Gaviota State Park

This hike made for a long day trip from Bakersfield, but was well worth it for the weather, the views, and the extent of trails available for hiking. I took a side trip to see La Purisima Mission, which is one of the best I've seen, but if I'd known the extent of trails available at the park I would've spent all day hiking. Next time, next time.

To get there, well, ah, find your way to the 101, whether headed north from Santa Barbara or headed south from Solvang. The park is directly off the 101. It took me about three hours from Bakersfield. I had originally intended to hike Gaviota Peak, but there was some shady-looking dude starting the trail right behind me and after digging around in my pack and realizing I didn't have my pepper spray or my knife, I decided to see what other trails I could find and got the heck out of there. That's honestly the first time I've ever done that. It was worth it though; I think the trails I did find had much better views.

The trail I hiked takes off from an upper parking lot; the right fork that you would take immediately after entering the park (I'd advise going to the left and paying for parking first - $8). The Beach-Backcountry Trail begins right near the water and, after following a service road for a bit, winds back up through the hills around sandstone outcroppings. It looks like this area burned a few years ago - there are few trees but the brush was almost up to my elbows at some points. The trail is well-cut and easy to find. I'd say it's a rather moderate hike - easy to hike up to some of the lower neat outcroppings/caves with kids but harder as you go further on. There are gorgeous views of the ocean pretty much the whole way, especially as you climb higher. The map indicates this trail eventually passes through a hiker tunnel under the 101 and can connect with the Gaviota Peak trail, if you wanted to hike beach-peak all in one shot. I didn't get that far.

All in all I'd give this trail a 9 for difficulty and scenery, the well-marked trail and accesability. The 1 point marked off is because you are in sight/sound of the freeway most of the way, though it is muted and fades out for the mostly.

State trails website: http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=25118

Some photos:

Remington Ridge Road

So, I realize it's been a while... that's because it is WINTER and I've been hiking the same three or four accessible trails all winter long. Arg. Come on, Summer.

Remington Ridge Road Trailhead lies further up Old Kern Canyon Road from the Mill Creek Trail. It has the same oak and scrubbrush landscape, with even more giant rock formations for climbing or hopping or (in the case of freinds goofing off a couple weeks ago) Yoga Demonstrations.

This trail is steep for the first mile or two and fairly steep after that. Requires the occasional stop to catch your breath. Mainly the trail climbs straight up and across the face of the ridge so that you can even see down to the freeway in the distance on occasion. After this it levels out for a while and head straight back in toward the South. This trail eventually climbs Lightner Peak and, I'm assuming, winds back through and up several smaller mountains on the way to the peak. I usually take about two hours to do a loop: climbing the trail to where it levels out and hike a little further back in past where the corral is, and back down the the bottom.

This trail is PERFECT for training to make longer climbs and really getting an awesome workout, especially if you don't have long.

Fun Facts:

Directions: head out of Bakersfield on the 178 through the canyon. Once the road widens out into a four-lane highway, drive a few more minutes and make a right on Borel Road. Make one more right onto Kern River Canyon Road. The trailhead will be on your left not too far up the road. Or you can take the earlier turnoff from 178 for Kern River Canyon Road. Follow this windy road a few mintues until you reach the Mill Creek Trailhead, located on the right. Keep going several miles to the Remington Ridge Road Trailhead. The second option tends to take long, in my opinion, but is more scenic. This takes about 45 minutes to an hour to get to from Bakersfield.

Hike Time: 2-6??? hours loop. Make it as long as you want.
Water: none. Bring your own.

Note of Caution: Last winter I did see cougar and bear tracks crossing the trail further back in. This was in dead winter - mid December - and I'm sure nobody had been anywhere near that spot in days, if not a couple weeks. During the summer you should be fine.

This spring I will be climbing Lightner Peak so look for an upcoming post!