Hike Cerro Alto Loop Los Padres National Forest, CA

Directions

Route Map

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Cerro Alto Loop GPX Track

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Cerro Alto is located in a particularly lush region within Los Padres National Forest. For some reason, there's a fee to park at the trailhead, and an Adventure Pass doesn't work. I don't know what sort of weird management is going on, but whatever. There are two main routes to get to Cerro Alto from here: the more direct switchbacks up the peak's north slopes (I used this as my decent), and the more pleasant and pretty Canyon Trail, which first heads east through a gorgeous forested section before taking a mostly flat trail back west, meeting up with the direct trail and heading to the summit (see map). I recommend taking the longer route to get some nice scenery, despite the extra mile or so, but I'm a sucker for loops.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Cerro Alto

2624 ft

344 rise

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Starting from the trailhead, first headed along the Canyon Trail.

Lush section as the Canyon Trial parallels a creek.

Canyon Trail curves south as it gains some elevation.

The Canyon Trial reaches a junction with the AT&T Trail, which is a mostly flat trail leading west.

Nice views along the flat AT&T Trail.

Close-up north looking toward the trailhead.

Eventually the trail merges with the more direct Cerro Alto Trail and heads south, switchbacking up the peak's slope.

View back the way I came.

Cerro Alto visible ahead.

Cerro Alto summit, view east.

Cerro Alto summit, view west toward the ocean.

Cerro Alto summit, view north

Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!