King Peak via Lightning Trail

King Range National Conservation Area, CA Redwoods + Lost Coast

Trip stats

Distance
5.2 mi
Net Gain
1,800 ft
Time
2-4 hrs
YDS Rating
Class 1
Route
Out/Back
Peaks
1

Ratings out of 10

Effort
2.5/10
Personality
5/10
Beauty
6/10
Solitude
4.2/10
What do these mean? →

Peaks on this hike

Summits listed in route order

  1. King Peak
    4,088′ elevation · 2,928′ prominence

Route map + Trailhead

Trailhead Coordinates

40.174992, -124.110561

The directions link below drops a pin on the trailhead coordinates and lets Google Maps pick the route. If the drive has rough roads or access issues that GPS nav might get wrong, I cover that in my trip report.

Get directions (opens Google Maps in a new tab)

Trip report

Jun 19, 2017 — King Peak, the high point of the King Range, has some excellent views of the Lost Coast along the Pacific Ocean. This is the most direct trail to reach the summit by using King Peak's eas/northeast ridge, but you could take a longer hike by using the Saddle Mountain Trail. The hike starts up a nice ridge before ascending a steep set of switchbacks. Past the switchbacks the trail emerges from the forest and continues along a sandy ridgeline to King Peak's summit. Following the trail is straightforward.

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App

Photos

20 photos

  1. Leaving the Lighting Trail trailhead, head steeply up switchbacks for basically the entire trail.
  3. Some fairly nice views of the King Mountains along the trail.
  6. Switchbacks up the mountain.
  10. A junction amongst the switchbacks.
  11. Leave the forest to gain a sandy ridge.
  12. Looking back along the ridge.
  14. King Peak on the left. The trail skirts the ridgeline.
  15. A view of the ocean along the way.
  18. Looking back from just before the summit.
  19. King Peak summit looking southwest.
  20. King Peak summit looking northwest.

Photo 1 of 1

Hire me or show some love!

Hire or refer me as a web developer, or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I'm not sponsored, so it's funded by yours truly. It also takes a ton of work to edit photos and write these reports. I really appreciate it!

Hire me PayPal Venmo Cash App