Santa Barbara Ranger District

[image] Smokey Bear - Los Prietos Ranger Station

Date: August 28, 2024

Know Before You Go!

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

Contact information:

  • Santa Barbara Ranger District: 805-724-0079. The office is open on Mondays and Fridays from 8:00am - 4:00pm. Closed Tuesday through Thursday and federal holidays
  • 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.
  • Santa Ynez River Rd is closed at the First Crossing due to high water levels on the crossings. There is currently no vehicle access to the Red Rock Trailhead. Repair work is currently underway and the road back to Red Rock is anticipated to open in early September.
  • Paradise Campground is open. Reservations are recommended: www.recreation.gov.
  • Sage Hill Group Campground is open by reservation through Recreation.gov
  • Fremont Campground us open.
  • Los Prietos and Upper Oso Campgrounds are currently closed until further notice.
  • West Camino Cielo is open.

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

Target Shooting Prohibition

Firearms Prohibition Forest Order: Effective February 15, 2023 through December 31, 2024

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 is open. 5N12.2 to the National Forest boundary. CLOSED at the National Forest boundary. There is an exception for Off-highway vehicles 50” or less in width traveling to Forest Road 5N12.1 (Divide Peak) - Open
  • West Camino Cielo Rd - Open
  • The road to Sage Hill Campground and Aliso Trailhead - Open
  • Paradise Rd is open to the First Crossing Day Use Area. River Road at the First Crossing is temporarily closed to Red Rock due to storm damage to the road. Repairs need to be made. Road may open in early September.
  • Upper Oso Rd is closed to the Upper Oso Trailhead/Santa Cruz Trail due to storm damage.
  • Happy Canyon Road to Sunset Valley Road is open.

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

  • 5N15.3 / Romero Camuesa Road - Romero Camuesa Rd to the Upper Santa Ynez Recreation Area/Pendola/hot springs area is closed.
  • 5N15.2 / 27W26 Romero Camuesa OHV Road.
  • 27W28 / Camuesa Peak OHV Trail
  • 9N11.4 / 27W27 Buckhorn OHV Road
  • 9N11B / 27W23 Happy Hollow OHV Road
  • 5N15.1 / Romero Camuesa Road
  • 5N15B / Little Caliente Road
  • 5N16 / Big Caliente Road
  • 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.

Roads Restricted to Non-Motorized Vehicle Use

Open OHV Trails

  • 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

  • Upper Oso OHV Staging Area - Buckhorn Rd

Open Campgrounds

Campground Closures

Day Use/Picnic Areas

Hiking Trails

  • Aliso Trail is open.
  • 28W05 Aliso Loop Upper Oso Connector Trail - closed due to storm damage.
  • Santa Cruz Trail to 19 Oaks Camp is open. The trail is closed beyond 19 Oaks Camp.
  • 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 closed at the First Crossing to vehicles, but you can park at the First Crossing Day Use Area and hike or bike six 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 on the frontside - closed on the backside)
  • 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



Alerts & Warnings

View All Alerts