Santa Barbara Ranger District

[image] Smokey Bear - Los Prietos Ranger Station

Date: January 31, 2025

Know Before You Go!

Hwy 154 is open! Check the Caltrans website for Hwy 154 updates.

Contact information:

  • Santa Barbara Ranger District Office: 805-724-0079 or 805-967-3481. The office is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00am-4:00pm.
  • Contact www.recreation.gov to make or cancel a camping reservation or call 1-877-444-6777.
  • Parks Management Company - www.campone.com or email: customerservice@pmcparks.com

Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area Update:

  • The First Crossing Kiosk is open seven days a week and there is a $10 fee to park at the following day use areas: First Crossing and White Rock.
  • Paradise Rd is only open to the First Crossing. River Rd is open just past the Second Crossing. It is approximately 2.5 miles to hike or bike (no e-bikes allowed) back to the Red Rock Trailhead and pools from the Second Crossing. 
  • Paradise Campground is open. Reservations are recommended: recreation.gov.
  • Sage Hill Group Campground is open by reservation only through recreation.gov.
  • Fremont Campground is open. Reservations are recommended: recreation.gov.
  • Los Prietos Campground is temporarily closed.
  • Upper Oso Campground is currently closed until further notice.

Forest Orders

Storm Damage Recovery Special Forest Closure Order

Santa Barbara Ranger District - Special Closure Forest Order Storm Damage Recovery 05-07-54-24-14 Effective: July 19, 2024 through July 18, 2025

Forest-wide Forest Orders

Forest Order 05-07-00-25-13 Fire Use Restrictions: This Order is effective from January 31, 2025, through March 31, 2025.

Occupancy and Use Forest Order 5-07-00-24-02 effective February 6, 2024 through February 5, 2026

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.S0(a), and to provide for public safety and protect natural resources, the following act is prohibited within the Los Padres National Forest. This Order is effective from February 6, 2024, through February 5, 2026.

1. Camping:

a. in a developed campground, for a period longer than 14 consecutive days or for more than 28 days during a calendar year; or

b. anywhere other than a developed campground, for a period longer than seven consecutive days or for more than 21 days during a calendar year.

36 C.F.R. § 261.58(a).

Los Padres National Forest prohibits campfires in Santa Barbara front country

Fire restrictions are in effect in the Santa Barbara front country. This prohibition will remain in effect through Feb 26, 2026.

NOTE: This prohibition does not include the following campgrounds on the Santa Barbara and Santa Lucia Ranger Districts: Fremont, Paradise, Los Prietos, Upper Oso, Figueroa Mountain, Davy Brown and Nira.

Campfires are prohibited on National Forest System lands in the Santa Barbara front country due to the increasing fire danger and the potential threat to downslope communities.

Over the past 16 years, eight large wildfires have directly impacted the front country communities of Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria. Extreme fire weather events are now occurring year-round and are compounded by the long-term, severe drought affecting Central and So. California.

Front country visitors possessing a valid CA Campfire Permit will be permitted to use portable lanterns or stoves that run on propane, jellied petroleum, or pressurized liquid fuel.

Forest Service Roads

  • East Camino Cielo Rd is open to the Divide Peak OHV gate.
  • Forest Road 5N12.1 (Divide Peak) - Open to OHV vehicles under 50" only. No 4x4 vehicles.
  • Romero Camuesa Rd 5N15 down to the Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area/Pendola is closed to motorized vehicles. Hiking and non-electric bikes allowed. 
  • West Camino Cielo Rd - Open
  • The road to Sage Hill Campground - Open.
  • Paradise Rd is only open to the First Crossing. River Road 5N18.2 to Red Rock is open to just past the Second Crossing. You can hike or ride a bike (no e-bikes allowed) to Red Rock from the First Crossing. The distance is approximately 2.5 miles.
  • Happy Canyon Road to Sunset Valley Road - Open.
  • Upper Oso Rd is only open to vehicles to the Lower Oso Day Use Area. There is no motorized vehicle access from Lower Oso up to Upper Oso. Hiking or non-motorized bikes allowed up to the Upper Oso TH/Santa Cruz Trail/Buckhorn Rd.

Closed Roads  - Forest Order 5-07-54-24-14

  • 27W28 / Camuesa Peak OHV Trail
  • 5N15.1 / Romero Camuesa Road
  • 5N15.2 / 27W26 Romero Camuesa OHV Road
  • 5N15.3 / Romero Camuesa Road to the Buckhorn/Camuesa OHV Route and Santa Cruz Trail
  • 5N12.2 / East Camino Cielo (within the National Forest boundary) Exception: Off-highway vehicles 50” or less in width traveling to Forest Road 5N12.1 (Divide Peak)
  • 5N15A / Upper Oso Campground Loop is closed
  • 5N15B / Little Caliente Road
  • 5N16 / Big Caliente Road
  • 9N11.4 / 27W27 Buckhorn OHV Road
  • 9N11B / 27W23 Happy Hollow OHV Road

Roads Restricted to Non-Motorized Vehicle Use

Divide Peak OHV Trails

Open

  • Divide Peak OHV Staging Area
  • Divide Peak OHV Routes
  • 5N12.1 / 26W22 Divide Peak OHV Road
  • 26W21A Divide Peak Bowl OHV Track
  • 26W21 Divide Peak Bowl OHV Trail

OHV Trailhead Closure to Vehicles

Hike or bike only. No e-bikes allowed. Non-motorized vehicles only

  • Upper Oso OHV Staging Area - Buckhorn Camuesa OHV Rd

Open Campgrounds

Campground Closures

Day Use/Picnic Areas

Hiking Trails

  • Aliso  Canyon Trail and Loop Trail are closed by Forest Order 5-07-54-24-14
  • 28W05 Aliso Loop Upper Oso Connector Trail - closed due to storm damage
  • Santa Cruz Trail to 19 Oaks Camp is open. The trail is severely damaged past 19 Oaks Camp and the trail has been impacted by fire suppression efforts.
  • McKinley Trail at Cachuma Saddle off of Happy Canyon Rd - Open
  • Red Rock Trailhead to Red Rock Trail and pools and Gibraltar Resevoir - River Rd is open just past the Second Crossing. Hike or bike approximately 2.5 miles back to the Red Rock pools.
  • Snyder Trail - Open
  • Tequepis Trail (Off of Hwy 154 across from Lake Cachuma. - Open

To reach Tequepis Trail, start at the free parking lot at the entrance of Circle V Camp. Follow the dirt road straight through the camp past a swimming pool and bunkhouses. After 0.2 miles, step over Tequepis Creek and pass through a large metal gate. This is the boundary of the Los Padres National Forest and the start of Tequepis Trail.

  • Rattlesnake Trail- Open
  • Jesusita Trail - Open
  • Cold Springs Trail west to Tangerine Falls - Open
  • Cold Springs Trail east - Open
  • Tunnel Trail to Seven Falls or Inspiration Point - Open
  • San Ysidro Trail is only open up to where the single track trail starts (the single track trail is closed)
  • Hot Springs Trail - Open
  • Buena Vista Trail - Open
  • McMenemy Trail - Open
  • 26W14 Romero Trail is open
  • Old Romero Rd Trail 26W25 - Closed

Hiking Trail Closures - Forest Order 05-07-54-24-14



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