San Ysidro Trail

San Ysidro Trail begins in Montecito. The usual destination is a waterfall about 2 miles from the trailhead, making the hike relatively easy (remember, Santa Barbara is all mountains, so relatively easy usually does not mean there are no hills.) This waterfall can be quite impressive after a strong rain, and very tranquil in the drier months. Continue past the waterfall out of the shade and into the chaparral and the hike becomes quite strenuous in its relentless climb to East Camino Cielo Rd. at the summit, a 9 mile round trip. An excellent workout.

San Ysidro Trail and the Waterfall Updates

Update trail conditions

Posted: April 27, 2013, 8:30 pm
by: Diane

San Ysidro waterfall isn't flowing much right now. Tangerine Falls is probably not flowing much either. 7 Falls isn't really a waterfall. It's more like some little pools that teens and 20-somethings like to go hang out at.

If you want a hot spring you should do the Hot Spring trail. I don't have it listed here because for years it was private property. It's not private property anymore. You can get to Hot Springs by hiking the Cold Spring trail and then a little beyond the power lines there is a large sign on your right and a trail going down to your right. Follow that and you'll find the hot springs at the bottom. If there aren't any pools at the first warm creek you come to, there are more pools beyond the bamboo and behind the old ruins a little beyond.

Posted: April 25, 2013, 3:06 pm
by: meganeveritt

I am new to SB but I love to hike. I really want to do 7 falls or the San Ysidro trail first as I have never seen a waterfall or a hot spring and think it would be awesome. I know it needs to rain a lot before the waterfall is flowing but has anyone been there recently? I want to go on Sunday April 28th.

Posted: January 15, 2013, 11:50 am
by: greg.bok

Hiked up about 0.5 miles past the waterfall on the San Ysidro trail on Saturday 2013/1/11. Trail is in good condition. Creek is flowing, but the falls were barely more than trickling. Poison oak on the first section of trail to the falls.

Posted: January 10, 2011, 4:48 pm
by: CentralCoastJoe

Hiked the San Ysidro trail yesterday (1-9-11) and San Ysidro creek was raging compared to my previous visit in October. San Ysidro Falls was also flowing quite well, but not as much as the main stream. Lots of ferns and annual plants sprouting up everywhere - it's getting nice and green out there! A large boulder that has fallen from a cliff is blocking the way about halfway up the trail, but it's easy to climb over.

Posted: January 8, 2011, 9:14 pm
by: sbdolphin62

Great hike to San Ysidro trail and waterfall lots of water, creek is really flowing.Trail nice and dry

Posted: November 17, 2010, 4:43 pm
by: shunsick

All the way to the top. Here are some pitures and vids.

http://web.me.com/shunsick/Site_2/San_Ysidro.html#1

Posted: June 18, 2010, 9:16 pm
by: santiar

Last week I hiked San Ysidro from the parking area all the way up to East Camino Cielo. Not much water flowing out of the waterfall, but lots in the creeks. The upper trail past the waterfall is in good shape but a bit overgrown with lots prickly overgrowth. There are one or two spots that I encountered soft dirt that could lead to a loss of balance and a potential spill down steep hillsides. It suckers you in because you are trying to navigate around the overgrowth. Great hike!...just use caution on some of those "ledgey" parts of the trail and definitely wear pants to protect your shins and knees from the prickleys. Bring water, it's warm up top when you get above the marine layer.

Posted: March 15, 2010, 2:56 pm
by: carp_nb

Hiked the San Ysidro Trail on Saturday as part of a longer loop hike. There's plenty of water in the creeks and the trail is in good condition all the way to the top at Camino Cielo.

The waterfall was running strong and wildflowers are blooming both down in the canyon and up along the switchbacks climbing to the top.

Posted: December 9, 2009, 2:11 am
by: WhiskeyDoc009

This was a great afternoon hike, unfortunately it was a bit cloudy so visibility was limited. Trail conditions were pretty decent after the rain. As can be expected, most exposed rock was a little slick. There water was moving pretty good also, but nothing spectacular. Very easy to get across the stream. A couple sections of the trail had visible damage from very recent rockfall, so if you do go up make sure to stay alert to your surroundings! I'm new to the area and as such don't know if this is a recent update, but several of the handrails near the top of the trail are lose and some even disconnected. Make sure to keep an eye out for that also. Happy hiking!

Posted: September 5, 2009, 12:12 am
by: jjsparker

wow - it was toasty. Hiked from noon to 5pm, peaked and back. I didn't see any of the wasps. Lots of lizards, but no snakes - yay!