Little Pine Mountain and 19 Oaks

Little Pine, at 4506 ft. is a challenging hike to a prominent, pine tree-covered ridge along the Santa Cruz Trail. 19 Oaks is an easy hike along the creek bed.

The hike begins in the Upper Oso campground off Paradise Rd., first following an OHV road, then joining the Santa Cruz Trail. The hike to Little Pine is 10.5 miles round trip, and very strenuous and steep. Especially towards the top. The views of the Santa Ynez Valley are spectacular at the top.

For a shorter hike, you can stop at 19 Oaks at the 2 mile mark, a short overnight destination for backpacking.

For a much longer backpack, continue along the trail that heads toward the summit, then go down into the canyon behind Little Pine Mountain to Santa Cruz Camp. Santa Cruz Camp features a Forest Service cabin, which is locked. You can camp out behind it where there are picnic tables and a fire ring The valley is shaded and beautiful, with a flowing creek and wildflowers in the spring.

You will need an Adventure Pass to park.

Little Pine Mountain and 19 Oaks Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: April 15, 2008, 8:56 pm
by: Spudnic

The Santa Cruz trail coming down from little pine back to 19 Oaks wasn't in the best shape, but it is still passable. Little Pine is now all burn't down but my trip in general was very rewarding and enjoyable.

Posted: January 15, 2008, 12:56 am
by: Bryan

This report is from September, sorry I lagged.

A group of Forest Service volunteers drove into Happy Hollow and hiked down to Santa Cruz and up to Flores Flat. The trail down to Santa Cruz was severely washed out in sections, and this was before we received any rain. Its very likely that this trail will be closed for some time in the future. The fire eliminated all the vegetation that would normally hold this trail in one piece.

The trail over to Flores was similarly sliding away along most of the steep sections. Its quite possible that all steep sections of trails within the butn zone are going to be gone come Spring.

Pay attention to trail closures.

Posted: October 22, 2007, 3:51 am
by: BSA Troop 42

Backpacked to 19 Oaks on 20 / 21 October 2007. Santa Cruz Trail is signed closed 2.5 miles past 19 Oaks; Fire Closure Area. Bring the water that you need. Check on backpack stove use restriction. High winds and Zaca Fire ash, but it is good to get back into our mountains.

Posted: May 13, 2007, 5:03 pm
by: Spudnic

First overnighter w/dog(his 1st also) was awesome. Boring because I was by my self. Myles was a champ the whole trip. The section through the Mustard weed was ridiculous, hard to keep on the trail. Slipped a couple of times, just really ticked me off. The ticks were pretty bad but I sprayed myself(pant legs) and the dog down w/ some flea and tick spray before we left. Myles carried his own gear in his pack(water, food, treats) just need to get him his own mat. Had plenty of water just crappy equipment. Cheap 2-person bivy tent, Coleman mummy bag that didn't fit, 3 day military style pack. (shoulders said,"ouch".) Other than that it was another great adventure. We hiked to happy hollow campground and stayed the night, But after assessing the dog I'm confident he could make it to Santa Cruz campground. Oh well next time.

Posted: January 1, 2007, 11:47 pm
by: BSA Troop 42

1 January 2007. Water in Oso Creek is intermittent. The trail east from Nineteen Oaks to the Old Mine Road is easy to follow; as is the Old Mine Road from the mine to Buckhorn Road. Long Pants. Water in the creek near the mine did not look the best.

Posted: December 19, 2006, 12:15 pm
by: gogirlzz

Dawn was sunny and beautiful, but cold.We wore ALL our down stuff.It had warmed up some by the time we reached the trail head (28 from 17 degrees). Trail was in good shape, wet but not clumpy. Scat everywhere, the fauna must be eating well.Frost on the picnic table and ground under 7 of the 19 oaks. We made a fire. Really, the fattest bush wrens I've ever seen came out to visit. No wind and stunningly quiet; we got some super pictures. When the wind did finally kick up, the chill chased us off the mountain. I still think this is the most beautiful time of year to be up here.

Posted: October 15, 2006, 10:01 pm
by: Bryan

10/15/06

Spent last night on Little Pine, trail is great as always. A trail crew cleared the slide sections last week. Busy day on the trail.

