Be aware of poison oak along the way. Continue up Gaviota Peak Trail, which passes in and out of shade as it steadily climbs steeply uphill. Gaviota Peak Fire Road runs from a small parking area just off the 101 up to Gaviota Peak. The fire road winds briefly under the shade of the sycamore and gnarled oak trees. Gaviota Peak Trail, Santa Barbara: See reviews, articles, and 3 photos of Gaviota Peak Trail, ranked No.120 on Tripadvisor among 180 attractions in Santa Barbara. The road finds shade and passes through a metal gate, roughly 0.9 miles from the start. The 2,458-foot peak is just two miles from the Pacific Ocean, putting it in prime position to offer eye-popping views. Gaviota Hot Springs 1 mile round trip from the trailhead. From the trailhead, you start out on Gaviota Peak Fire Road for just a 1/4 mile before taking a right turn on to Trespass Trail. Its longer, but less steep. Gaviota Peak is a summit in the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County, California.It is located 10 miles (16 km) west of Santa Barbara, 16 miles (26 km) east of Point Conception and 2 miles (3.2 km) from the Pacific Ocean.. Gaviota Grade is the most formidable in length and elevation change along U.S. Route 101 in Southern California. 2012-05-10 10:28:43 . There is another junction here. Gaviota Peak trail is lined with the most incredible old trees. : Gaviota Hot Springs This short hike visits a warm hot springs along the trail to Gaviota Peak in Gaviota State Park. Hike east from the parking lot on the unpaved road and follow the trail to a junction with the Trespass Trail. Eventually, you'll descend to a meadow, and the rest of the trail is fast and flowy through oak trees and chaparral. high (1564 meters). Trail re-routing by natural or man-made influences and other conditions may have changed the trails slightly from the time I wrote them up to the time you hike them, so it's possible some information could be a slightly incorrect. Cambell Trail … Bald Mountain via Gaviota Peak Trail is a 9.9 mile lightly trafficked point-to-point trail located near Goleta, California that offers scenic views and is rated as difficult. Gaviota Peak Trail Head. Photo 2 – Gaviota Peak is up there somewhere. Gaviota Peak This 6.5-mile loop mounts a 2,458-foot summit two miles from the Pacific and then descends Trespass Trail to explore the wilds of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Gaviota Peak Trail continues swinging out across a grass field before aiming up the mountain again. This trail is a continuous incline, and is better suited for an avid hiker. Download its GPS track and follow the route on a map. Some consider it a slight bushwack. Parked to the left of the sign, a bulldozer. Gaviota Hot Springs This short hike visits a warm hot springs along the trail to Gaviota Peak in Gaviota State Park. Previous Tri Peaks – Photo Gallery. Photo 3 – After a while the land switches from Gaviota State Park to Los Padres National Forest. At the top you reach East Camino Cielo Rd. From here there are some doubletrack sections intermittently dispersed for the first 1.5 miles, but it's mostly singletrack for this relatively flat section. Bertha Peak – Photo Gallery . Gaviota Peak Hiking trail in Las Cruces, California (United States). 1. Nojoqui Falls This short 0.65-mile hike visits an 80-foot tall fern-lined waterfall. Gaviota Hot Springs are located half a mile from the main trailhead and only a tenth of a mile off the trail, making it easily accessible and a popular part of the Gaviota Peak Trail hike. Santa Ynez Mountains The waterfall, when dry, is an impressive rock formation and makes a nice lunch/view spot. Follow the signs toward Gaviota Peak. Gaviota Peak is a summit in the Santa Ynez Mountains in Santa Barbara County in the U.S. state of California.. I have hiked them all, measured them with a pedometer and took notes along the way. To reach Gaviota Peak, turn right and climb the final steep hill to the 2,458-foot high point. Photos | June 25, 2012 11:10 am 0 Comments. The trail is usually very dry with one creek that runs only after rains. Overall the trail is findable and opens up considerably as it descends. Tunnel View and Trespass Trails Loop This 2.6-mile loop steals