Trip report
Apr 26, 2026 — Junipero Serra Peak is the highest point in the Santa Lucia Range, which stretches roughly 140 miles along California’s Central Coast. These mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean, but since Junipero Serra is located a bit more inland, the views are mostly of the surrounding hills. Apparently on clear days you can see the ocean, but I couldn’t even see 50 feet in front of me due to thick fog.
The standard route starts from Memorial Park near the Santa Lucia Memorial, at the Santa Lucia Trailhead. The mountain was originally known as Santa Lucia Peak, but this name now only applies to the trail, which is a well-maintained and popular hike. Despite a lengthy drive out here, the road was in great shape.
The Santa Lucia Trail heads through sweeping grassy meadows with cool rock formations surrounding it as it ascends slowly to a shoulder before dropping slightly to reach the mouth of a major drainage on the peak’s southwest side. From here it continued steadily through woodland before taking numerous switchbacks up to Junipero Serra’s southwestern ridge, transitioning from a forested drainage to scrubby slopes.
Once reaching the west ridge, the trail stays north and enters a forested slope before a steep ascent leads to the summit, which houses an old fire lookout tower.