Peak Name
Elevation
feet
Status
Region
Range
Location
McDonald Peak is a short but worthwhile hike through open forest. The summit offers unobstructed views of Cobblestone, White, Black, and Snowy and all the Topatopa Mountains. The remains of the namesake prospector’s cabin are near a trail camp to the southwest of the summit along the Alder Creek Trail.
Route 1 follows the NE ridge, accessible from the saddle west of the bump 6562 near the parking area.
Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission
Driving route
Go north on I-5 to the town of Gorman. Get off on the signed Gorman exit.
Turn left at the bottom of the off-ramp and go under the freeway.
Go 0.1 mile to Peace Valley Road. Turn right.
Go 1 mile to the entrance to Hungry Valley Recreation Area on your left (paved). Turn left. Note your odometer and go as follows:
At 0.2 miles, entrance station. If manned, you can avoid payment of the fee by telling the State Park employee that you are passing through to Alamo Mountain.
At 5.2 miles, intersection. Turn right (west) toward “Piru Creek”, signed.
At 11.2 miles, improved car camping area on right, with toilets. Often used as a meeting point.
At 11.4 miles, Piru Creek crossing. There is a seasonal gate just before this stream crossing.
At 13.4 miles, the pavement ends.
At 17.8 miles, fork to the left. Keep right.
At 17.9 miles, junction with the Alamo Mountain Road. Go straight. Note your odometer again and go as follows:
At 3.3 miles, fork immediately beyond a small road cut through the ridge. To the right leads to Alamo Mountain Route 1. Turn left.
At 4.0 miles, the road forks at the Little Mutau trailhead. Turn left. Past this point the road can sometimes be poor but is usually passable.
At 6.3 miles the road comes out on a ridge with a parking area above the road on the right (south). Park here.
Hiking route
From the parking area (6500′), the peak can be seen to the southwest.
Start west along the ridge and follow it as it swings around to the southeast and then up to the summit.
Additional Peak Information
Contact the USFS at (661) 245-3731 for information about the status of the seasonal gate at the Piru Creek crossing.




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