Hike Thorn Point Los Padres National Forest, CA

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Thorn Point is a summit located within the Sespe Wilderness. The trailhead is accessed via Grade Valley Road, which is usually only open seasonally. Due to a few ruts, the road isn’t suitable for standard passenger vehicles, but my crossover SUV handled it just fine.

I was surprised to find a barricade when I reached the turnoff to the Thorn Point Trailhead. I’m not sure if it’s a permanent fixture, but there were a couple of other deliberately placed logs along the walk, as well as a severe washout, so I assume the closure is at least semi-permanent. This added just over 2 miles to the roundtrip hike, but I was having one of those particularly fuzzy-feeling nature mornings, so I welcomed the extra walking.

The trail begins at Thorn Meadows Campground, initially following a mostly flat path hemmed in by sandstone cliffs rising on either side of the drainage. It was clear that nobody had been out here recently, but I had no trouble following the trail all the way to the summit.

About a mile in, the trail veers into a side canyon and climbs a few switchbacks up the slope, leading toward the spine of Thorn Point’s sandy northern ridge. Soon I caught my first glimpse of the cliffs embedded into Thorn Point’s base, an unexpectedly beautiful backdrop that kept drawing my eyes. I don’t think I’ve seen cliffs like this anywhere else in Southern California. Off to the north, the Cuyama Badlands stretched into the distance, and I could see the prominent neighbors of Mount Pinos and Alamo Mountain.

The trail switchbacks across the ridgeline, occasionally sticking to the crest, winding through sandy terrain and forested slopes and offering sweeping views back over the valley. Higher up, the grade eases, and the summit ridge opens into a lumpier, flatter section.

Thorn Point’s abandoned summit fire tower came into view. The trail reaches the northeastern ridge and begins climbing again, and before long I arrived at the base of the tower. Built in the 1930s, the structure was staffed around the clock during World War II, and later abandoned in the ’70s or ’80s. I climbed the rickety stairs to a wooden catwalk and stepped inside, finding many relics still intact.

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

Peaks on hike

Elevation

Prominence

Thorn Point

6936 ft

600 rise

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Along the drive in, a view toward Thorn Point with Cedar Creek in the foreground.

Blockade at the start of the road.

A nice walk to the trailhead.

The Thorn Point Trailhead from the Thorn Meadows Campground.

Initially a mostly flat walk flanked by sandstone cliffs on either side of the drainage.

I had no trouble following the trail, and there wasn't any bushwhacking.

A switchback as the trail leaves the drainage and begins ascending the slopes.

First glimpses of the gorgeous cliffs at the base of Thorn Point.

Closer view of the cliffs.

The trail switchbacks up the steep ridgeline.

Traversing sandy slopes.

View back.

Often the trail is forested.

A nice lookout point down toward the cliffs seen earlier below.

Steeper section along the ridgeline.

View back down.

At the top of the ridge, a flatter section. Thorn Point's summit seen on the right.

Progress up the northeastern ridge toward the summit.

Thorn Point fire tower seen ahead.

Thorn Point's abandoned fire tower.

View from the fire tower, looking west.

View from Thorn Point's summit fire tower, looking north toward Mount Pinos.

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!