Oaks, Sycamores Shade Romero Canyon Trails

The trail through Romero Canyon is the most easterly of the delightful Santa Ynez Mountains trails back of Santa Barbara. Oaks and sycamores shade a year-round creek and a tranquil path.

Romero Canyon was named for the Romero family, who came to the Santa Barbara area more than 200 years ago. Juan Romero was a soldier with Gov. Felipe de Neve (first resident governor of California) and Capt. Jose Francisco Ortega, who helped found El Presidio Real de Santa Barbara in 1782.

Among the Romeros who later lived in the canyon were Apolinario, who resided near the mouth of the canyon; Mariano, who settled way up the canyon, and Benito, who lived in a rugged part of the canyon that some thought ni servia para criar cachorra, not fit even to raise lizards.

One meaning of romero in English is “pilgrim,” and pilgrims at several levels of hiking ability will enjoy a walk through Romero Canyon. Families with small children will enjoy sauntering along its lower creekside stretches. More serious hikers will utilize fire roads to make a moderately graded loop through the canyon, while hikers in top form will trek all the way to El Camino Cielo (The Sky Road), which offers sweeping views from the crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains.

Directions to trailhead: From Highway 101 in Montecito, a few miles down the coast from Santa Barbara, exit on Sheffield Drive. Turn right on Sheffield Drive, which briefly parallels the freeway then swings sharply left (north) toward the Santa Ynez Mountains. Drive 1 1/2 miles to East Valley Road. Turn left, proceed 50 yards and make an immediate right on Romero Canyon Road. A half-mile along, be sure to veer right at a fork in the road and continue another mile farther to Bella Vista Drive. Turn right and continue a quarter-mile to a red steel gate on the left side of the road. Park in a safe manner alongside Bella Vista Drive.

The Hike: Walk around the red gate and head up the canyon on the fire road. After a quarter-mile of travel, you’ll cross a concrete bridge near Romero Creek. A half-mile from the trailhead, you’ll cross the creek again. Just after the creek crossing, join unsigned Romero Canyon Trail on your left. Grasses and sedges, bay laurel and a tangle of vines line the creek. Considering the drought, Romero Canyon is surprisingly lush.

Ascending moderately to steeply, the trail crosses the creek a couple more times, then climbs briskly via a quarter-mile of switchbacks to a signed four-way trail intersection.

Lower Loop: Turn right where the trail intersects the dirt road and begin your 4-mile descent. After 2 miles of walking, the road offers views of Montecito estates, the coastline and Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands. The road intersects Romero Canyon Trail a half-mile from the trailhead.

Upper Loop: Follow signed Romero Trail, which climbs quite steeply over loose shale slopes to the head of the canyon. The trail crests at the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains, about 3,000 feet in elevation. Coastline views are good but the crest here has been scarred by off-road vehicles. From the crest, the trail descends through a brushy, narrow draw toward Camino Cielo. The trail parallels this dirt road for a short way, then descends to it. Follow Camino Cielo a half-mile west to a water tank and the unsigned fire road leading into Romero Canyon. Follow this fire road, which makes a long loop south, then east, then north before dropping into Romero Canyon at the above-mentioned four-way trail intersection.

Last week’s column stated that the Riverside County Board of Supervisors had approved developer Won San Yoo’s proposal to build a residential community on the portion of the Santa Rosa Plateau that he owns. In fact, the supervisors approved only a general plan amendment called the Southwest Area Plan.

The column also said the Santa Rosa Plateau had been recognized by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve; in fact, a portion of the plateau is a candidate for a designation.

ROMERO CANYON TRAIL

6-mile loop through Romero Canyon: 1,400-foot elevation gain

11-mile loop through Romero Canyon: 2,300-foot elevation gain