Santa Barbara Ranger District
Santa Barbara Ranger District offers camping, day hiking, backpacking, fishing, horse riding and camping, mountain biking, hunting, OHV riding and camping, swimming in the Santa Ynez River and beautiful wildflower displays in the spring.
There are no cabins. Campgrounds only.
Passes & Permits
The parking fee at day use picnic areas and trailheads in the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation area is $10 a day. This recreation area is managed by the Parks Management Company (PMC) for the Forest Service. PMC sells an annual day use pass that can be used for day use parking in the Lower Santa Ynez Recreation area. For more information about the PMC Annual Pass, go to: www.campone.com.
Recreation Sites
Buckhorn Road
Take Camuesa Road to the Buckhorn Road which leads to the top of Little Pine Mountain. Camuesa/Buckhorn Roads can be accessed from Upper Oso Campground parking lot 6 miles off Paradise Road. Camuesa…
Camuesa Connector
Site Closed
Trail crosses the river and meanders four miles up the south slope of the river canyon to tie into Camuesa Rd.
Camuesa Road
Site Temporarily Closed
An easy route which connects Lower Santa Ynez Recreation Area to Buckhorn Road and ends one mile from Lower Camuesa Primitive Camp. Camuesa/Buckhorn Roads can be accessed from Upper Oso Campground…
Cold Springs Trial - East Fork
Site Open
Beautiful trail in lush canyon with creek, small pools, and alder trees. Chaparral vegetation at the higher elevation section of the trail. The first 1.5 miles is an easy hike, following the canyon.…
Dick Smith Wilderness
Site Open
Dick Smith Wilderness was established in 1984 by the California Wilderness Act. Deep within the Santa Barbara Backcountry lies a knot of mountains topped by Madulce Peak. The Dick Smith Wilderness…
Divide Peak OHV Trailhead
Site Open
Offers views of Santa Barbara coastline, Upper Santa Ynez Valley and San Rafael Mountains. Divide Peak Road is approximately 17 miles on East Camino Cielo from Highway 154. The parking lot for the…
Falls Day Use Picnic Area
Paved parking, next to river, shady, oak trees, sandstone cliffs, sandy beaches. Swimming holes in nearby river. Four picnic sites. tables, parking, garbage bins, barbecues, restrooms.Watch out for…
First Crossing Day Use Picnic Area
Site Open
The First Crossing Day Use Area is a 16 acre day use picnic site located off Paradise Road just before the first Santa Ynez River crossing ford. The First Crossing Day Use Area is open all year. …
Fremont Campground
Site Open
ALERT: 1/1/2023 - Temporarily closed until further notice due to hazard tree removalMany oak trees, large sites, hilly area. Some sites are a short distance from the parking spur. Paved roads.…
La Cumbre Peak Day Use
Site Open
Top of the Santa Ynez Mountain Range, overlooking the city of Santa Barbara. Coulter pines, maple trees, manzanita, bay trees, chaparral. There is a ¼ mile hike past the locked gate to the picnic…