Santa Barbara Gravel Riding
While California usually conjures up images of beaches and sunshine there is some great gravel riding to be had in the state. I was lucky enough to spend 3 weeks in Santa Barbara recently and get out for some gravel adventures. When coming from out of state to ride however it’s important to be prepared as there are some unique challenges to the gravel rides in the area.
Where to find gravel roads?
Santa Barbara County is huge and most of the roads near the ocean or the Front Country as they call it are paved. The backside of the mountains (or backcountry) is where the action starts, with numerous gravel routes in the Los Padres National Forest. These roads are virtually traffic free and provide great views of the valleys and ocean. However, unlike the Midwest gravel roads I grew up on, these roads are bumpier & rockier, 35cc or larger tires are a must for most of the gravel roads here!
Suggested Routes
The easiest gravel routes to access from Santa Barbara start in the Santa Ynez Valley. Parking in the main Los Padres National Forest parking lot off of Paradise Road is a great place to start. From here there are a variety of ways to climb up and get some great views.
Climbing to El Camino Cielo (Road) provides some amazing views of the ocean and downtown Santa Barbara. You can ride up Arroyo Burro Road or up the backside of Gibraltar Road to get there.
The other way to go from the Paradise Road parking area is to Camuesa Road which also provides picturesque and scenic gravel riding. This route and many others in the area are also good as out and backs.
Safety Considerations
I love getting out for a great solo ride especially on some nice gravel roads but unfortunately that isn’t a very good idea on most of the gravel courses in the area. Cell phone service is virtually non-existent on the routes in the backcountry and many of the roads are only open to non motorized traffic making it difficult to get picked up. For this reason it is very important to always ride with a friend and bring proper tools to fix your bike.
The other consideration is bringing enough food and water. While it is nearly always cool in the mornings things can heat up quickly as you get further from the coastline. Temperatures in the 90s are common in the afternoons and the hot sun combined with a lack of shade makes things feel even hotter. Given the extremely remote nature of the rides there typically isn’t anywhere to get food or water so it’s important to bring enough for your entire ride.
Happy Trails!
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