Bag the Wright Peak

Hiking to Wright Peak on Mount Konocti in Clear Lake California

04.28.2016

Perched proudly over the largest freshwater lake located wholly within California’s borders, and visible for miles in all directions, Wright Peak on Mount Konocti is the tallest point overlooking Clear Lake and offers a stunning summit panorama. Vistas span well to the Sierra Nevada! Reaching the peak requires a steady 1,649-foot climb on Mount Konocti, a long-dormant volcano that’s part of the Ring of Fire. All in, this is a 6.6-mile out-and-back adventure. Follow Wright Peak Trail, ascending through thick growths of California laurel, mountain mahogany, and foothill pine, stopping to take in some teasing peek-a-boo views of Clear Lake and the valley below. Spring flowers like baby blue eyes paint the landscape. Hang a sharp right at the rest area and make your way uphill into the dense, towering canopy of a cool maul-oak grove (some of these behemoths are over 500 years old!). Muscle through this last steep climb, past the wreckage of a private plane, and take a seat on one of the boulders at the peak to absorb the epic 360-degree views of the lake and the Sacramento Valley, stretching as far as the Sutter Buttes and Mount Lassen. All the Wright stuff!

ALTERNATE HIKE: Not seeking a steady climb to a peak? Head to Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, about 30 minutes away. This 6.5-mile (round-trip) hikes traverses the riparian wetlands of Anderson Marsh in lush meadows of valley oak, finally leading to a trail alongside the lakeshore.

wrightpeak2-image-jpeg

STAY: For the easiest access to Mount Konocti and Wright Peak Summit Trail, reserve a cabin or pitch a tent on the shore at Clear Lake State Park (pictured), a good home base.

To reach Mount Konocti and the Wright Peak Trail from downtown Kelseyville: Drive east until you enter Mount Konocti County Park. Continue for a mile, park at the paved lot a mile down the road, and walk through the gate to start your hike. A dirt road gently meanders into a blooming walnut orchard that marks the trailhead. Wright Peak is dog-friendly! (No dogs at Anderson Marsh State Historic Park, the alternate hike option.)

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