Hike San Rafael Peak and Alamo Mountain via Little Mutau Trail Los Padres National Forest, CA

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The forest road into Grade Valley has been inaccessible to me due to seasonal closures or the recent washouts on Lockwood Valley Road, but I finally managed to plan a couple of days in this remote region of the Los Padres National Forest. Today’s goal was originally to reach San Rafael Peak via the Little Mutau Trail, but I brought a bunch of extra supplies in case I decided to add more peaks. And I did, in fact, keep adding peaks.

Little Mutau Creek flows west from Alamo Mountain, and the Little Mutau Trail follows this drainage for most of its length. It’s a secluded route through the Sespe Wilderness that connects my starting point at the Johnston Ridge Trailhead with Alamo Mountain Road (8N01.3) high above. I figured this route would potentially let me access the high-prominence Alamo Mountain without having to make the absurdly long drive up Alamo Mountain Road, which would be a big win.

I started at the Johnston Ridge Trailhead, where the trail begins as an overgrown singletrack before meeting a junction with an old roadbed and following it. The dirt road was flat for a while, a nice warm-up, and had views down into the expansive Mutau Flat as well as up toward the mountains where San Rafael Peak loomed somewhere above.

The trail dropped into the wide Mutau Creek drainage, where I passed a sign that pointed toward my eventual destination of the Little Mutau Trailhead, but not without a substantial detour first. After crossing Mutau Creek, I continued along the Little Mutau Trail, which winds gently through the drainage. It was easy to follow and progress up the drainage was steady, but often thin or washed out. Thorn Point rose behind me as I ascended to the saddle on the northwest side of San Rafael Peak.

I reached the saddle, where I’d be returning later after completing the loop from Alamo Mountain. From here, a social trail helped guide me to the summit of San Rafael Peak, though it wasn’t always reliable. There were a few annoying dips in the ridgeline and I encountered small pockets of brush, but it was an overall nice hike with good views as I made my way to the my first summit of the day.

I had thought the brush would be too bad along the crest to continue that way, but from San Rafael Peak, I looked toward Peak 6490 and decided I would definitely be able to continue along the crest. This meant a more efficient way to get back to the Little Mutau Trail later, and also I’d reach an extra peak! Alamo Mountain was still a significant distance away, but I could see its amorphous summit on the horizon.

I followed the ridgeline to Peak 6490, probably the most interesting stretch of the day. The descent was steep and sandy at first, followed by a short, rockier section (enough so that some might call it Class 2). The rim on my right dropped off dramatically, and the distant marine layer was beautiful. It was then a straightforward hike to the summit of Peak 6490.

I dropped down the mellow slope from Peak 6490 to reconnect with the Little Mutau Trail, leaving the ridge a bit early to avoid thick brush, which turned out to be a good decision. The trail then began a steep climb out of the drainage and up along a wide slope/ridgeline. Intersecting social trails confused me a few times. I reached the top of the slope/ridge continued down to the Little Mutau Trailhead.

From there, I had a road walk to reach the base of Alamo Mountain. At a hairpin turn in the road, I continued onto the broad southern slope of the mountain, where off-trail travel was slowed by many downed trees and tall grasses. Most of the worst sections could be avoided, and I angled up toward the forested section higher on the mountain where there was less deadfall. Alamo Mountain’s summit view was mostly obscured by trees, so I didn’t linger.

Back on the Little Mutau Trail for a short time, I left it again for a short walk up Peak 7047. Peering west, I decided once again to tack on another peak instead of returning to the trail. While pretty, the Little Mutau Trail wasn’t mind-blowing, and I didn’t feel I’d miss much by following the ridgeline to Peak 6835 instead. I just hoped my haphazard plan for a descent route later would work out. The ridgeline walk was great. Totally clear of brush and with fantastic views. A good choice.

