Location: Ventura County, California

Named for Saint Archangel Raphael. A fairly common Mission era name in California. This was probably given by a Franciscan friar around October 24, the Saint's feast day. Raphael is one of the seven Archangels, and is one of four constantly nearest to God. Raphael's position is behind the throne (Tobias xxii, 15). His special province is the souls of men. He is also known as Suriel--the Angel who recalls or dissipates disease. The name Raphael means "healing from God", or "God has healed". As the Angel of Healing, he is regarded as the patron Saint of lovers, philosophers, physicians, nurses, and of humanity. It was Raphael who brought Adam the ancient books of knowledge.

Name of the peak first appears as Raphael Peak on Wheeler Survey Atlas Sheet 73 (1871).

Jim Blakley adds that local tradition persists in describing the peak as Mission Pine Peak because it was the source of the beams used in the construction of Mission Santa Bárbara (1786). The timbers were dragged out by oxen and Indian labor via the first road built through the San Marcos Pass, which was discovered by Juan Cabrillo, who paused here to take on water and fresh wood for his ships (1542).

Name first appears on the GLO State of California map (1907).

Peak was on the original 1946 HPS Peak List.