Welcome To Hike Los Padres!
User Log In or Sign Up

Chumash Wilderness - Hiking and Backpacking Trails

Hiking and Backpacking Trails in the Chumash Wilderness, Los Padres National Forest


The Chumash Wilderness includes most of the highest terrain in Ventura County. The nearest towns are in the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass region, including the unincorporated communities of Frazier Park to the east, Lockwood Valley and Cuddy Valley to the south, Pine Mountain Club to the north. The Cuyama Valley region is to the west.

The wilderness area extends from just west of the summit of Mount Pinos (8,831 ft/2,692 m) to Cerro Noroeste (Mount Abel) to the west, and south into the badlands north of Lockwood Valley Road. Since Mount Pinos, Cerro Noroeste, and the Pine Mountain Club are developed with paved roads, they did not qualify for inclusion in the wilderness, which wraps partially around them. The highest point in the Chumash Wilderness is Sawmill Mountain, at 8,818 ft (2,688 m).

Major trailheads into the wilderness can be found at Mount Pinos as well as Cerro Noroeste/Mount Abel. From the Mount Pinos parking area, the wilderness trailhead is approximately 2 miles (3 km) along a dirt road with a locked gate.

Vegetation within the wilderness includes chaparral at lower elevations, and conifers at higher elevations. Some of the badlands near the southern edge of the wilderness are almost barren of vegetation, and include steep slopes with knife-edge ridges. Snow is frequent from fall until late spring at the highest elevations. Rain is rare in the summer, and wildfires are natural in the fire ecology based habitats.

A total of (3) trails are currently available in the Chumash Wilderness ×
Mt Pinos - Tumamait Trail - 4.49 Miles
21W03 • Chumash • Mt. Pinos Ranger District • Ventura County
This trail runs along the crown of the mountain from Mount Pinos to Cerro Noroeste, Mount Abel, passing Sawmill Mountain and Grouse Mountain. Vincent Tumamait was a Chumash elder who died a short time ago and the trail was named after him.
North Fork Lockwood Trail - 6.17 Miles
22W02 • Chumash • Mt. Pinos Ranger District • Ventura County
The Chumash Wilderness - Hiking and Backpacking Trails is a 0.1 mile trail in the Non Wilderness Area Wilderness in . Lockwood Creek North Fork Trail (22W02) starts at the Three Falls Boy Scout Camp in Lockwood Valley. This is a very steep trail. It is better to hike in from Mount Abel via the Mt Pinos - Tumamait Trail…
San Emigdio Mesa Springs Trail - 5.71 Miles
22W21 • Chumash • Mt. Pinos Ranger District • Ventura County
The Chumash Wilderness - Hiking and Backpacking Trails is a 0.1 mile trail in the Non Wilderness Area Wilderness in . The trail connects the Toad Springs OHV Trail (22W01) to Puerto Del Suelo Peak - 7708 feet and the Mt Pinos - Tumamait Trail (21W03).…