Blue Canyon
Rating:
[out of 5] |  |
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| For: | Long, uphill on the way back. |
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Meadow at Cottam Camp
Blue Canyon is like a secret treasure hardly anyone knows about. That
is hardly true, but it is amazing how often you can hike in Blue Canyon
and feel completely isolated from civilization, never encountering another
person. This of course is not true on holiday weekends because Blue Canyon
is a short drive from Santa Barbara and a short hike from the trailhead
if you are planning a backpack trip. It makes a great day hike, too.
Blue Canyon is located in the canyon just behind the Santa Ynez mountains.
You access it by hiking down to Forbush on the Cold Springs Trail and
turning right to descend further into Blue Canyon.
There are meadows that fill with gorgeous wildflowers in spring after
the rains, creeks that run fresh and clean, and two places to camp - Cottam
Camp and Blue Canyon Camp just beyond. It gets quite hot back there in
the summer time, which can be a blessing during the Santa Barbara “June
Gloomy when it is cold and foggy in town.
Blue Canyon Updates
Update trail conditions
Posted: March 19, 2007, 12:59 pm
by: bobcat
My family did a quick overnight down into Cottam from the west end of Blue Canyon (via Forbush) over Presidents weekend. Lots of boyscouts at Forbush and major evidence of motorcycle abuse all the way into Cottam, definitely some trail damage. Would be great to catch the perpetraitors in the act! Otherwise, trail is in great shape, good H20, good ticks, POak just starting to come on.
Posted: February 18, 2007, 6:52 am
by: axel
I hiked the trail from Forebush, to Cottam, then down to the Santa Ynez river. The trail is easy to follow and plenty of water is flowing in the creeks. The ticks are the only distraction. I followed the river down to the Mono/Forebush trail then back up to the crest via the Forebush trail. A great loop trip during low water flow conditions at the river. The trail up to Forebush is in generally excellent condition and the water is flowing to create some beautiful clear pools.
Posted: April 25, 2006, 8:37 pm
by: Beerman67
Took my wife on her first backpack trip, I wanted her to experience the great outdoors. So we started on upper blue canyon off east camino cielo. We hiked into blue canyon camp. The upper portion you can tell is barely traveled due to the trail being less maintained and less traveled. Saw fresh scat, and then heard a growl above cottam. On our way out, we saw 2 turkey vultures feeding on a dead skunk. Found a large jaw bone, not sure what it was from. Saw a few snakes and of course the ticks. All in all, a great Earth Day...
Posted: January 17, 2006, 2:10 pm
by: BSA Troop 42
We backpacked part of Blue Canyon on 16 January 2006. Cross-country from Camuesa Road near P-Bar Flats to the end of Blue Canyon, where it meets the Santa Ynez River. The Blue Canyon Trail from the River to Cottam Camp is in reasonable shape. The trail up to Forbush Flat Camp and then on to East Camino Cielo is very good overall. Flowing water at Cottam and Forbush Flat Camps; some of Fred’s apples are still on the tree. Thank you to those who maintain the trails and camps.
Posted: March 23, 2005, 7:24 pm
by: Diane
Post your update here.
