Figueroa Mountain

Dogs Leashed

Features River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

Using the Davy Brown Trail, Willow Spur Trail, and Willow Spring Trail, this route takes you through canyons and to the top of mountains in the heart of the Los Padres National Forest.

Starting from the Davy Brown Campground, near Sunset Valley Rd., pass a gate and follow the road to the right in order to start your hike along the Davy Brown Trail. Continue hiking along the creek, past a few swimming holes, and after 3/4 of a mile of being on trail, you'll cross Davy Brown Creek twice. You'll then head southwest to hike through Fir Canyon.

After hiking for 1.75 miles, you'll reach the ruins of a cabin built in the 1920s by Harry Roberts, a chrome miner. The Davy Brown Trail then crosses the creek two more times before reaching an unsigned, diverging trail on the right that goes up to the Figueroa Mountain Lookout. Turn right to follow this trail, known as the Willow Spur Trail. The Willow Spur Trail climbs gradually for nearly 6/10 of a mile over a forested hillside before quickly descending for 3/10 of a mile to a junction with the Willow Spring Trail.

Continue straight to follow the Willow Spring Trail as it climbs further up the hillside before switchbacking briefly to reach a dirt roadway. From here, the Willow Spring Trail parallels the dirt road as its own singletrack for nearly 1 mile and then reaches the 4,528 ft Figueroa Peak lookout point atop the mountain.

Once you've had your fill of views you can turn around and follow the same route back to the Davy Brown Trail by using the Willow Spring Trail and the Willow Spur Trail. Turn left once you reach the junction with the Davy Brown Trail to follow it northward. From here, retrace your steps to return to the original trailhead.

Thanks to John McKinney, The Trailmaster, for sharing this trail description. To learn more about trails in California, check out his guides at The Trailmaster Store.