Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

April 28th, 2024 at 8:15 AMLos Padres National Forest, USFS, CA

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Info

Distance21.7 mi

Elevation gain6,200 ft

CruxClass 2

Route typeOut & back

Duration7.5 hr

Quality8/10

Vehicle to trailheadCar

EcoregionSouthern and Baja California Pine-Oak Mountains

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Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The route starts out on private property, hikers are permitted to travel along Sisar Canyon Road to the boundary of Los Padres National Forest.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Multiple signs reminding hikers to stay on the road.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Entering the Los Padres National Forest.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — First Sisar Creek crossing.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The road follows the creek.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — A second, larger creek crossing.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The road makes a hairpin left turn and climbs out of the canyon via a long switchback.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back toward the cliff bands of Topatopa Bluff.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Start of the Red Reef Trail.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Nice singletrack trail with views into Sisar Canyon.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Passing White Ledge Campground. There were several parties breaking camp.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Continuing up the Red Reef Trail.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back toward Topatopa Bluff.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Approaching Nordhoff Ridge.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Continuing along Red Reef Trail (or "Trail 22W08") from its intersection with Nordhoff Ridge Road. Vehicles can access this section of the trail with a permit from the Forest Service.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The trail wraps around the north side of Topatopa Bluff.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The Red Reef Trail is closed to vehicles past this sign.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Climbing to the saddle on the left at 6,100 feet.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — From the saddle, following the ridge toward Hines Peak, right of center. To it's right is the playfully named "Creampuff Peak".

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — The trail bypasses Creampuff Peak, shown here on the right.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Around the bend, Hines Peak comes into view.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back toward Creampuff Peak.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Preview of Hine Peak's eroded northwest ridge.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Starting up the ridge.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Short knife's edge section.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back from above the knife edge section.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Steep and crumbly terrain on the upper half of the ridge.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back. Creampuff Peak is on the left, obscuring Topatopa Bluff behind it.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Some loose Class 2 to gain the ridge crest.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Optional Class 2 along the ridge crest.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Hines Peak summit ahead.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View west from below the summit of Hines Peak.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Hines Peak summit. View north into the Sespe Wilderness.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Returning to the saddle at 6,100 feet.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — At the saddle, turning left onto Old Topatopa Bluff Road.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View east from the switchback along Old Topatopa Bluff Road. Creampuff Peak is on the right.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Short detour to Peak 6440.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Peak 6440 summit ahead.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Peak 6440 summit. View west.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Continuing along the road toward Topatopa Bluff, right. It's just a small bump along the ridge.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Topatopa Bluff's flat summit area. View northwest.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View northeast. Peak 6440 is on the left.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Following a couple of hikers down a steep firebreak on Topatopa Bluff's west slope.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — One can stay on the firebreak, or take this set of switchbacks which offers a gentler grade.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — View back up Topatopa Bluff's west slope.

Hines Peak and Topatopa Bluff via Sisar Canyon — Rejoining the Red Reef Trail below.