Hike Cone Peak and Twin Peak via Vicente Flat and Stone Ridge Spine Loop Los Padres National Forest, CA

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Cone Peak and Twin Peak via Vicente Flat and Stone Ridge Spine Loop GPX Track

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Apr 27, 2026 — Located in the Ventana Wilderness, Cone Peak is the second highest mountain in the Santa Lucia Range. It has a couple of standard approach routes. Until recently, the Cone Peak Trail provided quick access from the dirt Cone Peak Road. However, this road has been closed with what seems like no intention of reopening it. The new starting point for this trail is now off Nacimiento-Fergusson Road option (36.00987, -121.45241), forcing an additional 10.5 road walking miles to the hike. Another popular route for Cone Peak is to take the Stone Ridge Spine Path starting using Twitchell Road just off the highway (36.01374, -121.52733).

The Twitchell Road route was my original plan, so I drove to the coordinates of what I thought would be the trailhead. When I got there there was no signage for a trail, and a spur gravel road led to a no trespassing sign. Without service, I couldn’t confirm if this was correct, so I consulted a map and took some time to formulate the loop I ended up going for. It’s definitely more work than a standard out-and-back, but this loop allowed me to see so much gorgeous terrain that the extra effort was more than worth it.

I could have started within Lime Kiln State Park (36.00999, -121.51825) and accessed the Stone Ridge Trail (not to be confused with Stone Ridge Spine Path), which traverses the mountain slopes and would form a partial loop, but instead I started across from the Kirk Creek Campground and took the Vicente Flat Trail. In hindsight, starting in Lime Kiln State Park might have been more efficient, but that trail seemed far less well-maintained than the Vicente Flat Trail, so I actually don’t know if it would have been more enjoyable.

The Vicente Flat Trail slowly gained elevation above the beautiful CA-1 Highway, the Pacific Ocean slowly taking up more of my view as I ascended along the mountain slopes. I passed through a couple of small redwood grottos, and got my first glimpse of Cone Peak far above. The trail terminated at Vicente Flat Camp, where I picked up the Stone Ridge Trail as it led up a drainage with flowing water. Due to flooding within the drainage, this trail uses large downed trees as natural bridges and crosses the watercourse multiple times to avoid debris.

The Stone Ridge Trail eventually begins climbing steeply out of the drainage and up to a trailhead along Cone Peak Road. I followed the dirt road for a few miles until reaching the Cone Peak Trailhead, the least exciting part of the day. I entered some fog (a theme for this trip), but fortunately as I neared the summit it faded away and I got excellent views toward the ocean.

A social trail led across the ridgeline from Cone Peak to Twin Peak, which manages to wrap around any serious little outcroppings and only some light Class 2 scrambling. From Twin Peak, I picked up the Stone Ridge Spine Path, which took me down Twin Peak’s southern ridge for miles. It was an incredibly beautiful perspective, the ocean slowly getting closer as I made progress down. It was certainly more enjoyable as a descent since sections were very steep, and the views were ever-present. The slope is grassy with small spurts of brush, but the trail is developed enough that it wasn’t a bushwhack unless you somehow lose the trail.

I reached the junction with the Stone Ridge Trail, but continued generally south on the trail now marked as the Twitchell Elevator. This portion of the hike started through a sweeping grassy meadow, but it soon dropped into the forest where Poison Oak encroached horrendously. I had to hike slower to avoid touching it, and it was a rare occasion I wish I wore pants. The trail then entered the West Fork Limekiln Creek drainage, a stunning redwood grove with a blanket of green. More poison oak ensued past this little oasis, but soon I met up with the junction with the Alvin Trail.

The Alvin Trail took me down into Limekiln State Park with excellent views amongst a healthy forest, and the trail continued into more gorgeous forest scenery back along Limekiln Creek. In my excitement for the beauty of this place, I somehow managed to skip the the namesake of the park, the lime kilns themselves, but decided not to turn back. I exited the park and made haste along CA-1 on foot. If you have two cars, this would make for a nice shuttle. The shoulder was often quite narrow and the bends made it hard for cars to see me, but people did seem to slow down respectfully in these tight instances.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Cone Peak

5150 ft

2922 rise

Twin Peak

4845 ft

340 rise

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Starting along the Vicente Flat Trail.

The Vicente Flat Trail rises slowly, paralleling the Pacific Ocean.

View back along the Vicente Flat Trail, CA-1 seen below.

A small forested grove, one of a few along the way.

Another shot back at the coastline.

The Vicente Flat Trail wraps north. Seen ahead are Cone Peak (center) and Twin Peak (left of center).

Vicente Flat Trail hugs the slope, often a bit narrow.

Sporadic views of the ocean as the Vicente Flat Trail weaves in and out of little drainages.

Descending to Vicente Flat Camp.

Vicente Flat Camp within Hare Canyon.

Continuing along the Stone Ridge Trail. It often entered the drainage and weaved around flood-created obstacles.

The Stone Ridge Trail begins ascending out of the watercourse.

The Stone Ridge Trail continues to the saddle seen center, which is where I picked up Cone Peak Road.

View back, now well above Hare Canyon.

I reached Cone Peak Road.

A pretty quick road walk with great views led to the Cone Peak Trailhead.

Junipero Serra seen in the distance.

Cone Peak Trailhead.

Along the Cone Peak Trail. Fortunately the fog only lasted a short time.

Views toward the Pacific Ocean.

Trail junction, Cone Peak seen above.

Cone Peak summit, view north.

Along the Class 2 ridgeline connecting Cone Peak to Twin Peak (seen left).

View back at some Class 2 obstacles, Cone Peak top left.

Twin Peak ahead.

View back at the ridgeline from Cone Peak.

Nearing the summit of Twin Peak, view back.

Twin Peak summit, view west.

Close-up toward the coastline. The Vicente Flat Trailhead is somewhere way down there, top right.

Along the Stone Ridge Spine Path, heading south from Twin Peak.

Looking back up along the Stone Ridge Spine Path toward Twin Peak (left) and Cone Peak (right).

Stunning views the whole way down.

Close-up toward the saddle where the Stone Ridge Trail met up with the Cone Peak Road earlier in the loop (center).

As you can see, the trail is often pretty narrow and/or faint.

Looking back up toward Stone Ridge Spine Path (left) to Twin Peak, and Cone Peak (right of center).

Twitchell Elevator down through some meadows.

Gorgeous, sweeping view. Trail seen continuing on the left.

View back up.

Then the trail entered brush. Though the trail seemed pretty maintained, considering how thick the surrounding brush was, there was ample poison oak.

Stunning green-blanketed redwood grove within West Fork Limekiln Creek.

West Fork Limekiln Creek.

Continuing the descent into Lime Kiln State Park.

Along the Alvin Trail within Lime Kiln State Park.

Close-up to the bridge over Rockland Landing, a beach that seemed like a popular place for people to hang.

An beautiful green exit for an excellent loop through the lush Limekiln State Park.

I emerged from Limekiln State Park onto CA-1 and made my way back to the Vicente Flat Trailhead.

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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!