Location: San Luis Obispo County, about 7 miles northwest of New Cuyama, 145 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Distance: 17 miles round trip on road

Gain: 2800' total, 2000' out plus 800' on return

Time: 7-9 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, strenuous

Navigation: Easy

Leader Rating: "O", normal conditions

Original: Alan Coles, August 1990

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Drive north on I-5 past the Grapevine Grade to SR 166.
• Take SR 166 west to the town of Maricopa.
• Continue on SR 166 for 9.2 miles to the junction with Soda Lake Road on the right. Turn right. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• Drive 24.2 miles, staying on the main road, which alternates between paved and unpaved.
• At 24.2 miles, a three way fork. Take the center fork.
• At 29.2 miles, junction for the Shelby (Selby) Cow Camp. Turn left and pass through a seasonal gate. Note your odometer again and go as follows:
• At 3.8 miles, fork. The left fork has a sign "Shelby Parking Area 1 mi.". The right fork is signed "Caliente Ridge Parking Area 3 miles". Turn right. From this point the good dirt road is steep.
• At 7.1 miles, a parking area on the right and a gated road to the left (east). Park here.

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area (3960'), walk uphill to the ridgeline where you meet the main ridge road.
• Turn left (east) on the ridgeline road, which gradually curves southeast for about 8.5 miles to the summit.
• The road deteriorates and steepens after the wildlife guzzler (4500'). Mountain bikers may wish to stash their bikes near this point.
• The summit shack is reached after a final turn to the east. The register is found next to the shack to the southwest.

ROUTE 1 NOTES

Significant rain turns the road (adobe clay) into a sticky mess, and closes the roads within the Monument. Not recommended for hikers or mountain bikers during or shortly after such weather.