Mount Pinos in the Los Padres National Forest is the Highest Point in Ventura County

At 8,847 feet in elevation, Mount Pinos is the highest point in Ventura County. It is located in the northernmost tip of Ventura County in the Los Padres National Forest, near the Kern County border.

From Thousand Oaks, plan on about a 1 hour, 45 minute, 100 mile drive to get to the Mount Pinos parking area at the "Mt. Pinos Nordic Base," where you will find plenty of parking. The Base is at an elevation of 8,300 feet, which means you only have 547 feet of elevation gain to hike to the peak.

Plenty of parking available here at Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. The trail to the summit is to the left.

Plenty of parking available here at Mt. Pinos Nordic Base. The trail to the summit is to the left.

The hike to the top is about two miles along a wide access road shaded by pine trees much of the way. It is a fairly easy hike, with no significant challenges. Easy enough for kids and adults alike, though at this elevation your breathing may be a bit more labored than normal.

Take a deep breath of fresh air as you experience the 50th highest and 11th most topographically prominent summit in California.

Trail to the Mt. Pinos summit is largely tree-lined. You may trip on a pine cone or two!

You will notice a radio tower up ahead with about a 1/2 mile to go to the peak. You will come across a fork in the road. Turn right to get to the actual peak. Continue towards the left (west) for a Chumash interpretative area.

At this juncture of the trail, you will notice a radio tower up ahead at the summit of Mt. Pinos

The interpretative area has several benches and an interpretative sign. The Chumash name for Mount Pinos is Iwihinmu. The Chumash call the summit Liyikshup, the center of the world.

A view from Mount Pinos summit.

Of course, you'll find snow up here in the winter months.  There are no ski lifts, but cross country skiing, tubing and snow play are available....right here in Ventura County.

You may also find stargazers situated in the parking lot with high powered telescopes.

There are campgrounds available on Mount Pinos, including the following:

Directions to Mount Pinos: From I-5, take Frazier Park exit (Frazier Mountain Park Road). Go west approximately 6 miles. The road name changes to Cuddy Valley Road. Continue on it up Mt. Pinos. The road name changes to Mt. Pinos Highway.

Check traffic and weather conditions before you go, particularly during snow season. Good to have chains on hand.

Frazier Mountain Community Snow Play Visitor Page at www.facebook.com/groups/2579680555601233

Plenty of Snow Seen From the Conejo Valley on the Saturday Before Easter 2020

It's pretty rare to see this much, if any at all, snow in the Los Padres National Forest and Topatopa Mountains in the middle of April. Then again, it's pretty rare, actually, unprecedented, that income tax returns are not due until July 15th of this year as a result of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Nature is working with us I guess. This nice pack of snow won't last too long so I just had to capture some of it while out on a run on Lynn Road in Newbury Park this morning.

Ventura County Residents Treated to Prominent Display of Snow After the Christmas Holiday

The snow seen in the Los Padres National Forest from the cities in Ventura County was very prominent in the days following Christmas this year as you can see in this footage. A beautiful site. Must of it has melted as of the 29th but I think we will see more soon.

Footage taken from section of the Los Robles Trail in Thousand Oaks.

Photo credit: L. David Irete

Photo credit: L. David Irete

Beautiful, Beautiful Snow Seen From the Conejo Valley on White Friday 2019

What a treat it has been to wake up to a blanket of fresh snow in the Los Padres National Forest, clearly visible from the Conejo Valley today. While folks are out seeking Black Friday bargains, all they need to do is look up to experience a rare White Friday!

From Reino Road in Newbuury Park, near Newbury Park High School.

Rare Snow Experienced in the Conejo Valley on Thursday, February 21, 2019

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A rare appearance of snow was enjoyed in many sections of the Conejo Valley yesterday, fed very cold temperatures and a storm that migrated here from Canada. There were reports of brief snow encounters by folks in Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Newbury Park, Calabasas and other cities, including Malibu!

At my home, there was rain, there was sleet, and then there was snow. The snow appeared briefly before melting away.

According to the National Weather Services Forecast Office Los Angeles/Oxnard, “the last significant and widespread measurable snow in the Los Angeles and Ventura County valleys was on February 8, 1989, when up to five inches of snow fell in portions of the San Fernando Valley westward to Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley.”

It was a wonderful, memorable sight.

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