Iron Mountain Loop in Iron Mountain Preserve, CA

Hike Iron Mountain Loop Iron Mountain Preserve, CA

Class 2 9.6 miles 2600 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Apr 14, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Iron Mountain Loop GPX Track

I need to offset my substantial website costs somehow! You can download a hike/drive GPX to assist you here. Before sharing my GPX tracks with others, please remember my site is otherwise a free resource.

This route may have access issues.

Ramona Overlook Peak is closed to the public from December to July every year to protect raptor nesting. Please respect wildlife by not entering during these times.

Iron Mountain is one of those wildly popular hikes with a dizzying number of switchbacks that gain such minimal elevation it feels no progress is being made. Doing this crowded peak on its own would have felt like an incomplete outing, especially since there's an excellent trail system through the hills of the area. I looped in Ramona Overlook Peak and North Iron Mountain to form a more fulfilling hike, though more about those later.

I parked at the big Iron Mountain Trailhead parking lot and set out east along the dirt road now just used as a trail for reaching Iron Mountain. About a mile in, the roadnarrows a bit and feel more like a true trail as it ascends to the saddle separating Iron Mountain from Ramona Overlook Peak. Here I reached a trail junction, turning right (south) to head to Iron Mountain first. I won't say much more about Iron Mountain than it's a popular switchbacking trail through the chaparral to a decent viewpoint at the top.

Once back to the junction, I set off north along the Ellie Lane Trail. I immediately noticed the difference from Iron Mountain: far fewer people and a much narrower singletrack. The Ellie Lane Trail descended a short time before ascending more steeply to the south side of Ramona Overlook Peak. Here, a sign reads that the summit area is off limits to prevent disrupting raptor nesting. I'd hiked to this summit on a previous occasion, and I wasn't willing to break such clear and reasonable rules, so I don't have photos of this ascent. From memory, I followed a social trail that led nearly to the summit boulders, but the last bit requires light bushwhacking and a Class 2 scramble to reach the high point.

I dropped west along the Ellie Lane Trail, North Iron Mountain my third peak for the loop. The Ellie Lane Trail continues west on the slope of a steep drainage, but does not lead where I wanted to go. Instead, a not totally obvious trail pops in on the right, crosses the drainage, and parallels the Ellie Lane Trail on the opposite side of the drainage. This trail bends north and there are two options you can take. For some reason I took the one that adds about a hundred vertical feet. The views in this area are really open and nice, especially when nearing the south side of North Iron Mountain where the trail passes through a small clearing.

North Iron Mountain is a slightly steeper undertaking than the rest of this loop since the trail to its summit is an unofficial social trail that weaves through the numerous granitic boulders as efficiently as it can. The trail can be located at the top of a wide granite slab, but it took me a minute to find it. I thought this part of the hike was the most fun, mostly because it introduced some Class 2 and was less tamed than the well-groomed official trail system. The summit area of North Iron Mountain has some nice views, but is mostly obscured by trees. A major cluster of boulders marks the true high point, though it seems very few hikers actually make it to this high point. I'm usually a purist when reaching summits, but this boulder obstacle is daunting and only has Class 5 options on all sides. I circled the whole thing a couple of times and determined I wasn't interested. Bob Burd was able to find a route by using a large oak tree, followed by a sketchy slab. Maybe one day I'll be back, but for now I'll call it good like the majority seem to also have done.

I backtracked to the Ellie Lane Trail and took it west and away from North Iron Mountain. I then followed the Iron Horse Trail south for a bit until a series of well-used social trails led me back to the trailhead.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Iron Mountain
2696 ft
576 rise
2
Ramona Overlook Peak
2635 ft
395 rise
3
North Iron Mountain
2703 ft
845 rise

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!

