This is a free hike that will be led by ForestWatch's Director of Conservation & Research, Bryant Baker, a naturalist and photographer who is intimately familiar with the area and its native flora and fauna. Be prepared for breathtaking mountain views and for educational information about plants, birds, lichens, mushrooms, and more!
Space is very limited. Please only RSVP if you're sure you'll be able to make it.
Detailed Itinerary:
We will meet at 9:30 am at the intersection of Highway 33 and Pine Mountain Road. This large turnout is on the west side of Hwy 33 just across from the Pine Mountain Road gate. Here's the location on Google Maps. From Ojai it's about 32 miles.
From the meetup location, we will caravan to the Reyes Peak Trailhead at the end of Pine Mountain Road. The windy road is paved except for the last mile. Vehicles with high clearance are recommended, but even smaller cars can usually make it without much issue.
We will be departing from the trailhead at about 10:30 am and hike about 1.7 miles to a scenic overlook of Haddock Mountain and the Sespe Creek watershed. There we will have lunch before heading back to the trailhead. The 3.4-mile hike starts at about 6,966' in elevation—the lowest point along the hike—and hits 7,163' at its highest point, so the elevation gain is fairly mild. However, it may be strenuous for some due to being at a high elevation for the entirety of the hike.
There will be plenty of stops along the hike to talk about the native plants and wildlife found in the mixed-conifer forest the covers the mountain here. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn about native coniferous trees and how to identify them. In past years we have also seen snow plant, pinewoods lousewort, California goldenbanner, and even a California condor!
Along the trail we will also get some incredible views of the Cuyama badlands, Mt. Pinos, Frazier Mountain, and the Channel Islands if visibility permits.
Bring your own water, sturdy hiking shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and lunch.
This hike is free, but there is a suggested donation amount of $30 or whatever amount is meaningful for you. Any donations are greatly appreciated and will go toward ForestWatch's efforts to protect places like Pine Mountain.
