Whitaker Peak Lookout is a 9.4 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Castaic, California that offers scenic views and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, running, and mountain biking and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
FIRE CLOSURE: As of February 2021 there are closures in this park or area due to wildfire. For more information, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/angeles/alerts-notices.
February 19, 2021A pleasant enough walk on an old paved road that dead ends at the radio towers on Whitaker Peak. The gradient is not too bad, and the views on top are fabulous if it is a clear day. For a hike with a little more adventure and just as fabulous a few, I would recommend doing Slide Mountain instead, which has a trail head just a few short miles farther up on the Templin Highway.
February 18, 2021February 13, 2021Nice, quiet, not very hard. Nice view of lake piru at the end.
February 6, 2021Good hike. stayed on road. a little wildlife warming up on road!
January 24, 2021January 18, 2021Steep ride up, lots of fun coming down. Nice views, didn’t see anyone else on the trail.
January 17, 2021Very worthwhile trail with fantastic views of the mountains and Lake Piru. As others have noted the first half is paved and the rest is a fairly smooth (but steepish in parts) fire trail. I did it on a mountain bike and will definitely be back.
January 9, 2021January 3, 2021Nice morning hike. Saw a handful of other people, and this was on a weekend. At least half of the “trail” is an asphalt fire road. Gorgeous views at the top with a beautiful view of Lake Piru. Took two friends for their first hike and they had no problems at all, so beginner friendly if the beginner is up for a longer journey. Plenty of shade in the morning. Plenty of parking. Hit the trailhead at 7am and was back to the car by 11am.
January 2, 2021December 27, 2020December 20, 2020Great, pleasant day. Relatively uncrowded, even on a weekend.
December 20, 2020This was a pretty decent hike. There was plenty of parking across the street, and not many people. The beginning of the trail is paved, and is a bit of an uphill hike (nothing too extreme though). We didn’t keep following the paved road and instead took a trail on the left side, once we got to a viewpoint opposite the freeway side. The views were beautiful. I’d say this hike is definitely one that many would enjoy. It’s easy for people who hike a lot and probably moderate for people who aren’t very active as there’s a good portion “up hill”. I’m sure I’ll be back to do this one again!
December 19, 2020Not a bad trail, but not great either. Mostly just a fire road overlooking the same views. The view at the end is gorgeous though! I took a little detour to add more miles and that was pretty neat too.
December 19, 2020Really enjoyed this hike! The views are fantastic. About 1/2 is a paved road and 1/2 is dirt/rocky road. My husband and I commented on how nice it was that the road made it possible to hike next to each other for a change. It was a clear day allowing views of Lake Piru and the Pacific Ocean in the distance.
December 13, 2020Excellent hike not too hard. Moderate elevation gain
November 27, 2020Fire road the entire way. It’s worth the climb, the view is spectacular!
November 17, 2020I enjoyed this hike very much. Almost all of it takes place on a fire road, but it is an easy to moderate hike with modest elevation gain and fabulous views of the surrounding area. It can be harsh in the direct sunlight, so prepare accordingly if the weather is going to be hot and sunny. It's a great hike and can easily fit in a morning or afternoon!
November 14, 2020November 1, 2020We didn’t see a single person the entire time. As others have said, it’s a road the whole way, though there is a trail option at one point.
July 24, 2020Nice hike with cool views that’s not too hard. Unfortunately 90% of it is on fire road though.
June 11, 2020I personally loved the hike and I highly recommend it to anyone in the area. Things to note: 1) The trail is just a road. 2) Has great views along the way. The views at the peak are beautiful! 3) It begins to get super hot around this time (early June). I drank half a gallon in I began to hike early in the morning.
May 27, 2018Not bad once you get past the fire road and reach the first tower. After that it’s nice trail running with views of pyramid lake at a distance. I brought both my dogs but I don’t recommend for dogs. Keep them at home this terrain isn’t good for their paws. Remember you have shoes on and this trail is long. The further in you go the rockier it gets. Have fun, be safe and keep it clean out there!
April 8, 2018While I love poking at the fringes of the Sespe Wilderness, I thought this trail -- about 3/4 of it paved asphalt -- was a bit dull, despite the nice view of Piru Creek and Lake from the lookout. If you're traveling to get here, I would suggest Slide Mountain or Townsend Peak (listed in Alltrails as Canton Canyon) instead.
April 25, 2016
First to ReviewGood , try early morning when it's cool and breezy
February 21, 2021February 13, 2021February 13, 2021February 13, 2021February 6, 2021
