Location: Ventura County, about 11 miles east-northeast of Ojai, 82 miles from Los Angeles

Maps

Auto Club: Ventura County

Forest Service: Los Padres National Forest: Mt Pinos, Ojai and Santa Barbara Ranger Districts

USGS Topo: Santa Paula Peak 7½, Topatopa Mountians 7½, Ojai 7½, Lion Canyon 7½

HPS: Route(s), waypoints and explanation of usage

Nearby Peaks: Chief Peak, Hines Peak

Distance: 2.0 miles round trip on trail

Gain: 1000'

Time: 1-1 1/2 hours round trip

Rating: Class 1, easy

Navigation: Easy

Original: Frank Dobos, December 1993

DRIVING ROUTE 1

• Take US 101 and SR 33 to the town of Ojai.
• From the intersection of SR 150 and SR 33 in Ojai, go north on SR 33 for 14.7 miles to a road on the right signed "Rose Valley - 4". Turn right.
• Go 3.1 miles to a fork on the right with a sign "Rose Valley Campground - 1/2". Turn right.
• Drive into the campground. There is a road with a locked gate on the west side of the campground. Use the combination supplied with your permit to unlock the gate and lock it behind you. Note your odometer and go as follows:
• At 2.2 miles, junction with the Nordhoff Ridge Road (22W15). Turn left (east).
• At 3.9 miles a saddle with a duck on the south side. This is the parking spot for Chief Peak.
• At 7.2 miles, fork with a sign "Road Ends 3 Miles". Keep left.
• At 8.4 miles, a sign "Trail 22W08" and road forks. Stay on the main road (right fork).
• At 10.3 miles, a permanent barrier and a sign "Trail 21W08". Park at a large area 0.1 mile back on bump 5479'

HIKING ROUTE 1

• From the parking area, cross the road and hike east up Topatopa Bluff's west ridge, following a steep but marked and maintained Forest Service trail.