Fox Mountain #1
Peak Name
Elevation
feet
Status
Region
Range
Nearby peaks
Location
Description
Fox Mountain is named for named for Charles Fox, an early Angeles Chapter Chair and once owner of the nearby Santa Barbara Canyon Ranch, one of the central parcels that became part of the Los Padres National Forest. Route 1 follows a winding, and sometimes steep, tree-lined ridge route to the peak with lovely views of the surrounding Los Padres region. Note that the adobe clay soil on the road up to the trailhead becomes extremely slippery when wet and should be avoided for a week or so after a rain.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides
Driving route
Drive north on I-5 past the Grapevine to the SR 166 off-ramp. Turn left (west).
Head west 36.5 miles, passing through Maricopa, to the junction with SR 33 south. This junction may be reached by a slower route via SR 33 north from Ojai. (There is a junction with SR 33 north in Maricopa that you will pass in Maricopa.) Turn left (south).
Go 2.7 miles to Foothill Road on the right. Turn right (west).
Go 2.1 miles, crossing the Cuyama River, to the Santa Barbara Canyon Road (9N11) on the left. Turn left, note your odometer, and go as follows:
At 3.1 miles, just past a ranch house, junction with a dirt road on the left and a paved road on the right with a sign “Santa Barbara Canyon Road”. Turn right.
At 7.5 miles, fork with Santa Barbara Ranch visible ahead. Go right and cross a creek. The pavement ends.
At 9.5 miles, a cattle guard and gate. Gate may be closed. Check with Mt. Pinos Ranger district, Chuchupate station, for status.
At 10.0 miles, an obscure dirt road appears on the right. Turn right (west) on this road a few yards to a turn-around, suitable for overnight car camps. Park here.
If the Cuyama River is impassable, return to the junction of SR 166 and SR 33 and go as follows:
Go west on SR 166 for 4.7 miles to a bridge over the Cuyama River, and an immediate junction past the bridge, on your left. This is Kirschenmann Road (paved). Turn left.
Continue 2.4 miles to the end of Kirschenmann at Foothill Road. Turn left (east).
Drive 3 miles to Santa Barbara Canyon Road on the right (south). Turn right and continue as above.
Hiking route
From the parking area (3250′), hike across the streambed and head west-northwest directly up the ridge. An occasionally obscure use trail leads in a generally northwest direction up the ridge and over bump 5000′. The use trail is usually on the south side of the ridge.
From this point the trail runs northwest past a shallow saddle, across elevation 5038′, down into another saddle, and up another bump (5080’+).
From here hike cross-country toward the left (west) summit, which is the peak.
External Links
Nearby Peaks
External Links
Peakbagger.com
Nearest ranger station
NOAA Forecast
Google Earth
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