Ranger Peak from Chicken Springs in Los Padres National Forest, CA

Hike Ranger Peak from Chicken Springs Los Padres National Forest, CA

Class 1 9.2 miles 2700 gain 3-5 hrs Out + Back Apr 25, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

Ranger Peak from Chicken Springs GPX Track

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I noticed the bright green slopes on the south side of Ranger Peak the day before and was determined to find a way to enjoy them today. Fortunately, a trail of sorts exists all the way from Happy Canyon Road to Figueroa Mountain Road a few thousand feet above, with an unofficial social trail leading the last bit to the summit. Many choose to reach Ranger Peak by just driving to the upper road, but that's a ridiculously short outing I wasn't interested in when such a gorgeous landscape covered in wildflowers exists. I parked at the Chicken Springs Trailhead, a pull-off that any car can reach.

The hike begins at a fence surrounded by overgrowth, an old, flat road heading away from Happy Canyon Road. The morning marine layer was just starting to recede, so I had a wonderful combination of textures to look down toward, meaning I totally missed the Ranger Peak Trail turn-off. Really just a minor spur trail on the right with tall grasses on either side, I didn't blame myself. Once I located it, I hesitantly started up, completely confident I'd be seeing a rattlesnake in the tall grass, but the fear dissipated quickly and fortunately I didn't see any today. As I neared the top of the initial slope and continued north along the sloped ridge I couldn't believe the hike to come ahead of me, a sweeping grassy meadow with oak trees popping up sparsely and wildflowers abundant.

The lower quarter of the hike seemed to have sections resembling an old roadbed, but mostly it was just overgrown singletrack. The Ranger Peak Trail continued in this manner for a couple of miles, excellent views and meadow walking. At one point the trail dipped down into a small creek, but otherwise it was just a gradual ascent through the grasses. At about 3100' I reached a fence. Without spending time looking for a way around it, I just crawled underneath. I think this is all public land, so I found its existence odd. I'm pretty sure I only thought this hike was this beautiful because of the time of year and after a big rainy season causing lots of growth, but I took in the views with immense joy. I broke out some oldie trance music, you know, the kind that always makes you feel like you're in a music video… anyone… no? The landscape introduced some low bushes as I ascended, and then more of them started appearing. The grassy floor opened to a wider dirt trail that was once clearly a road now mostly returned to nature. To the left a very cool rock outcropping hovered over the clouds below, a more dramatic feature than it had a right to be when compared to the rest of the sloped hillside.

I passed a couple of other cool rock formations as Ranger Peak became clearly visible ahead of me. Oh right, I was hiking to a peak. I'd almost forgotten. It's been a while since I really just enjoyed a hike without being so goal-oriented, but for some reason this hike was really doing it for me. More meadow walking led to a steep grassy ascent to Ranger Peak's southern shoulder. The trail continues to Figueroa Mountain Road, but I left it and took a thin social trail up the peak's southern slope. Passing through a short pine grove, this section was a bit more steep than the majority of the hike. The views to the south improved drastically, my perspective framed by wildflowers. I could see Figueroa Mountain and beyond from the summit.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Ranger Peak
4656 ft
1576 rise

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Ranger Peak Trailhead.
Ranger Peak Trailhead.
Image 1 from gallery
The thin Ranger Peak trail comes in on the right and leads through tall grasses.
The thin Ranger Peak trail comes in on the right and leads through tall grasses.
On the sloped ridge, view south, so gorgeous.
On the sloped ridge, view south, so gorgeous.
Ascending along the slope.right.
Ascending along the slope.right.
Another shot back as I ascend on the Ranger Peak Trail. Portions of the lower section seemed like an old roadbed, while others were just a singletrack.
Another shot back as I ascend on the Ranger Peak Trail. Portions of the lower section seemed like an old roadbed, while others were just a singletrack.
Ascending through the meadows.
Ascending through the meadows.
Wildflowers and overgrowth.
Wildflowers and overgrowth.
A view back.
A view back.
Cool rock formation seen ahead.
Cool rock formation seen ahead.
Another shot back at my progress through the meadow.
Another shot back at my progress through the meadow.
A fenceline. The trail doesn't reach it for a bit still.
A fenceline. The trail doesn't reach it for a bit still.
View northeast along the trail.
View northeast along the trail.
A dip in the trail, crossing a small creek.
A dip in the trail, crossing a small creek.
View back.
View back.
I passed under the fence here. There might have been an opening nearby, but I didn't look for it.
I passed under the fence here. There might have been an opening nearby, but I didn't look for it.
View back toward the fence.
View back toward the fence.
More ascending through meadows.
More ascending through meadows.
A little higher up, looking back as the trail entered a section of the slope that was more brushy.
A little higher up, looking back as the trail entered a section of the slope that was more brushy.
The trail became an obvious old road for a short time. Ranger Peak visible far top right.
The trail became an obvious old road for a short time. Ranger Peak visible far top right.
Another shot back along the sloped ridge I've been ascending on.
Another shot back along the sloped ridge I've been ascending on.
An amazing view of a cool rock formation, the marine layer below.
An amazing view of a cool rock formation, the marine layer below.
Close-up, Ranger Peak seen top right.
Close-up, Ranger Peak seen top right.
A view back as I enter the next portion of this wonderland.
A view back as I enter the next portion of this wonderland.
Looking back at a very cool rock outcropping overlooking Los Olivos.
Looking back at a very cool rock outcropping overlooking Los Olivos.
Ranger Peak right, cool rock formation left.
Ranger Peak right, cool rock formation left.
Ascending through more meadow toward Ranger Peak.
Ascending through more meadow toward Ranger Peak.
View back toward the cool rock formation pictured earlier.
View back toward the cool rock formation pictured earlier.
Wider shot back to the nutty cliff (left) and cool formation (right).
Wider shot back to the nutty cliff (left) and cool formation (right).
A steeper section.
A steeper section.
View back.
View back.
Ranger Peak ahead.
Ranger Peak ahead.
Ranger Peak, covered in grasses and wildflowers.
Ranger Peak, covered in grasses and wildflowers.
I ascended along the trail to the peak's southern shoulder (seen left of center).
I ascended along the trail to the peak's southern shoulder (seen left of center).
View back at the grassy ascent.
View back at the grassy ascent.
At the shoulder, heading up Ranger Peak's south slope on a thin social trail. The trail leads through some trees for a short time.
At the shoulder, heading up Ranger Peak's south slope on a thin social trail. The trail leads through some trees for a short time.
View back.
View back.
Almost at the summit of Ranger Peak.
Almost at the summit of Ranger Peak.
Ranger Peak summit, view back along the sloped ridge I came up (left).
Ranger Peak summit, view back along the sloped ridge I came up (left).
Ranger Peak summit, view toward Figueroa Mountain.
Ranger Peak summit, view toward Figueroa Mountain.
Ranger Peak summit, view east toward San Rafael Mountain in the distance.
Ranger Peak summit, view east toward San Rafael Mountain in the distance.
Summit wildflowers.
Summit wildflowers.

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!