Iron Mountain Trailhead.
Iron Mountain Trailhead.
The trail begins through rows of oaks.
The trail begins through rows of oaks.
Iron Mountain seen top right. The trail initially leads to the saddle seen left of center.
Iron Mountain seen top right. The trail initially leads to the saddle seen left of center.
Along the Iron Mountain Trail, Iron Mountain seen top right.
Along the Iron Mountain Trail, Iron Mountain seen top right.
View back along the dirt road/trail.
View back along the dirt road/trail.
The Iron Mountain Trail narrows a bit and becomes more trail-like.
The Iron Mountain Trail narrows a bit and becomes more trail-like.
At the saddle, a trail junction. Iron Mountain seen right of center.
At the saddle, a trail junction. Iron Mountain seen right of center.
View back along the Iron Mountain Trail, shortly after the first set of switchbacks.
View back along the Iron Mountain Trail, shortly after the first set of switchbacks.
Many switchbacks up Iron Mountain.
Many switchbacks up Iron Mountain.
View back at the many switchbacks. Ramona Overlook Peak seen top center.
View back at the many switchbacks. Ramona Overlook Peak seen top center.
Ascending the low-angle switchbacks.
Ascending the low-angle switchbacks.
Nearing the summit of Iron Mountain, Ramona Overlook Peak and North Iron Mountain both visible on the left.
Nearing the summit of Iron Mountain, Ramona Overlook Peak and North Iron Mountain both visible on the left.
Iron Mountain summit, view south.
Iron Mountain summit, view south.
Iron Mountain summit, view west. Iron Mountain Trail seen below on the right.
Iron Mountain summit, view west. Iron Mountain Trail seen below on the right.
Back at the junction, now along the Ellie Lane Trail.
Back at the junction, now along the Ellie Lane Trail.
The Ellie Lane Trail drops a bit before ascending toward Ramona Overlook Peak.
The Ellie Lane Trail drops a bit before ascending toward Ramona Overlook Peak.
Ascending toward Ramona Overlook Peak, hidden right of center.
Ascending toward Ramona Overlook Peak, hidden right of center.
View back.
View back.
Southern shoulder of Ramona Overlook Peak seen ahead. I didn't take photos of the social trail to Ramona Overlook Peak since it was currently closed for raptor nesting. From memory during a previous ascent, it's a nice social trail leading to a short bushwhack and a Class 2 scramble to the high point.
Southern shoulder of Ramona Overlook Peak seen ahead. I didn't take photos of the social trail to Ramona Overlook Peak since it was currently closed for raptor nesting. From memory during a previous ascent, it's a nice social trail leading to a short bushwhack and a Class 2 scramble to the high point.
After dropping down along the Ellie Lane Trail, I located a side-trail that popped in on the right and led across this drainage. The Ellie Lane Trail is seen on the left of the drainage.
After dropping down along the Ellie Lane Trail, I located a side-trail that popped in on the right and led across this drainage. The Ellie Lane Trail is seen on the left of the drainage.
North Iron Mountain comes into view.
North Iron Mountain comes into view.
A clearing with lovely views.
A clearing with lovely views.
View back toward Ramona Overlook Peak, obscured a false summit.
View back toward Ramona Overlook Peak, obscured a false summit.
Heading up toward North Iron Mountain on a steeper social trail. It took me a minute to locate the start of this trail.
Heading up toward North Iron Mountain on a steeper social trail. It took me a minute to locate the start of this trail.
Steep trail zig-zagging around boulders.
Steep trail zig-zagging around boulders.
Nearing the summit of North Iron Mountain, a view back toward Ramona Overlook Peak (far left) and Iron Mountain (right of center).
Nearing the summit of North Iron Mountain, a view back toward Ramona Overlook Peak (far left) and Iron Mountain (right of center).
North Iron Mountain summit boulder. More fearless scramblers than myself use the tree seen center to reach it.
North Iron Mountain summit boulder. More fearless scramblers than myself use the tree seen center to reach it.
A view north toward Highway 67.
A view north toward Highway 67.
A shot of the Class 5 crux. Basically, use the tree to scramble to the slab, hop onto that loose-looking boulder in the center, wrap left, and then scramble up the summit boulder. Not for me today thanks.
A shot of the Class 5 crux. Basically, use the tree to scramble to the slab, hop onto that loose-looking boulder in the center, wrap left, and then scramble up the summit boulder. Not for me today thanks.
View back toward North Iron Mountain as I make my way back along the Ellie Lane Trail.
View back toward North Iron Mountain as I make my way back along the Ellie Lane Trail.
A cute pond along the way.
A cute pond along the way.
I took a series of social trails back to the trailhead. This is a view back to the peaks I was just hiking.
I took a series of social trails back to the trailhead. This is a view back to the peaks I was just hiking.

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!