West Camino Cielo runs along the top of the Santa Ynez Mountain. It’s a climb up from the San Marcos Pass (highway 154 to those who don’t live around here) to the ridgeline about 4000 feet above Santa Barbara. On a clear day—March has been nothing but clear—it presents spectacular views across the city out beyond to the Channel Islands. But it’s rugged. To get across it, you need the right tools. And the right mindset. Because without both, it’s easy to become stranded up there. Or worse.
The United States Forest Service’s website warns that “A majority of this road is along very steep mountain ridges. Expect boulders and large rocks to navigate.” I take issue with describing it as a “road,” but it’s my go-to trail whenever I have a vehicle on hand built to traverse the terrain. And I’m not sure a Chevy Traverse or GMC Terrain could handle the craggy and loose surfaces. It’s about a 12-or-so-mile (depending on how it’s measured) drive from the Pass to Refugio Road and then down past Ronald Reagan’s old ranch back to the coast. I love it.
Just like racing on a track, off-roading means pushing a vehicle to its performance limits. The speed may be barely above a crawl, but traction is limited, surroundings are rugged, and help is often a long way away. West Camino Cielo is only 15 minutes from my house—so convenient, it’s easy for me to forget the risks that accompany the adventure. Just a month ago, during a very rainy February, one off-roader lost his life when his new pickup slipped off the trail and tumbled down the hill more than 300 feet. But there is no more spectacular spot in Santa Barbara County than West Camino Cielo when the conditions are good…