Wild Pete has pulled me into liking the rugged hike up the Arroyo Quemado Trail in beautiful Baron Ranch (4.1.1. for directions).

My ultimate goal is to make the tougher 12-mile round-trip day hike to the very top, the crest at the Camino Cielo with about 2,500 feet elevation gain. I’m not quite fit enough yet but continue to plug away at increasing my stamina.

However, I received some important critical feedback concerning an early November column about hiking the lesser 6-mile portion of this lovely trail in Baron Ranch north of Goleta.

Since up-to-date trail directions are crucial to my On The Trail columnist guise, it’s my job to walk every one of the paths described and honestly tell readers how good/bad the hike turned out. It has been pointed out that I misunderstood some iron signage 2 miles “in” on the lower Arroyo Quemado Trail, writing that the Loop Trail West (an offshoot side trail) was in poor condition for hiking. Since the Santa Barbara County Trails Council folks had recently cleared the Loop Trail east entrance, hikers should try this opening.

Let’s back up and re-enter the main Arroyo Quemado Trail from the spacious parking lot next to Highway 101.

The copious iron signs visible everywhere help the hiker but can also become a bit misleading. In an important early sign, one reads “Arroyo Quemado Trail” (good), and below this an arrow forward indicating the “Loop Trail” begins in “2.1” miles.

If you are feeling gnarly and desirous of an intense workout, go for the entire 6 miles to the crest at the Camino Cielo, and then trek the full 6 miles back down from the top.

I’ve been hiking locally across many decades, and this trail is best used as an equine course. Experienced riders on a good trail horse would especially enjoy the 12-mile day, and a few rugged mountain bikers might also push up there in a feat far beyond my poor cycling powers.

After my third time hiking up the Arroyo Quemado, I finally realized that the so-called Loop Trail is best imagined as an optional side trail. Although signed later as “Loop Trail West” and “Loop Trail East,” they simply mark the two obvious entrances off the Arroyo Quemado Trail.

One day when Pete and I tackle the full trek to the top, we will certainly bypass this (side) Loop Trail since it makes the hike even longer and parts of it are demanding (start on the east Loop Trail entrance).

We trudged up the old road, moving past dead or dying avocado trees and a few cherimoyas, and kept following the frequent metal signs.

In the early morning of Jan. 20, I could make out the half-moon rising over a battered ridge.

Most of the arroyo willows have shrunk back in our mini-drought, but bright toyon and blooming datura (Jimson weed) surrounded our wending path.

In the first 2 miles of the hike, we found ourselves mostly on an old ranch road, and it’s important to stay on this pleasant terrain since the whole area around Arroyo Quemado Creek is still recovering from the fall 2021 Arroyo Quemado Fire.

Old irrigation and massive plumbing fixtures are still visible in places, and even a bit of old ranch fencing where you can see me pretending to be trapped in the Arroyo Quemado runoff area.

The Santa Barbara County Trails Council and the Santa Barbara County Community Services Department have both worked hard to bring these farmed hillsides back into a more natural state, and we should all be grateful for their restorative efforts.

When the old road cut morphs into actual trail, even more dramatic riparian splendors await the quiet hikers.

Since we departed in midweek and started hiking quite early, we never saw any other hikers during our four-hour, six-mile round-trip.

Unfortunately, we ran into a couple of jerks riding mountain e-bikes up the road. That is forbidden, and I wanted to yell at the big lugs.

However, I managed to photograph the car with a pair of big bike racks (only car at the trailhead) and sent the information to the Santa Barbara County Trails Council and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann.

Past the 2-mile sign on the Arroyo Quemado Trail, one encounters the aforesaid sign for the east Loop Trail, and here the road (and later trail) are open and ready for hiking. After the longish loop, one simply rejoins the main (and only Arroyo Quemado) Trail, and then you continue to the top at the western Camino Cielo ridge.

On this hike, after walking uphill past the East Loop entrance for some distance on the old road (see lead photo), I then noticed the so-called West Loop entrance (usually the exit). I had noted this side trail in my November column, and there was a bright red sign warning of some difficult spots.

We continued on up the main Arroyo Quemado Trail a short bit until finally turning it around about 3 miles in near the West Loop trail sign.

The Arroyo Quemado Trail in Baron Ranch leads to the Gaviota crest and demands hearty  fitness since most of the path is uphill. The area all around is recovering from intensive agriculture (the now-defunct Baron Ranch) as well as a recent fire (2021). Dogs are not allowed (even on leash), but horses and mules are OK.

When the two grinning dudes on their e-bikes whizzed by, I wasn’t quick enough to think to yell at them, or take a photograph. These speedy bikes would scare horses, children or old folks like me trudging downhill.

The Arroyo Quemado Trail in Baron Ranch would be terribly tough in summer or hot weather, so winter and early spring are best, but wait a few days after any heavy rains along the coast.

4.1.1. 

Drive north on Highway 101, and note that it turns into a state highway after Goleta. Shortly after passing the Refugio State Beach off-ramp, watch very carefully for the legal highway exit just past the large sign with “Cross Traffic Ahead” and below another yellow sign with “Next 17 Miles.” The right turn you want has a triangular yellow sign with a large black cross, meaning you can legally turn off here.

After turning off Highway 101, make an immediate left on the frontage road, driving slowly on the very rough road (potholes!) to the end, then park. You will see the huge Baron Ranch proscenium and sign. Note: No dogs are allowed (sensitive habitat for the red-legged frog), no hunting, no e-bikes. To learn more about the Baron Ranch Project, visit sbtrails.org.

See also Tom Modugno on the history of Baron Ranch: goletahistory.com/the-baron-ranch-at-arroyo-quemada/.