a view over Highway 101 and the Gaviota Tunnel. Gaviota Peak Trail, Santa Barbara: See reviews, articles, and 3 photos of Gaviota Peak Trail, ranked No.120 on Tripadvisor among 180 attractions in Santa Barbara. Along the way, you pass Trespass Trail at 0.25 miles and Gaviota Hot Springs trail at 0.5 miles before ending near the peak of Gaviota Mountain. The trail is only moderately steep, maybe moderate+ near the top. Gaviota Peak Fire Road Difficult. Here, there are some great views of the valley and the tunnel on Hwy 101 below. This is a steep trail that takes you on a class three rock climb to the top of “Cathedral Peak.” The actual Cathedral Peak, at 3333 ft., is a jutting rock formation a bit further, but this trail goes to a peak just in front of it, properly named Arlington Peak, where there is a nook in a rock with a sign-in book to register your joyous summit. The Gaviota Peak Trailhead is located in Gaviota State Park, and it is the same trailhead for Gaviota Hot Springs. Trail Ratings 3.3 from 4 votes #4 in Gaviota State Park #18923 Overall. McKinley Peak is one of the highest peaks in Santa Barbara County, over 6000ft. There are two routes to the summit from the trailhead in Gaviota State Park. Turning left, the Gaviota Peak Trail descends steeply, winding into a wooded valley that soon hides the coast, instead giving fleeting views only of Highway 101 and the upper end of Gaviota Canyon. On your right will be Trespass Trail (singletrack), which steeply rises to the final summit of Gaviota Peak. Sep 29, 2013 - Gaviota Peak: description, photos, GPS map, and directions to this 2,458-foot summit, hiking up Gaviota Peak Trail and down Trespass Trail. The left fork continues up the peak. From Gaviota Peak, Trespass Trail follows the ridgeline west before descending down to the Trespass Trail. At the peak, the trail actually continues and you can take another way down (Trespass trail). Gaviota Peak Trail The path continues down the far side of the summit to a ridge, where it meets the old vehicle track once more. The right fork will take you to the Gaviota Hot Springs. The Chumash hunted or trapped local game, caught fish and gathered shellfish, plants, berries and roots. The low peak is prominent because it is the highest point in its range. 2015-11-23 10:45:38 ... Gaviota Peak – Photo Gallery. The trail is almost entirely wide … This gives a good visual of the Trail from the very start to the top. Both trails are located within the Gaviota State Park and the Los Padres National Forest. You’ll need to push this section—and only if you are going to continue on the loop ride. The peak has a summit log and a benchmark. After climbing a thousand feet over the first 1.6 miles, the trail enters Los Padres National Forest. Otherwise, leave your bike in the saddle and walk up to enjoy the peak views and sign the trail register. For thousands of years Gaviota was Chumash territory. Once you reach the summit, continue downhill on Trespass. Gaviota Peak Trail The hike to Gaviota Peak is a challenging 3 mile uphill climb with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands at the summit. Cucamonga Peak, Ice House Canyon – Trail Video . Help keep our trails and parks open during COVID-19 by committing to social distancing. Gaviota Peak Trail is a wide fire road – easy to follow, no surprises. Hell's Half Acre is an interesting rock formation on McKinley Road about 5.5 miles from the start at Cachuma Saddle on Happy Canyon Road. Gaviota Peak sits at the lofty west end of the Santa Ynez Mountains behind Santa Barbara. The trail is primarily used for hiking and nature trips and is accessible year-round. And while portions of the trail enjoy knee to shoulder high brush crowding in on the trail, re-growth from the 2004 Gaviota Fire, other portions are clear and fairly easy. The peak is part of the Santa Inez Mountains. At the beginning of the DH, you'll experience loose rock sections and it will be moderately steep. The trail starts out just above sea level and climb over 2000 feet to the peak at 2458'. More on that later. Some trails or park services may be closed this weekend so check with local authorities before heading out. 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