I was headed to the 4th annual California Outdoor Recreation Partnership Basecamp in Carmel, CA. With the drive being so long, I decided to break it up by stopping in Montana de Oro. I had hoped to stop by the Channel Islands Visitor Center to get my passport stamp and patch, but the government shutdown put that plan on hold. I made good time, had lunch in San Luis Obispo —a tri-tip sandwich, of course —and then made the short drive toward Los Osos. Since I had a virtual meeting with one of my professors, I hung out near the library for the call. Once that was over, I headed into the park to hike up Valencia Peak. I skipped this summit when I was here for the Central Coast Six Pack of Peaks challenge, and since it is on the Lower Peak Committee list, I still wanted to climb it. Rather than take the same trail I used on my hike out to Alan Peak, I opted for the Badger Trail.
Clouds hung low, and I knew I was not going to be rewarded with a summit view, but that was ok. The scent of the eucalyptus trees mingled with the salt air as I made my way up from the parking area. After a short climb, one of the three primitive campsites was off to my left. The trail continued gently toward the peak, following the contours of the terrain as it climbed. Soon, it joined the trail I had used out to Alan Peak. I stayed on it for a bit, until I reached another junction. Here, a sign pointed the way toward the summit.
The trail began to make its climb in earnest, and switchbacks from time to time helped ease the effort. While there were still clouds, I had some lovely views of the coast and the Pacific Ocean. The uplift of the rocks is very clear throughout this section, making it a bit hard to hike across, so take some care if you do this climb. After crossing along a short ridge, the final push to the summit began and before too long, I stood atop it. A picnic table sat there, and on a clear day, the views must be something.
I wandered about the summit for a bit, looking for a benchmark or register, but no luck. I retraced my route back from the mountain, greeting other hikers as they made their way up. As I neared the campsite again, I wandered over to the picnic table and food locker. What a campsite, with a wide open vista onto the Pacific Ocean! I would like to consider this spot next time I visit.
Back at the car, I tossed in my pack and poles, then walked across the road to stroll down to the bluff and enjoy some of the ocean views a bit closer before heading to my campsite for the night. I bought some firewood from the camphost, and quickly set up my site. It took a bit to get the fire going, but it eventually lit. As I ate my dinner under the glow of the crackling fire, I reflected on the events that had led me here and the new journey I was on. The hike up Valencia Peak was 4.05 miles, in 1:42 with 1,257 feet of gain.
I am an avid peak bagger, sometimes backpacker, and former sea kayaker living in San Diego. I am the co-author of Urban Trails: San Diego, coming in Spring 2026!
In 2019, I became the third person to complete the San Diego 100 Peak Challenge. Not stopping with that accomplishment, I set my sights on the harder San Diego Sierra Club 100 Peak list, which I completed in 2021. In addition, I have conquered several Six-Pack of Peaks challenges (SoCal, San Diego, Central Coast, and both the Arizona-Winter and Arizona-Summer). I am looking forward to exploring new summits and new adventures across the southwest.