Antimony Peak (San Emigdio Mtns.)

Overview: A Silvery Element

Surveyors in the 1850’s thought they had found silver close to the summit on the north slopes of this 6,848 foot peak. But the extensive deposits turned out to be the silvery, brittle metallic element, antimony. Thus the peak was named.

Antimony Peak has a prominence of 888 feet and sits just a couple of miles north of the great San Andreas Rift Zone. This peak is in the California transverse range known as the San Emigdio Mountains. These mountains form the southern wall of the San Joaquin Valley and extend into Kern, Ventura and Los Angeles counties.

The eroded jeep road that provides the main route to the summit was built to access, survey and mine the antimony deposits. Because antimony expands upon solidifying, it has found important uses as an alloy of tin and lead in machine bearings, metal castings and lead-based pigments.

The Class 1 route to Antimony from the trailhead is along a jeep road that descends into a saddle and then around the southwest side of elevation 6670’ dropping into another saddle at 6000’. The road then makes several switchbacks up Antimony’s south slope. At the road’s high point, proceed to the right up the ridge about ¼ mile to the summit.



When seen from the north, Antimony Peak is just east (left) of a small notch with a slightly lower bump on the right. 

Antimony’s summit is dressed with trees, but the openings between the pines provide rewarding vistas for such a relatively short hike. The highest peak in the San Emigdio range, Mount Pinos at 8831’, is prominently in view to the south, as well as a peak or two to the east overlooking Pleito Creek that don’t have names, but should.





 





























The roundtrip is about 5 miles (one person reported that his measurement was a little less than 4 miles) with 900 feet of gain going out and 700 feet on the return.
 

Getting There

Going north on California Interstate 5, take the Frazier Park exit and turn left. Go 7.2 miles to Lake of the Woods where you continue straight on the Cuddy Valley Road. Proceed 4.2 miles to a dirt road on the right marked by a sign “Tecuya Mtn Rd.”
Turn right and proceed as follows: at 1 mile turn left at the fork; at 1.4 miles take
a left at the fork; at 1.9 miles go left on road with sign “9N19A”; at 4.6 miles, there is a large open area where you can park. From the parking area (6660’ elev.), start down on the jeep road that connects there.

Red Tape

No permits or authorization are needed to hike to this peak.
 

Camping

Several miles away, there is limited camping within the Wind Wolves Preserve (a 97,000-acre private reserve) at San Emigdio Campground and Willow Picnic Area Group Campground. However, the camping is limited to weekend days and requires advance reservations (661.858-1115).

When to Climb/Mountain Conditions

This peak can be climbed year round, but come properly equipped when there is snow coverage in the winter. Be sure and check with CalTrans for road condition information during the winter because snow sometimes forces closures along Interstate 5. Furthermore, some roads within the Mt. Pinos Ranger District, including Frazier Mountain Road, are subject to closure during the winter season. Call the Mt. Pinos Ranger District Office 661. 245-3731 for current information.

Other Information

USGS Topos Pleito Hills 7.5Cuddy Valley 7.5

External Links

Los Padres National Forest Current Conditions.

California Dept. of Transportation

Local weather

Wind Wolves Preserve

Additions and CorrectionsPost an Addition or Correction

Images

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