A Peek From Junipero Serra Peak

It’s the biggest mountain of Big Sur and it offers one of the grandest views. Panoramas from the 5,862-foot summit of Junipero Serra Peak are splendid: much of the Ventana Wilderness, 60 miles of Pacific Ocean, slivers of the Salinas Valley and the Sierra Crest in Kings Canyon National Park.

The mountain supports rare plants, such as the Santa Lucia lupine and Santa Lucia bedstraw, as well as stands of pine and hardwood forest still recovering from the devastating 1977 Marble-Cone Fire. Slopes once covered with sugar pine forest are now blanketed by brush. Still, the nature lover will find satisfaction in the Coulter pine, blue-oak woodland and such spring-bloomers as monkey flower, manzanita and woolly blue curls.

The mountain is named for one of early California’s well-known Spanish missionaries, Father Junipero Serra. Nearest mission to the peak is San Antonio de Padua, founded in 1771 and today situated within the boundaries of Ft. Hunter Liggett Military Reservation. Mission San Antonio (and many other California missions) landscaped its grounds with giant prickly pear cactus, brought by the padres from Mexico. Often called mission cactus, it can be seen at many of the missions as well as in clusters near the beginning of the Junipero Serra Peak Trail.

The path to the peak is a moderately steep, mostly shadeless, unrelenting ascent. Your goal--the abandoned fire lookout tower atop the peak--is visible from the summit.

Best vistas from the peak are during the late autumn to mid-spring rainy season.

Directions to the trail head: From U.S. 101, about 30 miles south of King City, exit on Jolon Road (Monterey County Road G18) and follow it 16 miles to the hamlet of Jolon. Turn right on Jolon Road, soon stopping at the Ft. Hunter Liggett entrance kiosk to check in, and continuing 5 1/2 miles to a junction with Del Ventura Road. Mission San Antonio de Padua is straight ahead, but you swing left, continuing to Milpitas Road, entering national forest land, and proceeding to Santa Lucia Memorial Park Campground.

The hike: The path passes the grasslands of Santa Lucia Memorial Park. Nearby are some handsome sandstone formations, eroded into some intriguing configurations. A mile out, you crest a minor saddle, offering a taste of the grand views to come. The path travels through an arroyo and some brushland before reaching a saddle halfway to the summit .

Your climb is eased a bit by some well-graded switchbacks. Another 1 1/2 miles of ascent past a charred woodland brings you to a second saddle. The path angles east, traversing past sugar pine and Coulter pine.

Eventually the trail turns south, concluding on the west side of the peak near the abandoned lookout tower. Among the wilderness peaks at your feet are Cone Peak, Ventana Double Cone and Uncle Sam Mountain.

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Santa Lucia Trail

WHERE: “Back” or inland side of Big Sur

DISTANCE: From Indians Station to summit of Junipero Serra Peak is 12 miles round trip with 3,700-foot elevation gain.

TERRAIN: Junipro Serra, the tallest Santa Lucia Mountains peak.

HIGHLIGHTS: Panoramic vistas of Ventana Wilderness and beyond.

DEGREE OF DIFFICULTY: Strenuous.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Los Padres National Forest, Monterey Ranger District, 406 S. Mildred, King City, CA 93930, tel. (408) 385-5434.