From Peak 6835, I descended a steep, brushy slope that looked reasonable on satellite imagery to return to the trail. There were enough open stretches to make it manageable, and I was able to save my legs from any scratches. Once again, I returned to the Little Mutau Trail, which was in decent shape, though it had some washed-out sections. After a bit of walking adjacent to the flowing water, the trail ascended steeply out of the drainage to gain the saddle northwest of San Rafael Peak, where I’d left it earlier. I continued back the way I came.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

San Rafael Peak

6666 ft

794 rise

Peak 6490

6490 ft

476 rise

Alamo Mountain

7400 ft

2521 rise

Peak 7046

7046 ft

349 rise

Peak 6835

6835 ft

372 rise

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Starting from the Johnston Ridge Trailhead. The trail begins singletrack.

Then the trail follows an old roadbed. San Rafael Peak somewhere up there on the left.

Closeup south toward Mutau Flat.

Dropping into the Mutau Creek drainage.

A sign points toward the Little Mutau Trailhead. I'll get there later after a significant detour.

Crossing Mutau Creek.

Photo taken on the way back at the creek crossing, after some nice fog rolled in.

Along the Little Mutau Trail.

View back as I make progress up the drainage.

Nearing the saddle northwest of San Rafael Peak.

Just below the saddle, view back down the Little Mutau Trail. Thorn Point seen top left.

From the saddle, I headed toward San Rafael Peak. A social trail assisted at times, but I kept losing it.

Higher up along the ridgeline, San Rafael Peak comes into view.

View back toward Mutau Flat and Thorn Point (top left).

Approaching a dip in the ridgeline, San Rafael Peak ahead.

The social trail then keeps below the crest to avoid significant brush.

Final summit push to San Rafael Peak.

San Rafael Peak, view west.

San Rafael Peak, view east toward Peak 6490. Alamo Mountain visible top left.

Closeup across the Sespe drainage toward Topatopa Peak.

Onward to Peak 6490.

This was the coolest section of the hike. Toward the bottom was a steeper, rocky section barely Class 2.

View back up toward San Rafael Peak from the saddle.

Peak 6490 ahead.

The ridgeline back toward San Rafael Peak.

Peak 6490 summit, view west.

I dropped down the tame slope from Peak 6490 to regain the Little Mutau Trail below. Cobblestone Mountain seen in the distance (right).

Lumpy terrain lower down before reaching the trail. I left the ridge a little early to get down to the Mutau Trail because it was brushy.

Back on the Little Mutau Trail.

View back along the Little Mutau Trail toward Peak 6490 (right).

The trail climbs steeply along the ridgeline.

Wider shot back toward Peak 6490 and San Rafael Peak.

Progress along the upper reaches of the Little Mutau Trail.

A final shot back as I crest the ridge along the trail.

A short descent along an old road to the trailhead.

Little Mutau Trailhead.

A lengthy road walk to the base of Alamo Mountain.

Many downed trees off-trail to Alamo Mountain. Most of the worst stuff can be avoided, and I chose to ascend toward the forested section higher up where there was less deadfall.

Nearing the summit of Alamo Mountain, view back.

Alamo Mountain summit, view north.

I backtracked to the Little Mutau Trail, then left it to gain Peak 7047. This is looking back toward the trail on the chill ascent to the peak.

Peak 7047 summit.

Rather than backtrack to the trail, I continued onward to Peak 6835, assuming I could find a way down later. Peak 6835 seen just ahead.

View back on Peak 6835, Alamo Mountain seen left.

I descended a steep, brushy southwestern slope from Peak 6835. There were plenty of open stretches that made it totally reasonable. San Rafael Peak seen center across the Little Mutau Creek drainage.

View back up at my descent line.

Back on the Little Mutau Trail.

View back up along the Little Mutau Trail.

The Little Mutau Trail then ascends out of the drainage to reach the saddle northwest of San Rafael Peak.

A view back down as I returned to the saddle northwest of San Rafael Peak.

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!