Caliente

Caliente is an easy hike of about 3 miles with a low elevation gain of 170 feet, set in the Santa Barbara Ranger District of Los Padres National Forest in California. The route is an out-and-back that starts and ends at roughly the same elevation, with the high point at about 2,191 feet and the low at around 2,009 feet. The trail surface is natural, and the Forest Service manages the land. Spring and fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from the Gibraltar Dam weather station, about 7 miles away, show April highs near 76°F and October highs near 83°F, with fewer wet days than winter months. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the trail, which makes it a good choice for riders or equestrians. The Caliente Trail, about 0.2 miles away, is close by, and the Blue Canyon Trail and Mono-Alamar are each about 3 miles off. Climbers can head to the Green Dome area, about 5 miles away.