Reyes Peak via Chorro Grande Trail

Take Maricopa Highway (Hwy 33) north from Ojai until about the 36 mile marker. Keep your eyes open for a trail head sign on the right and parking on the left. The trail begins with a quaint gentle ascent through a recently burned area just off Hwy 33. There are some photogenic rock formations through this section, so have your camera at the ready. At about 1.75 miles in, the scenery changes from a recovering grassland area to some sparse live oaks and chaparral. The appropriately named Oak Camp will be on your left side. This is a nice place take a break should you need it. From Oak Camp all the way north to the road traversing Pine Mountain, the climb will be much more "moderate" than the rest of the trail. Trekking poles help here both going up and especially back down. You ascend through traditional SoCal chaparral and the view to the south really starts to open up around the 4 mile/6000ft mark. Eventually you will make it the pine trees scattered across the top of Pine Mountain. The last little push to the road can be a quad burner, but its not as bad as something like Sturtevant Trail/Mount Wilson. When you reach the road, turn right (east) and proceed to the Reyes Peak Trailhead. The challenge of walking this road is zero, so take the time to have a snack and hydrate up for your last push to Reyes. After the trail head restroom area, proceed down the fire road until you come to a split. Here you will bear left. You will almost immediately see a sign pointing the way to Haddock Peak. Stop here and look to the right for a vague trail ascending steeply up the hill. This is the trail to Reyes Peak. The left trail is Haddock Peak. The far right trail/fireroad wraps around Reyes Peak to the south. The vague middle trail actually takes you to the summit. The final push to Reyes is touch steep, but very manageable. Follow the trail up to a large outcropping of brown boulders with reddish tint. This is the peak. If you scramble up the boulders, you will find the survey marker. If that is not your thing, go around the right side of the outcropping and you will find a nice clearing for pictures and lunch. And now you get to see it all in reverse. Enjoy!