Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Trip 57
JUNIPERO SERRA PEAK
LENGTH AND TYPE: 12.4-mile out-and-back
RATING: Strenuous to challenging
TRAIL CONDITION: Passable to difficult, poison oak
HIGHLIGHTS: Epic panoramas from the highest peak in the Santa Lucia Range
TO REACH THE TRAILHEAD:
If you're driving north or south on Highway 101, take
the Jolon Road exit, 10 miles south of Greenfield and a mile north of the Salinas
River crossing. Take Jolon Road (County Road G14) 17.8 miles south to the Mission
Road junction. Turn onto Mission Road and drive 0.2 mile to the Hunter Liggett Mil-
itary Reservation gate (expect to show your driver's license and vehicle registration to
enter). In 4.9 miles you'll reach a four-way junction with Del Ventura Road. Turn left
and in 0.8 mile bear right along the paved road. Del Ventura turns into Milpitas Road
at an unspecified spot. Travel 12 miles from the intersection, cross Rattlesnake Creek,
and enter US Forest Service land. Just 5 miles farther you'll reach a spur road on your
right, which leads 250 feet to the gated trailhead for Junipero Serra Peak via the Santa
Lucia Trail. Just before the gate you'll find a turnout that can accommodate 10 cars.
If you're bound for Memorial Park and the Arroyo Seco Trailhead, continue on
Milpitas Road 0.1 mile past a spur road on your left that leads to the USFS Indian Sta-
tion. A tenth of a mile past this spur, you'll reach Santa Lucia Memorial Park Camp-
ground on the right. Here the pavement ends and the road continues 0.1 mile to the
end of Milpitas Road. At this junction, take the left fork and travel a few yards, then
fork left again. The road dead-ends at the gated trailhead. Park on the shoulder without
blocking the gate.
If you're bound for the Lost Valley Trailhead at Escondido Camp, take the right
fork from the end of Milpitas Road and drive along Arroyo Seco Road 2.6 miles to
Escondido. This road closes from the first heavy rains until spring, when weather and
road conditions improve. Contact Los Padres National Forest Headquarters for current
road conditions: (805) 968-6640,
www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf
.
TRIP SUMMARY:
This strenuous hike climbs nearly 4000 vertical feet in 6.2 miles
across boulder-strewn hillsides, pine groves, and blue and valley oak woodlands to
the summit. During the wet season, new growth highlights ancient exposed sand-
stone along the valleys, knolls, cliffs, and ridges. Vibrant wildflower displays progress
