Location: Santa Barbara County, California

Named for José Ortega, a member of the large family descended from José Francisco Ortega of the Portolá expedition (see Ortega Hill/Peak). Ventura expert Jim Blakley notes that José lived in the flat by the Matilija a fork of Matilija Creek at the mouth of what came to be known in his honor as "Old Man Canyon". This name was extended to the mountain top which is at the head of this canyon, 2.8 miles east of the site of José's home.

Name first appears on the GLO State of California map (1907).

Peak was on the original 1946 HPS Peak List.