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.

Etymology

A name for the mountains was first inscribed within the archives of Mission Basilica San Buenaventura in 1943, citing a nearby Chumash ranchería named "Si-toptopo". In 1945, American linguist and ethnologist John Peabody Harrington noted that "topa" is a Chumash word meaning "reed" or "rush".

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 6738 ft at Cobblestone Mountain, about 14 mi north-northeast of Fillmore and about 16 mi northwest of Castaic. Snow frequently falls on the high peaks during winter.

Hydrology

Several major tributaries of the Santa Clara River flow down from the Topatopa Mountains, the largest being Piru Creek and Sespe Creek. Lake Piru is the only major reservoir located within the mountains.

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. <Gallery widths="250" heights="130"> File:Topatopa_Mountains_Dec_2016.jpg|Northeastern face as viewed from Santa Clarita. File:Topatopa Filmore.jpg|View from Fillmore of the Topatopa Mountains, with San Cayetano Mountain at center. File:Snowfall on the Topatopa Mountains.jpg|The southeastern face of the Topatopa Mountains as seen from Santa Clarita Valley. File:Conejo_Grade_in_Thousand_Oaks.jpg|View from Newbury Park with Conejo Mountain in front and the Topatopa skyline behind. File:The Pink Moment on Chief Peak from Ojai Meadows Preserve.jpg|"The Pink Moment" on Chief Peak, as seen from across a vernal pool at Ojai Meadows Preserve. </Gallery>

Highest peaks

Adjacent Transverse Ranges