old roadbed and then use trails, to the prominently visible bump 3511′.
Continue down the ridge on use trails, staying on the southwest side, over a brushy plateau at 3480′. Meet a jeep road in the shallow saddle at 3350′ just west of bump 3511′.
Turn right on this undulating road and follow it to where it comes out on the ridge just past (east) of the peak (4950′).
Turn left off the road here (there may be a duck) and go west along the north side of the ridge and up over some rocks to the summit.

Route Notes

Note: The dirt road is seasonal. It is sometimes closed a short distance before the hot springs adding several miles to the hiking distance. Visitors at the hot springs can be very noisy late into the night. There are several good campsites prior to the hot springs. Caliente Hot Springs is about a 1.5 hour drive from US 101 in Santa Barbara. The number of stream crossings counted in the hiking directions may be subject to change.

Printable Route

Road Type

Dirt

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Route 2- From Highway 33

Elevation Gain

6000′ total, 3000′ out plus 3000′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Easy

Distance

29 miles round trip on road and cross-country

Estimated time

various, depending on whether hiking, backpacking or biking

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

Driving route

Take US 101 and SR 33 to the town of Ojai.
From the intersection of SR 150 and SR 33 in Ojai, go north on SR 33 for 32 miles to Reyes Summit. Turn left at a gated and locked dirt road. This is the Potrero Seco Road. Park here.

Hiking route

Hike or bike past the gate and continue on the road.
Go 3.4 miles, keeping right at all forks to a cattle guard. Continue straight.
At 4.9 miles, Don Victor trail on the right. Continue straight.
At 7.3 miles, fork. Go right.
At 8.1 miles is a set of large gendarmes marked on the TOPO as “Three Sisters”. This was the previous parking location when driving in was allowed. The summit is 14 miles round trip from this point, 5000′ total additional gain, 2500′ out plus 2500′ on return.
From this previous parking area, a dirt road starts and goes west. Follow this road along a ridge with many ups and downs to a saddle just east of Hildreth.
Proceed as in Route 1. The summit of Hildreth is visible for most of this route.

Route Notes

Printable Route

Road Type

Paved

Google Maps Link to Trailhead

Additional Peak Information

Note in April 2024: The road to Hildreth Route 1 has been closed for several years, originally due to a washout. It is closed to vehicle traffic but is open to hikers and bikers. It is unknown when, if ever, the road will be repaired and reopened. This makes Hildreth Route 1 more suited to a bike and hike or backpack trip.