Ranger Peak Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Flow · Views

One of the finest intermediate rides in California, all accessed from lightly traveled roads tucked adjacent to wilderness. This climb, descent and overall experience is a world-class way to experience the Los Padres forest and the Santa Yez valley.

Begin at the Chicken Spring shooting area (no longer an active shooting area for USFS). Ride up the road to the summit of Ranger Peak, which will provide incredible views of the Santa Ynez valley along the way up. Once just below the summit of the peak on the western saddle, a short singletrack climb takes you up to a southern saddle. From there it's a bombing 5-mile descent on singletrack back to the car, with flowing, fast turns on easy grade through wildflower meadows the entire way.
Update - Fall 2024: The trail was apparently used as a firebreak for the recent Lake fire. It was graded over from top to near the bottom, and is now a wide band of loose dirt and rocks almost the whole way down. With a lot of work it could become a great flow trail...

Once a road and trail used for mining and cattle grazing.