Middle Santa Ynez
Campground
Campground · 2.0 mi from the trail
California · Hiking · Near Carpinteria
Blue Canyon
- 11.1 mi
- round trip
- 845 ft
- climb
- 2,373 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Oct–May
- best months
Is Blue Canyon open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Los Padres National Forest.
Los Padres Fire Use and Firearm Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-00-26-05 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
Santa Barbara Front Country Fire Use Restrictions
Agency alert covering Los Padres National Forest · Order 05-07-5406-01 · USFS · Los Padres National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Los Padres National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Blue Canyon is a hard hike in the Santa Barbara Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 11 miles long and runs in an out-and-back shape, with the low point at about 1,539 feet and the high point at about 2,373 feet. The one-way climb is about 850 feet. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the nearby Gibraltar Dam weather station, which sits well below the trail, show April highs around 76°F and October highs around 83°F, while July and August average in the mid-90s. Temperatures on the trail run cooler than those figures. The trail has a natural surface and is open to both bikes and horses. Within a few miles you'll find the climbing areas of Green Dome and West Face, the hike of Old Romero Road, and the paddling on Mono Creek.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Padaro Beach Grill
Fast food
On your way back · 6 mi- If it rains
History museum in Carpinteria, California
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in Carpinteria- Green DomeRock climbing2.5 mi
- West FaceRock climbing2.5 mi
- East FaceRock climbing2.5 mi
- Crag Full of DynamiteRock climbing2.5 mi
- RomeroHiking2.7 mi
- Old Romero RoadHiking2.9 mi
- Blue Canyon TrailHiking3 mi
- Mono CreekCanoeing8.8 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Franklin TrailHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: waterarchives, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Girard TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
North Fork Cold Spring TrailHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: breic, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Reservoir TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: coastalscientist, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Bella Vista Ranch TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: coastalscientist, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- RomeroHiking · ~5 min drive
Mono Alamar TrailHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: snapper from Ventura County, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- Saddle Rock TrailHiking · ~8 min drivePhoto: lamblukas, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Old Romero RoadHiking · ~5 min drive
- Caliente TrailHiking · ~6 min drive
Best time to visit Blue Canyon
Best months: October–May. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
66° / 36°
8 wet
Feb
67° / 36°
9 wet
Mar
70° / 38°
7 wet
Apr
76° / 41°
4 wet
May
80° / 46°
2 wet
Jun
88° / 49°
0 wet
Jul
94° / 55°
0 wet
Aug
96° / 54°
0 wet
Sep
91° / 51°
1 wet
Oct
83° / 45°
2 wet
Nov
73° / 40°
3 wet
Dec
64° / 34°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibraltar Dam #2, CA, 7.4 mi away at 1,558 ft. The station sits about 800 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