Posted: May 31, 2006, 10:19 am
by: Liz

Went to the top of Little Pine on Memorial Day weekend. Absolutely beautiful.
Lots of ticks at the higher elevations.
Some retaining walls weren't retaining.
Patches of the path at the upper meadow require a bit of stomping through overgrown mustard and grasses.
But the trail was always easy to follow.

Posted: January 25, 2006, 8:15 pm
by: Anonymous

A group of 14 riders went last Sunday, January 22nd and the trail was great. We experienced a few muddy patches, but otherwise it was perfect.

Here's a
story and pictures from the ride, including aerial photography with a GPS plot of our path.

Posted: January 17, 2006, 9:57 pm
by: Anonymous

Clear trail, smooth sailing, up to Little Pine! The trail from Alexander Saddle down to SC was worked and cleared in December (12/14/05). The C.R.E.W. were able to clear the trail from the saddle to a point about 3/4 of the way down the "40 miles of hell". From there the trail is very findable but you will have to push through a bush or 70. The switchbacks down to Santa Cruz are in fine shape. LOTS OF TICKS!

Posted: January 9, 2006, 11:30 am
by: Duane

I camped out at 19 Oaks Saturday Night. The trail is in excellent shape, since I had no troubles navigating it in the dark (although a headlamp helped).

I always get a little turned around on the spur trail heading up to the actual camp (especially at night), but this time the sound of the water gushing out of the piped spring was loud enough to guide me.

I almost chickened out and stayed down at Upper Oso, but the $15.00 gate fee and the ominous sight of all those dirt bikes spurred up my courage, and I made the night trek in about 40 minutes.

It was a deathly quiet moonlit night, thanks in part to all the moisture on the ground. Kinda hard for some tiny rodent to sound like a marauding bear while it crawls through the dry grass when the grass isn't, well, DRY!

---

Posted: January 8, 2006, 5:27 pm
by: Anonymous

i went from upper oso to nineteen oaks, the trail was in very good condition. Aside from a few obnoxious motorcycles on the bike trail before the actual trailhead, it was a great hike. A few rockslides, but the creek was easily crossed.
No ticks, bear attacks, or terrorist bombings.

Everything is very green right now, i reccomend the hike.

Posted: January 2, 2006, 4:22 am
by: BSA Troop 42

Hiked from Upper Oso to 19 Oaks on 1 January 2006; before most of the heavy rain. Creek trail was reasonable; dirt road and upper trail were in great shape.

Posted: May 23, 2005, 10:18 pm
by: Duane

Took a friend of mine backpacking to the 19 Oaks campsite, where we enjoyed a nice lovely walk up to Little Pine Mountain. We had hiked up there last year about this time and wanted to do the hike again before it got too warm out.

The campsite is in great shape, and the spring is literally overflowing -- there is a large U-shaped marsh surrounding the camp because the spring can only spew out so much water.

The flowers were in bloom, big time. Much more than last year. The hike up the face of Little Pine was also much steeper than I remembered it, although the walk through the "mellow meadows" section was well worth it.

If there is one word of warning I could offer, it is this:

Snakes.

No, make that SNAKES!! SNAAAAAAAAAKES!! LONG SLITHERING TOUNGES FLICKERING RATTLERS RATTLING MAKING YOU JUMP OUT OF YOUR SKIN AND REGRET EVERY STEP RAT-BASTARD SONOFABITCHING SNAAAAKES!!!!

Last year, it was bears, this year it was snakes. What'll it be next year? The return of the mexican Jaguar? Just wondering.

ps, Although this was my second time hiking up the mountain, I noticed for the first time last week that there is a spring fed horse trough half way up Little Pine's face. Look for the small sign. Just a note for all you fancy equestrians out there.

Posted: January 30, 2005, 12:01 am
by: Anonymous

The trail is good shape except for a few small slides which can be easily negotiated. BUT, Paradise Rd was still closed at the first river crossing right before Lower Oso (ranger told me they may open it next weekend). You have to wade the river (about 5 - 10 inches), walk up the road to Upper Oso and then join the trail.

Posted: January 21, 2002, 9:44 am
by: Diane

Post your update here.