Mono
Campground
Campground · 2.3 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Carpinteria
Mono-Alamar
Photo: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 15.0 mi
- round trip
- 1,413 ft
- climb
- 2,963 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Is Mono-Alamar open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.
Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-00-26-05 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-5406-01 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Mono-Alamar is a 15-mile out-and-back hike in the Santa Barbara Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from a low point of 1,626 feet to a high of 2,963 feet, with a total elevation gain of 1,413 feet. It is a hard route, and the climb is spread across the full length of the trail. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gibraltar Dam show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 83°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. That station sits about 1,400 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The trail is open year-round, and the route is natural-surface, with horses and bikes allowed. The Mono Alamar Trail lies about 1.4 miles away, and Indian Canyon Trail and Cold Spring Trail are both within about 2.3 miles. For an overnight base, Upper Oso Campground is roughly 8 miles off.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after - If it rains
History museum in Carpinteria, California
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Carpinteria- Mono Alamar TrailHikingPhoto: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.4 mi
- Indian Canyon TrailHiking1.8 mi
- Cold Spring TrailHikingPhoto: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)2.3 mi
- Mono CreekCanoeing4.7 mi
- Green DomeRock climbing5.6 mi
- West FaceRock climbing5.6 mi
Upper Oso CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain7.9 mi- Upper OsoCamping8.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Mono Alamar TrailHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Cold Spring TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
North Fork Cold Spring TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: breic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Camuesa Peak RouteHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Saddle Rock TrailHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Cathedral Peak TrailHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: bdearth, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- GibraltarHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: Damian Gadal, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Tunnel ConnectorHiking · ~12 min drivePhoto: bdearth, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Gibraltar TrailHiking · ~6 min drive
- Root Cellar TrailHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: breic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Mono-Alamar
Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
66° / 36°
8 wet
Feb
67° / 36°
9 wet
Mar
70° / 38°
7 wet
Apr
76° / 41°
4 wet
May
80° / 46°
2 wet
Jun
88° / 49°
0 wet
Jul
94° / 55°
0 wet
Aug
96° / 54°
0 wet
Sep
91° / 51°
1 wet
Oct
83° / 45°
2 wet
Nov
73° / 40°
3 wet
Dec
64° / 34°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibraltar Dam #2, CA, 4.6 mi away at 1,558 ft. The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
