Hildreth Jeepway -
Overview
Difficulty: Moderate •
Mileage: 1-6
Elevation Gain: 1600 ft. • Location: Upper Santa Ynez River
Features: Car Camp, Out & Back
User Type: Hiking, Equestrian Trail, Mountain Biking, Dog Walking, Trail Running
Elevation Gain: 1600 ft. • Location: Upper Santa Ynez River
Features: Car Camp, Out & Back
User Type: Hiking, Equestrian Trail, Mountain Biking, Dog Walking, Trail Running
Highlights
The Jeepway follows a long ridgeline for more than 6 miles before it ascends steeply to the top of Hildreth Peak. After the first half mile the hike is relatively moderate, with beautiful views out over Agua Caliente and Mono canyons, and in the springtime hillsides filled with green grass and wildflowers. A fire access road leads down into Mono Canyon.
The Basics
- Length : 1-6 miles; more for routes into other canyons.
- Gain : 400’ during first half mile; 1600’ over the first 6.5 miles.
- Difficulty : Moderate to strenuous
- Path : Jeep road
- Season : All year.
- Restrictions : Multi-Use; you may encounter mountain bikes.
- Canine : Ok for dogs off leash.
- Points of Interest : Car Camp,Out & Back
Marker GroupsTrail Facts
Difficulty: Moderate
Points of Interests: Car Camp, Out & Back
User Types: Hikers, Equestrians, Mountain Bikers, Dog Walker, Trail Runners
Locations: Upper Santa Ynez River
Get Directions To The Trailhead
Driving Directions
Get Directions to Hildreth Jeepway which is located at 34.5141,-1195893.
Print Directions
Access / Getting There
- Follow Gibraltar Road for 7 miles to Camino Cielo.
- Turn right on Camino Cielo and follow the crest road for 5.8 miles to Romero Saddle then drop down an additional 4.6 miles on a rough dirt road to the Santa Ynez River crossing where the road leading up to Jameson Reservoir takes off on the right.
- Continue past the crossing an additional 3.6 miles until you reach the P-Bar Flats car campground. The Hildreth Jeepway begins immediately to the right of the camp in a large meadow.
Download Directions: Download PDF Map Directions
Get Directions To The Trailhead
Driving Directions
Get Directions to Hildreth Jeepway which is located at 34.5141,-1195893.
Print Directions
Things to Know
P-Bar Flats is a very nice place to camp, with a scattering of sites located beneath the oak trees. Not too far up the road you'll also find the trail leading up to Cottam Camp and Blue Canyon, both with small camps that offer easy access for an overnight backpacking trip.
Background
Trip Log
On The Trail
Unlike the Pendola Jeepway, this ridgeline hike is gentle enough to provide an enjoyable 1-6 mile long hike. The ridge is somewhat like a long finger reaching out from Hildreth Peak and once on top of it, you have views out over the entire Mono and Agua Caliente drainages. The ridge is especially nice in the early morning and evening, when the interplay of light and shadow create mysterious patterns and you are most apt to spot a deer or other wildlife.
From P-Bar Flats walk east several hundred yards to the beginning of the jeepway, which is on the other side of a fence. Look for the gate which marks the beginning of the road. The jeepway cuts up to the right, on top of the end of this long finger, then turns back to the left, gaining 600’ over the first half mile. Beyond this the climbing is much more gentle, as the road undulates for 3 miles up and over a series of knolls, eventually intersecting with another jeep road that drops down into Mono Creek.
You can continue on the ridge for another several miles before you reach the base of Hildreth Peak, where the jeepway becomes extremely steep.
On The Bike
On The Run
On The Walk
Last Updated: Sunday, November 9, 2014
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