Topatopa Mountains

Topatopa Mountains
Highest point
Peak Hines Peak
Elevation 6,716 ft (2,047 m)
Geography
Country United States
State California
Region Ventura County
Parent range Transverse Ranges
Borders on Sierra Pelona Mountains and Sierra Madre Mountains

The Topatopa Mountains are a mountain range in Ventura County, California, north of Ojai, Santa Paula, and Fillmore. They are part of the Transverse Ranges of Southern California.

Geography

The Topatopa Mountains lie in an east-west direction east of the Sierra Madre Mountains, and west of the Sierra Pelona Mountains. To the south lies the Santa Clara River Valley into which various creeks drain starting in the mountains into the Santa Clara River. The range reaches an elevation of 6,716 feet (2,047 m) at Hines Peak, about six miles north of Thomas Aquinas College. Snow frequently falls on the high peaks during winter.

Lake Piru is the only major reservoir located within the mountains.

View from Fillmore of the Topatopa Mountains, with San Cayetano Mountain at center.
Sunset upon the Topatopa Mountains as viewed from Santa Clarita.

Natural history

The Topatopa Mountains are within the southern Los Padres National Forest. The Sespe Wilderness Area, and the Sespe Condor Sanctuary, are primarily within the Topatopa Mountains and foothills. They are part of the home range of the endangered California condor.

The habitat is of the California montane chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. Sespe Creek flows through the range, creating Sespe Gorge, with Riparian habitats of willows and woodlands.

Highest peaks

Adjacent Transverse Ranges

See also

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