White Mountain #2

White Mountain #2, photo by Sharon Moore

Black #2 And White #2, photo by Sunny Yi

Sewart Cobblestone White, photo by Sunny Yi

White Mountain #2, Photo by Sharon Moore.

Peak Name

White Mountain #2

07L

Elevation

6250

feet

Status

active

Region

Ventura County

Range

Ventura Ranges

Nearby peaks

Alamo Mountain, McDonald Peak, Sewart Mountain, Snowy Peak, Black Mountain #2, Cobblestone Mountain

Location

34.6308201,-118.847873

Description

White Mountain #2 is named for its light color compared to surrounding peaks. It is the high point of a distinctive ridge edged in pine trees that overlooks the canyon where Buck Creek flows. The summit offers a nearly 360 degree view of surrounding peaks and valleys. Route 1 follows an intermittent use trail along this edge through a few daunting brushy patches, but only the last ascent to the peak is steep. It is almost always climbed in combination with Cobblestone.

Maps generated from CalTopo.com, reproduced with permission

Downloadable Maps, Files, and Guides

Route 1

Elevation Gain

4600′ total, 2200′ out plus 2400′ on return

Navigation Difficulty

Moderate

Distance

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

Estimated time

8-10 hours round trip

Route Rating

Class 1, strenuous

Leader Rating Required

“I”, normal conditions

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 11.4 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 parking spot for McDonald Peak.
At 7.2 miles, a dirt berm, a sign indicating no further motor vehicle traffic, and a large parking area, suitable for car camping. Park here.

Hiking route

From the parking area (6500′), pass the gate and hike east on the old road for 1 mile to the obvious high point of the road. This is the summit area of Sewart Mountain.
Continue downhill on the old road for about 0.5 mile to a fork with an obscure road on the right, signed “Sespe Wilderness”. Turn right onto this road (continuing straight leads to Snowy Peak and Black Mountain #2).
Follow this overgrown road as it first descends steeply south to a saddle, turns east over bump 6043′, then proceeds downhill in roller-coaster fashion.
After about 2.5 miles, the overgrown road turns to trail. Follow the trail eastward onto the northern slopes of a forested ridge, looking for a side trail coming steeply in from the right, possibly signed “Cobblestone Trail”.
Turn right on this side trail, which is very deteriorated and should be considered cross-country travel.
Take this old trail as it goes southeast up a ridge. After a long 1/2 mile it comes to a fork in a shallow saddle with the remains of a sign (5840’+). Turning right on an overgrown trail at this saddle goes to Cobblestone Mountain.
Continue straight (east) along the ridgeline following a spotty use trail over and around several bumps. The route turns into the saddle north of bump 6138′, and then ascends through brush to the summit.

Route Notes

Printable Route