At Play on Rocky Peak

Hiking to Rocky Peak Above Simi Valley

11.16.2017

Big views, big boulders, and a great hike are all good reasons to rock out on the Rocky Peak Trail in Simi Valley. This hike takes you on a gradual ascent (about 1,000 feet in gain) for nearly five miles to (surprise!) a rocky peak whose 2,715-foot summit straddles the border between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.

A paved path charges immediately uphill and becomes a dirt-and-bedrock trail the rest of the way, always offering epic views of the Simi Valley to the west. At 0.75-mile, a sandstone wind cave is your first opportunity for rock play, plus a chance to duck out of the sun on this mostly exposed hike. Continue on and stay right at the junction, pausing for a breather a bit farther up for some incredible vistas to the east. All the while, you’ll encounter plenty of boulders that are a blast to scramble on to reach more views.

At about the 1.5-mile mark, the trail descends a bit and your 1.75-mile marker is a giant gnarled dead oak, a rather ominous perch for local crows and turkey vultures. The final ascent is a grueling one that rewards you with even more rock-framed panoramas. When the trail plateaus at an unmarked junction, take a sharp right and continue your ascent. Three prominent rocky peaks come into view. Your destination is the tallest one, also the farthest east. Maneuver around the first rocky outcropping and as the track narrows, stay right around the second set of giant boulders. Finally, with the peak directly in front of you, get ready to use your hands for some steep scrambling up the summit of Rocky Peak.

At the top, boulder-hop toward the easternmost point for some truly amazing 360-degree views of the surrounding Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi and San Fernando Valleys. Be sure to register your accomplishment in the guest book before rocking back the way you came.

To get to Rocky Peak, take CA-118 to the Rocky Peak Rd. exit. The small parking lot is just north of the freeway. Additional parking is south of the bridge over the 118. Dog-friendly!

Story and photos by Matt Pawlik, @mattitudehikes

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Field of Light at Sensorio in Paso Robles

    Light This Way

    Hidden in the bucolic hills of Paso Robles lies one of the greatest light shows on earth. The lighted art exhibition, Sensorio, is as if the rainbow magic of the aurora borealis was plucked from the sky and planted in the fields.

    View
  2. Surfboards and tents for shade are set up on the beach at Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area in the Swim Lagoon Area

    Switchbacks and Swimming Holes

    Hike hard, play hard! This 7-mile out-and-back in Cull Canyon Regional Recreation Area is a great workout with payoff vistas and a relaxing post-hike picnic and dip in the water.

    View

  3. Hike the Rainbow

    Catch all the colors of a rainbow at Calero County Park on this 10-mile hike currently showcasing the season’s best blooms.

    View
  4. Hike Purisima Creek Open Space Preserve

    Purisima Charisma

    Hundred-foot redwoods, a shaded canyon, and views overlooking Half Moon Bay. This 10-mile loop hike in Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve is a roller-coaster of uphill and downhill along with easygoing stretches through some of the Bay Area’s most beautiful landscape.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. People on a guided horseback tour with Central Coast Trailrides at Santa Margarita Ranch near Paso Robles

    Saddle Up with Central Coast Trailrides

    Untouched and sweeping, the mountainous scenery and deep valleys of Santa Margarita near Paso Robles are just begging to be explored. So saddle up for a scenic adventure with Central Coast Trailrides (CCT) at the 14,000-acre Santa Margarita Ranch.

    View
  2. A woman on a hiking trail with huge open space and yellow flowers around her at Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks

    Going Wildwood

    Consider this your invitation to get a little untamed. In just one walk through Wildwood Park in Thousand Oaks, you can chase the sound of a cascading waterfall, duck into a shadowy cave, and soak in big hillside vistas. The mostly flat 4.25-mile loop makes wild feel wonderfully accessible.

    View
  3. Two people fly fishing on the Truckee River with guides from Reno Fly Shop

    Zen and the Art of Fly Fishing

    Learning to fly fish is one of the most fun and beautiful ways to connect with nature, family, friends, and yourself. It’s also a great way to truly experience the magic of a place. Make that place Reno Tahoe, where a fly fishing adventure with Reno Fly Shop is like being planted in a plein air painting of dreamy outdoors.

    View
  4. A woman on the overlook deck overlooking the Truckee River at Oxbow Nature Study Area in Reno

    This Way to Oxbow and Dickerson Road

    Just west of downtown Reno—tucked right alongside the Truckee River—is a nature haven for wildlife spotting and waterside relaxing. The 22-acre Oxbow Nature Study Area is ideal for those seeking solitude and a short hike. Afterwards, explore the creative hub of Dickerson Road.

    View